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More than 200 graduands from Southern Regional College have celebrated their graduation at a ceremony in the Armagh City Hotel on Friday 28 August. Family, friends and College staff gathered to mark the occasion as students received degree and higher national diploma qualifications as well as Student of the Year Awards.
Mayor Councillor, Mary O’Dowd of Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Council and
guest speaker, Caroline McKenna, Educator and Entrepreneur behind ‘A County
Down Under’. Pictured (L-R): Libby Shackles, SRC Director of Curriculum; Hilary
Singleton, Vice-Chair of Governing Body; Lee Campbell, Principal & CEO of SRC;
Caroline McKenna, Guest Speaker and Entrepreneur; Aidan Browne, Master of
Ceremonies; Lord Mayor Councillor, Mary O’Dowd of ABC Council; and Gerard
Byrne, Director of Finance and Planning.
Fearghal Murphy from Killeavy received the Faculty of Building, Technology & Engineering Part-time Student of the Year award for his Engineering BEng (Hons) Degree, sponsored by Newry BID.
Yousef Almahamed from Newry received the Faculty of Professional Services Part-time Student of the Year award for his Sport & Exercise BSc (Hons) Degree, sponsored by Stephen's Catering.
Nine special awards were presented during the ceremony in total, including the Outstanding Classmate award, voted for by fellow students, and eight Student of the Year awards sponsored by local businesses representing the College's four faculties. This year's Outstanding Classmate was Michaela O'Neill from Lurgan, who undertook the Counselling Studies Level 4 Certificate at the College's Banbridge campus. O'Neill was highly regarded by her peers, who commended her for the support she provided to each classmate. She was also praised for her personal growth and willingness to reflect on and apply what she had learnt throughout the academic year.
graduates with her career journey.
Other Student of the Year award winners were Neil King from Warrenpoint, who received the Faculty of Building, Technology & Engineering Full-time award for his Engineering BEng (Hons) Degree, sponsored by MTM Engineering, and Matthew Peters from Newcastle, who received the Faculty of Computing, Design & Academic Studies Full-time award for his Creative Music & Audio Production Foundation Degree, sponsored by SRC. Aaron Mitchell from Donaghcloney received the Faculty of Computing, Design & Academic Studies Part-time award for his Creative Media Production - Film Higher National Diploma, sponsored by Deli Lites.
Student of the Year’ Award for the Faculty of Building, Engineering & Technology,
kindly sponsored by MTM Engineering. Neil graduated with a BEng (Hons) in
Engineering and is pictured receiving his award from Hilary Singleton, Vice-Chair
of the SRC Governing Body.
In the Faculty of Health & Science, Katie Bell from Banbridge received the Full-time award for her Health & Social Care Foundation Degree, sponsored by SRC, while Lauren Toale from Jonesborough received the Part-time award for her Healthcare Practice Certificate of Higher Education, sponsored by Avondale Foods. Jasmin Cullen from Kilkeel received the Faculty of Professional Services Full-time award for her Sport & Exercise Foundation Degree, sponsored by Ellisons Hair & Beauty.
Guest speaker at the ceremony was Caroline McKenna, who inspired graduands with her career journey since obtaining her own educational qualifications. McKenna is well known for documenting her career journey in Australia as a teacher in the podcast "A County Down Under". She has since returned home setting up Nuturing Minds tutoring services and more recently opening a pilates studio. Her key message to graduands was to be curious to try new challenges, be brave enough to accept setbacks, and to be able to pivot and adapt as they move through life's challenges.
award, sponsored by Avondale Foods, within the Faculty of Health & Science having
undertaken the Healthcare Practice Certificate of Higher Education. Lauren was
presented with her award by Hilary Singleton, Vice-Chair of the SRC Governing
Body.
Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal & Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, offered her congratulations to students receiving their degrees. She said: "Graduation is a significant achievement and a moment to reflect on the dedication, resilience and hard work that has brought our students to this point. On behalf of everyone at Southern Regional College, I extend my congratulations to our Class of 2026 and to the families, friends, employers and staff who have supported them throughout their journey. Our graduates leave the College with much more than a qualification. They take with them the knowledge, skills, confidence and experience to make a positive contribution to their communities, workplaces and wider society. As they take their next steps, whether progressing into employment, further study or new opportunities, I encourage all our graduates to be ambitious, embrace every opportunity and continue learning. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved and wish them every success for the future."
within the Faculty of Professional Services, sponsored by Ellisons Hair & Beauty.
Jasmin undertook the Sport & Exercise Foundation Degree at SRC and was
presented with her award by Hilary Singleton, Vice-Chair of the SRC Governing Body.
Year’ Award within the Faculty of Building, Engineering & Technology, sponsored by
Newry BID. Fearghal was presented with his award by Hilary Singleton, Vice-Chair
of the SRC Governing Body.
award within the Faculty of Computing, Design & Academic Studies, having
undertaken the Creative Music & Audio Production Foundation Degree. Matthew
was presented with his award by Hilary Singleton, Vice-Chair of the SRC Governing
Body.
