Graduates celebrate achievements at Bury St Edmunds ceremony

Hundreds of students celebrated their 'tremendous' achievements during a graduation ceremony in Bury St Edmunds.

Joined by family, friends and civic leaders, the graduates from the University of Suffolk at West Suffolk College took to the stage at St Edmundsbury Cathedral to receive their degrees on Saturday.

The event started with a procession through the Abbey Gardens to the cathedral.

It has been an honour and a privilege to share in your celebrations today - Nikos Savvas

The class of 2018 saw 300 students graduate with degrees - 36 with first class honours and 16 with distinctions in their foundation degrees.

In his speech, Dr Nikos Savvas, college principal, said: "You are all here today, because you have risen to the occasion and put yourself out there.

"Many of you have excelled far beyond that - collecting numerous awards, accolades and prizes at a whole host of competitions across the nation and landing jobs with the best of the best.

"We all know that graduating is a tremendous achievement.

"It is the result of innumerable hours of study, sacrifice, persistence, doubt and ultimate perseverance.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to share in your celebrations today."

During the ceremony, there were 13 prizes awarded to students and sponsored by businesses and organisations across the region.

Richard Carter, former chair of the board of governors at West Suffolk College, was given an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University while Gina Long, founder of charity GeeWizz, was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Suffolk.

• See this Friday's Bury Free Press newspaper for a three page graduation special.