Thousands of business graduates are celebrating their success today.
As Aberdeen University’s week of graduations continued, the Class of 2022 were told to be bold as they take their first steps into the world of accountancy, finance and business management.
Professor Alan Speight, vice-principal global student recruitment, told them: “You can and will succeed in a changing world, and in changing that world for the better.
“So, I urge you to be bold; to have faith in yourselves and to have confidence in your abilities; and never to be afraid of making those big steps in life that you will face after you leave today.”
To see who is celebrating this week, use our interactive tool to check the full list of graduations.
Each day we’re shining the spotlight on some of the day’s graduates from the north and north-east.
Aberdeen
Sofía Puentes Ferreira travelled 5,000 miles from Colombia to join Aberdeen Business School when she was just 17, and now she doesn’t really want to leave.
The 21-year-old has fallen in love with Scotland, especially the older landmarks, and said the people she has met have been a “big highlight”.
She picked up her degree in economics and international relations today and has mixed feelings about her move to London for the next chapter – a masters in development studies.
But she said: “I’m so grateful that I was able to study here and to go around and to be able to travel around the UK. If anyone has the opportunity to do that then they should.”
Aberdeenshire
Saffron MacDonald has become the first in her family to graduate from university, after picking up her honours in business management today.
The 22-year-old, from Ellon, is also one of the first recipients of the Cormack Scholarship – offered to students who can demonstrate need, merit, motivation and ambition – to graduate from Aberdeen University.
Although she is celebrating her success today, she admitted it had not been easy joining in third year after completing her college course – particularly during Covid.
Chloe Irving has plenty of reason to celebrate this week. Pic: Kath Flannery/DCT Media
Moray
It’s been a huge week for Chloe Irving, from Elgin.
Not only has she graduated from her economics and international relations course, but she has also had a birthday – and got engaged.
The 23-year-old thoroughly enjoyed her course, and is still deciding what to do next but said: “I’m really happy and excited for the future.”
Conversation