CONGRATULATIONS

“TO PARAPHRASE ROBERT KENNEDY, WHILST WE ARE LIVING IN VERY INTERESTING TIMES, TIMES OF GREAT UNCERTAINTY, THEY ARE ALSO THE MOST CREATIVE OF ANY TIME IN HISTORY. YOU, THE CLASS OF 2021, ARE A PART OF THAT GREAT CREATIVITY, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION FROM YOUR TIME HERE IN SUNDERLAND.”

Major General (retd) Mitch Mitchell MBE, Honorary Doctor of Technology

“Everyone graduating this year deserves special recognition for persevering in the time of Covid. Perhaps you have not had the University experience you were expecting but your reward is your degree which will stand you in good stead in the years to come. My congratulations and best wishes to you all for the future.”

DR PAMELA DENHAM CB DL, HONORARY DOCTOR OF LAWS

“Congratulations! You should feel rightly proud of your success in such challenging circumstances. Remember to thank your family and friends for their much-needed love and support and, as you begin the next phase of your career, live by their example and be generous in thought and deed.”

CHRIS GREEN, HONORARY FELLOW

“You will be remembered as a very special Graduate of the University of Sunderland. You have completed your programme under the most difficult circumstances and succeeded to achieve your award. I wish you every success and hope that you will join me in wishing all your classmates the same good fortune in their lives and careers.”

PETER FIDLER CBE, FORMER VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND, HONORARY DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Mother Theresa once said: “Do not wait for Leaders. Do it alone...Person to Person”. As a graduate of our University you need to know that you can make the world a better place by celebrating the good things and refusing to ignore the bad parts. Go for it Grads of 2021! Today’s challenging world needs people like you more than ever. Be bold and you can move mountains. We at Sunderland will always be interested in you so keep in touch if you can.

LYNNE SYMONDS, HONORARY FELLOW AKA NEESIM POANABA, CHIEF OF ENLIGHTENMENT AND EDUCATION OF THE MAMPRUSI TRIBE, NORTHERN GHANA.

“Life is full of challenges. You have faced new ones, many of which were unwelcome. But you’ve come through. Congratulations on what you’ve already achieved – use your skills to make the world a better place – and live life to the full!”

KATE ADIE CBE DL, BROADCASTER AND AUTHOR, HONORARY DOCTOR OF LETTERS

“There is a quotation which fits this pandemic “All changed, all changed utterly (Yeats)” And now you are entering on a changed and uncertain world but taking with you the knowledge gained in Sunderland. Go for it - change the world!”

LADY CYNTHIA IRVINE MBE, HONORARY FELLOW

“THE PANDEMIC AND THE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS IMPOSED ON US ALL ARE BOUND TO FORM PART OF THE MEMORY OF YOUR TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND. I HOPE THE VALUE OF THE COURSE YOU STUDIED, THE PEOPLE YOU STUDIED WITH, AND YOUR AWAKENED AWARENESS OF THIS GREAT CITY, WILL NOT BE DIMINISHED. ENJOY THOSE MEMORIES AND VALUE THE TIME YOU SPENT HERE FOR THEIR OWN SAKE. CONGRATULATIONS!”

Sir Edward Clay KCMG, BA, Honorary Doctor of Laws

“Congratulation on your achievement today, it is truly amazing. Your commitment is recognised today in changing your future for the better. Well done.”

JACKIE NIXON, COMMUNITY PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTITIONER, HONORARY FELLOW

“You’ve had the toughest possible time at university, and to have graduated this year means you must be resilient, determined and passionate about your subject. If you can do this, you can do anything! I wish you the very best of luck for the future.”

ANN CLEEVES, CRIME WRITER, HONORARY DOCTOR OF LETTERS

“Congratulations to every graduate. After what for some of you will have been a difficult year, I am delighted that you are able to celebrate with your friends and family. Sunderland graduates have so much to offer and I wish you every success in what you choose to do. Enjoy the celebrations!”

THE RT. HON ESTELLE MORRIS, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY PRO-CHANCELLOR

“Many Congratulations to all of you on your graduation. It can’t have been easy to achieve success with all the restrictions over the past year and your tenacity and determination is much to be admired. Now comes the difficult part, making your way in a world that has been much-affected by the pandemic. Keep the momentum going and draw on the strength of the North East to support you when you face difficulties. I know it works and it’s the best resource you could have been given. Best wishes and good fortune.”

WENDY CRAIG CBE, ACTOR, HONORARY DOCTOR OF ARTS

Congratulations. Getting your degree is like reaching the summit of a mountain. But you can’t say up there forever, come down safely and go on to plan more summits in your life. Stay safe. Have fun. Be kind.

ALAN HINKES OBE

“YOUR GRADUATION DAY IS A SPECIAL OCCASION WHICH IS A CELEBRATION OF YOUR SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT AND THE CULMINATION OF ALL THAT HARD WORK AND EFFORT THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN. THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT PERIOD FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND I KNOW IT WILL HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY CHALLENGING FOR EACH ONE OF YOU. BUT YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED IN YOUR STUDIES AND YOU CAN NOW GO ON TO HELP SHAPE THE WORLD. SO, GO AND DO SOMETHING SPECIAL. MAKE YOUR LIFE COUNT AND HAVE AN AMAZING TIME DOING IT.”

Paul Callaghan CBE, DL, FRSA, Honorary Fellow and Honorary Doctor of Business Administration

“Each one of you graduating this year deserve an extra medal for application and tenacity under the most demanding circumstances completely without precedent. Very well done all of you. A degree from University of Sunderland is always a mark of distinction which provides you with a solid platform for whatever career path you choose to follow. A track record of hard work and achievement which you have now demonstrated impresses potential employers more than anything else. So take time now to celebrate and then go on to do great things.”

BRYAN SANDERSON CBE, HONORARY DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

“I can only begin to imagine how tough this past year has been for every student, but especially those of you at such a pivotal time in your career. All I can suggest is using that experience to fuel your desire to make the most of the opportunities which will undoubtedly come your way. Good luck.”