19 April 1996 Record number graduate from Lincoln University

Seven hundred and sixty five Lincoln University students were awarded degrees and diplomas over two graduation ceremonies in Christchurch Town Hall today (Fri. 19 April), bringing the total of Lincoln graduates and diploma recipients since last year to a new record of 835.

In addition the University awarded an Honorary Doctorate to local Maori leader Wahawaha Stirling and its prestigious Bledisloe Medal to Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Science Cliff Irvine.

Seventy Lincoln students had degrees or diplomas awarded either during the year or at a special Graduation Ceremony in Malaysia last August.

In today's Graduation, 304 degrees and diplomas were awarded in a morning ceremony and 300 in the afternoon. One hundred and sixty one awards were made "in absentia".

Of the total awards, 611 were degrees and 154 diplomas (both undergraduate and postgraduate).

Bachelor of Commerce and Management degrees made up the largest single category, 197, followed by Bachelor of Commerce, 156, Bachelor of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, 63, Bachelor of Resource Studies 47, Bachelor of Science 35, and Bachelor of Agricultural Science 23.

Eleven doctorates were conferred including four on international students – from Botswana, Iceland, Trinidad and Tobago and the United Kingdom.

The first of Lincoln University's Bachelor of Commerce degrees in Transport and Hotel and Institutional Management were also awarded this year, five in the former and eight in the latter.

The ceremony was presided over by the University's Chancellor, Mr Malcolm Cameron of Wellington, himself a Lincoln graduate.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.