24 April 2006 Cricket stars among Lincoln's 2006 graduation class

 

 

Louise, a White Fern since the 2001-2 season and regarded as the fastest bowler in New Zealand women's cricket, will be capped Bachelor of Recreation Management (Sport) and also receive a Graduate Certificate in Commerce.

 

Sara, a right-hand bat and a White Fern since 2002 also graduates with a BRM (Sport).

 

Both are New Zealand Universities' cricket “blues” and they will be present at the Lincoln University ceremony to receive their degrees in person. Amanda Green is overseas and will receive her degree, Bachelor of Commerce and Management, in absentia.

 

The three cricketers are among a number of sports achievers graduating this year from Lincoln University, including former New Zealand men’s hockey representative Hugh Copland (Bachelor of Commerce with Honours) and former New Zealand women’s rugby squad member Hannah Babe (Bachelor of Tourism Management).

 

Also being capped is the University’s youngest ever honours graduate, 18-year-old former Papanui High School Dux Ray Hidayat of Christchurch. Ray started university study part-time as an 11-year-old and will be awarded a Bachelor of Applied Computing with First Class Honours.

 

Five hundred and eighty of the 746 students will receive their awards in person, the highest total of “in person” presentations at a Lincoln ceremony since the year 2000. The balance will receive their awards in absentia.

 

New Zealand’s primary industry sector stands to benefit from the graduation with almost 23 percent of the degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded being in the areas of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, viticulture and wine science. Forty-seven percent of the awards are in the Commerce area. Both of these are similar proportions to last year.

 

Twenty-three percent of the awards are at the postgraduate level, again a similar proportion to 2005. The postgraduate qualifications include 29 doctorates, up 8 on last year and the highest number of doctorates ever at a Lincoln graduation.

 

Two honorary doctorates will be conferred on prominent New Zealanders and the University’s Bledisloe Medal and International Alumni Medal will also be awarded, to distinguished former students (see separate news release, 26 April 2006).