Alison Wheeler :: alisonwheeler.org

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On June 6th 2003 I attended my MBA graduation ceremony. In addition to it being my own award was also a guest of the Vice-Chancellor and represented the OU Students' Association at the event. These are some memories of the day.

I was seated just in front of the organist. It was nice to be seated alongside one of my OUSA colleages and two of my former tutors; Bruce Taylor (B800) and Kevin Kiernan (Marketing)

The graduands were presented to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Students, Quality & Standards) Professor Allan Cochrane, BA, PhD. As I had met Allan a number of times over the previous two years it was nice to see him smile as I walked towards him along the carpet (I tried not to race but looking at the photo it appears I did a bit!). Afterwards at the reception he told me how nice a surprise it was to see me as he always liked seeing students he already knows.

After the presentation of the 420 or so graduands, the PVC addresses the congregation. Interestingly, as I was at the ceremonies in 2002, I recognised quite a bit of Allan's speech as being the same as the previous year! Leaving the platform

The procession leaves the stage after the ceremonies

The academic dress for the MBA award is a light blue gown with a hood described officially as "Full shape; dark blue panama; fully lined gold; edged blue and gold". The OU does not have mortar boards.

My mother took these and the ceremony photographs on a digital camera. The indoor photos have required quite a bit of 'photoshopping' to make the content visible.

It would not have been possible for me to undertake and complete the MBA course without the personal and financial support of my mother. Thanks!

After it was all over I took my mother and her friend to the London IMAX cimema. The film was 'Space Station 3D' and required the use of these 3D glasses!

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