Members of Trinity Hall had their degrees conferred at the General Admissions congregation in Senate House today (30 June).
They gathered in Front Court for a photograph before processing to Senate House led by: Head Porter, Andy Keenan; Praelector, Dr Cristiano Ristuccia; and Vice-Master, Dr Daniel Tyler.
Speaking to the group before they left Front Court, Dr Ristuccia told them: “Congratulations are truly deserved because the pandemic was indeed unusual and the way in which it changed your experience of studying in Cambridge was truly dramatic.
“And yet you finished your courses, you took your exams, you conquered adversity: so well done! The College is truly proud of you. I would go further: indeed the College is truly impressed and truly touched because you collectively epitomise the Trinity Hall cohort; you, as sons and daughters of this pandemic are the uber Trinity Hall students, because this College was itself born out of plague.”
He went on to say that they would, having benefited themselves by gaining their degree, leave here to benefit the wider world.
Dr Tyler said: “The whole College celebrates with the 2022 graduands. They have been through an unforeseeably disrupted period during their undergraduate studies and have shown remarkable resilience and resourcefulness to emerge from it successful and smiling. On behalf of us all at Trinity Hall, I congratulate them on their achievements and wish them every success and happiness for the future.”
Senior Tutor, Dr Clare Jackson, said: “Warmest congratulations to all of Trinity Hall’s graduands today. Having experienced extensive pandemic-related disruption during their university studies, the resilience, dedication and talent shown by this cohort of Trinity Hall graduands is hugely impressive.
“On behalf of the College’s Fellows and staff, I wish all the graduands every personal and professional success in the future, and look forward to welcoming them back to the Hall as alumni.”
This year the graduands were joined by their families in the Senate House for the first time since the pandemic began and celebrated back at the College with a Garden Party.
Earlier in the week the graduands had a final dinner together during which the former JCR President, Sam Riley delivered an emotional speech in which he said “Being a member of Trinity Hall has taught me to embrace an institution for its people. Inside the beautiful buildings of this college is a beating heart, which every one of us here can be proud to say we’ve been a part of.”
