Elizabeth Shenton was awarded the University Medal at graduation last month, becoming the first Information Technology graduate to be afforded the honour.
It was a busy night for Elizabeth who also gave the graduate response to the Occasional Address by Professor Don Aitkin AO at the ceremony on 25 May, which was attended by a capacity crowd in the open air courtyard at the Casuarina Campus.
Elizabeth told the audience her higher education experience began 20 years ago when she twice unsuccessfully tried to begin her studies. She said she was possibly too young and became too distracted by life and work commitments.
However in 2000, she tried again by enrolling at the Northern Territory University (now Charles Darwin University) in an Information Technology degree. At the time she had two children aged 11 weeks and 18 months.
Six years, and a lot of hard work and another child later, Elizabeth graduated and said she found the experience both satisfying, personally enriching and ultimately life changing.
Elizabeth said one of the most important lessons she learnt from her study experience was how to adapt and adjust to new situations, and how to use the knowledge she has to continue learning.
She said she now believes that her studies at CDU have started her on a path of becoming a lifelong learner as apposed to a lifelong student, and have equipped her to accept new challenges and not to back away or avoid them.
A total of 2467 CDU students graduate during the May and June graduation ceremonies this year with five students being awarded medals at the ceremonies.
Other medal winners included:
Graeme Blake: Chancellor’s Medal – Higher Education [Bachelor of Science (Honours)]
Bronwyn Rossingh: Chancellor’s Medal – Higher Education [Bachelor of Business (Honours)]
Karl Gotts: University Medal – VET [Certificate III in General Construction (Carpentry)]
Merrawyn Rogers: Chancellor’s Medal – VET [Diploma of Library and Information Systems]
All the winners were present, except Graeme Blake who is currently in Western Australia and could not attend.
Over 670 CDU students attended the graduation ceremonies across the Northern Territory. Two ceremonies were held in Darwin on 25 and 26 April and a similar event will take place in Alice Springs on 16 June.