Biggest graduations on record
The University of Southern Queensland is looking forward to welcoming more than 2000 people on-campus over the weekend for what will be the largest graduation in the University's 40 year history.
More than 300 students from the Arts, Engineering and Surveying and Science faculties will don mortarboards and gowns for the ceremony and celebrate the culmination of years of hard work.
Chief Executive Officer of the Brisbane City Council, Jude Munro, will address graduands from the Faculty of Science during the morning ceremony.
Jude is the first person to be CEO of two Australian capital city councils and she also heads the Brisbane institute, Brisbane River Festival and Australian Trade Coast.
Editor of The Courier-Mail and USQ graduate, David Fagan, will address graduands from the faculties of Arts and Engineering and Surveying during the afternoon ceremony.
While under David's leadership The Courier-Mail's print and online readership has grown and during the past four years the daily paper has twice been awarded Australia's paper of the year.
American student and world expert in cotton fibre, Patty Bel, has travelled from New Orleans to attend tomorrow's graduations ceremony where she will be awarded her PhD.
Having worked extensively in the field of cotton fibre and textiles, Patty was invited by the University five years ago to undertake a PhD project researching a defect in cotton fibre called White Speck Neps.
Patty's project supervisor, USQ lecture Associate Professor Mark Porter, said Patty is considered to be one of the worlds leading experts in this field.
'White Specks Neps is a major natural fault found in cotton fibre. It prevents the cotton from absorbing dyes. While it is not visible in undyed woven cotton when the fabric is dyed it becomes a major problem.
'The University was already undertaking research into the overall quality of cotton fibre, but at the ginning stage. We found that Patty's work dovetailed with the work being done at USQ and invited her to complete a PhD with the University.'
Patty's research has been recognised globally throughout the industry. She has been invited by the U.S. Government to participate in American trade delegations to China on a number of occasions and her work has influenced the export of cotton from America and Australia. She is currently working for the United States Department of Agriculture.
During the afternoon graduations ceremony the University will also award the inaugural Distinguished Service Medal.
The award will recognise exceptional service to the University and this year will be awarded to Dr Kurt Timmins for his contribution to USQ over many years.
WHAT: University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Graduations
Science Faculty Graduations, 10am
Art and Science and Engineering Graduations, 2.30pm
WHERE: Clive Berghoffer Recreation Centre, Toowoomba Campus
WHEN: Saturday 14 April 2007
Media Contact: Connie-Louise Alexander, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2977