STEVE DOWNES Around 700 hard-working students of all ages will be rewarded for their efforts today at Norwich City College's annual graduation ceremony.The event, which is at Norwich Cathedral, marks the first time that all of the degrees awarded will be UEA degrees.

STEVE DOWNES

Around 700 hard-working students of all ages will be rewarded for their efforts today at Norwich City College's annual graduation ceremony.

The event, which is at Norwich Cathedral, marks the first time that all of the degrees awarded will be UEA degrees. The college is an associate college of UEA.

There will be two ceremonies in order to accommodate the large number of graduates and their guests. The first will begin at 11.15am and the afternoon ceremony at 2.30pm.

The guest speaker at the morning ceremony will be Euro MP Richard Howitt and the guest speaker at the afternoon ceremony will be Ardeshir Naghshineh.

Mr Howitt is the Labour MEP for the East of England. Among his responsibilities in the European Parliament, he is vice chairman of the human rights sub-committee, the Labour European spokesman on foreign affairs, and the president of the all-party disability intergroup.

Mr Naghshineh is the founder and chairman of Targetfollow Group, a successful commercial property investment, development and management group that has its headquarters in Norwich.

Dick Palmer, the principal of the college, said, “I want to congratulate each and every one of our students graduating today on their outstanding achievements and their hard work.

“What could be more fitting than to receive their awards before their families and friends in this wonderful setting of the cathedral, at the very heart of the city and the county?

“Today is our first graduation where all the degrees awarded will be UEA degrees. Our new graduates embody the partnership that we now have with the university, to the huge benefit of local people, employers and the local economy.”

He added: “I'm also delighted that Richard Howitt MEP and Ardeshir Naghshineh will be our special guests at today's ceremonies. For Mr Naghshineh it is a special home-coming. Before embarking on a spectacularly successful business career, he was a student here at the college.”

It will also be a particularly special day for Linda McAllister, who has been named as City College's high education learner of the year 2007 and will be presented with a certificate and a cheque for £100.

Professional development is strongly encouraged at City College, and many members of its staff will also be receiving post-graduate teaching qualifications today.

Among them will be the familiar face of Jackson Williams, a professional boxer who fought against Amir Khan and recently completed an epic coast-to-coast charity run across the United States.

The college sports science lecturer will be receiving a UEA certification in education (post compulsory education).