Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Sir Michael Wilshaw to Address St Mary's Graduates at Ceremony in Westminster Cathedral

High profile keynote speakers including the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and Chief Inspector of Education, Sir Michael Wilshaw, will address St Mary’s University graduates during ceremonies taking place on 13th and 14th July at Westminster Cathedral. England footballer Eniola Eluka and British academic Prof Edward Acton will also give keynote speeches. Students from across the University’s academic Schools including Education, Theology & Leadership, Management & Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities and Sport, Health & Applied Sciences will be awarded degrees. St Mary’s Vice-Chancellor Francis Campbell said, “All those graduating this year can be very proud of their achievements. It is a special time for them, for their families, and it is a very proud moment for St Mary’s University. Our mission at St Mary’s is not only to equip students with an academic qualification and a path to employment. It is also to help students become good citizens. We don’t do that through lessons or through indoctrination. Rather we do it by providing those who study here with an environment characterised by a strong sense of community based on values of respect, justice and solidarity. That environment is very much shaped by our Catholic identity which is woven into the fabric of St Mary’s University.” Rt Reverend Bishop Moth, Chair of the Board of Governors at St Mary’s said: “It’s a great honour to witness a very important stage in the lives of our students. One of the most important aspects of the St Mary’s experience is the very strong sense of community we have. Graduation marks the moment that our students move beyond that University community into wider society. I hope they will keep us in their hearts and minds as they begin the next stage of their journey. I’d like to offer my sincerest congratulations to all St Mary’s graduates.” As part of the graduation ceremonies, Sir Michael Wilshaw, a St Mary’s alumnus, will be awarded the University’s highest honour, the Pope Benedict XVI medal, in recognition of his years of dedication and service to education. Furthermore, Mrs Margaret Mizen will be installed as Pro-Chancellor of St Mary’s University. Margaret Mizen came to national attention in 2008 when her 16-year-old son Jimmy was murdered in south-east London. In the immediate aftermath, Margaret spoke of compassion for his killers rather than revenge and promised not to be beaten by Jimmy’s death, believing that something good would come from it. Drawing strength from her Catholic faith, she has since worked tirelessly with young people across the country, sharing Jimmy’s story with schools, prisons, youth offending institutes and the Catholic community. A delegation from the Institut Catholique de Paris (ICP), led by the Recteur, Monsignor Philippe Bordeyne will attend the graduation ceremonies following the announcement of a formal partnership with St Mary’s. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed later this year which will set out areas of co-operation between ICP and St Mary’s including the exchange of students and staff, the award of joint degrees, ICP ecclesiastical degrees, joint summer schools, research collaboration (including the recently opened Benedict XVI Centre) and joint work in the field of Catholic Education.