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Cara Quinlan, Brogan O’Sullivan and Chloe McElligott (Social Studies) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
ACADEMIC achievement and personal success was celebrated at the Kerry College of Further Education (KCFE) Graduation Ceremony at the Brandon Conference Centre, Tralee on Friday evening.
An annual highlight in the college calendar — with over 800 in attendance including the graduates families and KCFE staff — the event marked a milestone moment for graduates.
Students were conferred with QQI awards – both nationally and internationally recognised in Beauty; Business and Technology; Creative Arts; Childcare; Construction and Engineering; Humanities and Health Care; Science; Sports and Nutrition; and Tourism and Hospitality were presented. This year saw the first cohort of graduates in a number of new programmes offered in the 2017/18 academic year: including Tourism with Business, Music Technology and Music Production; Applied Science; Food Nutrition and Science and Advanced Art, Craft and Design.
The impact further education had on graduates was shared all evening with stories of successful outcomes being achieved through employment or progression to their desired third level course.
In particular, representing mature students Gary Hewitt told a captivated audience of how his passion for learning was ignited and grew at Kerry College of Further Education (KCFE). Erin Rowan shared her story of how as a leaving certificate student, joining further education allowed her to secure her dream third level programme.
Guest of Honour was this year’s Carlow Rose Shauna Ray Lacey who made an inspirational contribution about how everybody has a choice in life and how important it is to make the right choices.
Principal of Kerry College of Further Education (KCFE), Mary Lucey, acknowledged the strong work ethos of the graduates without which they could not have achieved what they did. She also acknowledged the support each graduate received from their families and the college staff which helped them as they made their journey towards success.
Cllr Terry O’Brien wished all the graduates well in their future endeavours. Director of Further Education and Training with Kerry ETB, Owen O’Donnell, gave his insight into the value of further education in the lives of young people.
He spoke about the growth in demand for further education programmes which has now resulted in the establishment of a second campus in Tralee town centre. Scroll down for photos…
Desiree Maple (Professional Cookery), Lauren Moore (Beauty Therapy) and Jenny Cotter (Hotel and Catering) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Megan Arnopp, Cora Dowling and Laura Sheahan and Zoe O’Carroll, all completed the Beauty Therapy course, at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
Patrick O’Connor, Leanne O’Regan and Kyle O’Brien (Special Needs Assistant course) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Nursing Studies students Catriona Mahony, Areej Saghir, Conor O’Regan, Ciarán O’Hara Smith and Caragh Lynch at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
Mandy O’Keeffe (Advances Montessori), James McPeake (Advances Disability with Special Needs) and Fiona Tangney (Childcare with Montessori), at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Kirsten Witzler (Social Studies and Psychology) and Scott Odudu (Medical and Legal Studies) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
Megan Kennedy, Roland Sauter and Ciara Curtin (Tourism and Business) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
Margaret Thornton with Clodagh Mangan (Applied Social Studies with Psychology) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Karyn Moriarty, Alice King and Mary O’Connor (Early Childhood Cara and Development) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
Sheila Durham (Applied Social Studies with Psychology), Gitas Marcisauskas (Business Studies) and Elaine Murphy (Applied Social Studies) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
Sheila Browne and Taylor Fitzgerald (Beauty Therapy) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Elaina Norris and Abubakr Qureshi (Engineering Technology) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
Katie Mulvihill, Tonya Horan, Victoria Duda and Catriona O’Halloran (Office Management) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Cara and Margaret Quinlan at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
Michaela Brosnan and Erin Rowan (Nursing) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
Laura Lane and Sarah (Veterinary Assisting) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Jessica Healy and Catriona Flynn (Special Needs Assistant) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
Arlene Breheny, Charlotte Kareem, Comfort Emmanuel and Breanne Barrett (Advanced Disability Studies) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
Siobhan Long (Office Administration with Computer Applications) at the Kerry College of Further Education Graduation Ceremony on Friday at the Brandon Hotel. Photo by Dermot Crean
