Gold Coast graduation a global gathering

Oceane will be joined by more than 170 graduands from eight Schools and Colleges to receive their degrees at Twin Towns Services Club from 10am on Friday, May 26.

The Palm Beach local received the call this week to say she had secured the role of upgrades manager at the Sofitel Hotel in Broadbeach, starting on Monday, May 29.

The big role comes after completing her Bachelor of Business in Convention and Event Management, including two semesters in Canada and travelling through America on a bursary scholarship, and completing an internship at an ‘off the grid’ Adventure Works camp for teens in New Zealand.

“There has been a lot of hard work, determination and fun and I know that putting myself through this degree will bring a lifetime of success - that is the best feeling and my biggest achievement,” Oceane said.

After landing at the Gold Coast Airport this afternoon (Thursday), New Zealander Sandra Eickhoff will head to the adjacent Southern Cross University campus before receiving her MBA at tomorrow’s ceremony.

Ms Eickhoff is a lecturer and industry coordinator at the Manukau Institute of Technology in Auckland. Southern Cross University delivers the MBA in collaboration with the Institute. Sandra completed the degree alongside her boss Cherie Freeman, Dean of Consumer Services.

“The online study was great as I could work through the materials at my own pace and was well-supported. This qualification will help me take a step up in my organisation and in my career,” Ms Eickhoff said.

“I'm meeting family from overseas and we are celebrating together on the beautiful Gold Coast.”

Filipino national Ronie Magcamit will be the first Master of Engineering Management student through SCU Online to graduate on the Gold Coast. The civil-environmental engineer will travel from Melbourne where he works as a management systems auditor and an environmental consultant and founded a consulting business, Prism Environmental.

“This Masters degree gives me leverage in terms of managing different kinds of projects, while the additional information gleaned during two years of study has grounded me in what is really happening in engineering globally,” Mr Magcamit said.

Dominique Carnley will be the first Bachelor of Podiatry student to graduate with Honours on the Gold Coast after completing her research investigating the treatment of lower limb wounds. She now works as a podiatrist at Tweed Superclinic.

Master of Professional Accounting graduand Min Liu from China was recently named Southern Cross University’s best onshore postgraduate accounting student for 2016 and was awarded a Professional Development and Learning (PDL) Academic Tuition Scholarship to study the CPA program as an associate member. Ms Liu will graduate ahead of starting her new role as a Brisbane tax accountant in June.

Kwanho Jeong from South Korea has been awarded a Chancellor’s Medal for his doctoral research ‘Phosphorus remobilisation during grain filling in rice’ conferred in February through Southern Cross Plant Science. The Chancellor’s Medal is awarded to students who have completed a PhD in which they have demonstrated academic excellence, and have achieved an outstanding and significant contribution to their field of knowledge. Mr Jeong is working abroad and unable to attend the ceremony.

Chairman for Events Management Queensland Kerry Watson will deliver the Occasional Address. Mr Watson is managing director of Pacific Global Corp and chairman of the Gold Coast Eisteddfod.