The Graduating Class of 2017 is breaking records

Posted Monday 29 January 2018

This month postgraduate and research students from the Class of 2017 took to the stage at Kingston's Rose Theatre at their graduation ceremonies. We were proud to celebrate their achievement with them at their graduation ceremonies and receptions, and look forward to keeping up with all they will go on to accomplish in the future. The Class of 2017 did more than celebrate their own success, however; they also gave back in record numbers to current and future students as part of the Graduating Class Gift.

Transforming futures

Alumni provide hundreds of scholarships, hardship grants and bursaries every year through the Inspire the Future campaign. In 2016, we launched the Graduating Class Gift to build on this powerful tradition of alumni generosity.

Through donations of £3 at their ceremonies - matched 100% by alumni - students graduating as part of the Class of 2016 raised an incredible £1,500. This provided a bursary for a student leaving care for a full year.

Breaking records

This year, the Class of 2017 has gone even further. With graduation ceremonies for the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education yet to come, the Class of 2017 has already raised an incredible £3,480 for current and future students at Kingston. This will have a powerful impact on the students it goes on to support, and we are grateful to our most recent alumni for choosing to give back to future students as they celebrate their own graduations.

The Class of 2017 has been voting for what their gift should support, choosing between scholarships for postgraduate students, emergency assistance for students in need, bursaries for students leaving Local Authority Care, or support for student innovation. So far emergency assistance for students has received the most votes, but this may change in the coming weeks as those who have graduated in January have their say.

Join us

If you would like to support current students, you can make a difference by giving to Kingston University. There are hundreds of students thriving at Kingston who would not be here without the support of our alumni - thank you for being a part of our work.