New graduates from Dumfries and Galloway College have been given a special message of congratulations from 2008 Olympic double gold medallist, Rebecca Adlington.
The swimmer, who broke the 800m world record at the games in Beijing, has strong ties to the South of Scotland college and previously helped launch its state-of-the-art fitness facilities.
Her heart-warming and optimistic message was part of a series of online messages to celebrate the graduates receiving their qualifications.
The Graduation Portal which can be found on the college’s website, meant that students also enjoyed a message from Principal Joanna Campbell and a series of videos from staff and lecturers congratulating them on their success.
The college has also opened a digital Hall of Fame in which graduates can post pictures of their socially distanced celebrations, complete with a specially designed Instagram filter for the occasion.
Under normal circumstances, graduates would be able to congregate together to celebrate their accomplishments, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made such events impossible.
As a response, the team at Dumfries and Galloway College, led by Principal Joanna Campbell, has stepped-up and devised the innovative virtual programme contained within the Graduation Portal.
Creative thinking, digital technology, and community spirit have been at the core of Dumfries and Galloway College’s response to the virus and these themes will continue as the college continues to look after its community at this difficult time and into the future.
Principal Joanna Campbell said: “While it is sad that we cannot be together to celebrate our graduates in the usual way, I’m incredibly proud of the Graduation Portal that our team has come up with.
“To have such a rousing message from such an inspirational figure as Rebecca Adlington, as well as the other great messages, is something that our graduates, their teaching staff, and the whole college community will remember forever.
“I wish each and every one of our new graduates every success in the future and would like to assure them that no matter where their futures take them, they’ll always have a home here at Dumfries and Galloway College.”
