Media release – UTAS, 27 October 2021
Love for learning celebrated at Children’s University Graduation in Devonport
Devonport High School student Ella Lynd-Williams might be just 14, but she is a veteran when it comes to Children’s University Tasmania.
The Year 8 student was given the honour of delivering the welcome speech at the Children’s University graduation ceremony in Devonport today.
Ella began her Children’s University journey at Devonport Primary School, and has racked up an impressive 265 hours of extracurricular learning since then.
“I started towards the end of Grade 4 and this is my third graduation,” she said.
Children’s University Tasmania helps develop children and young people into adaptable, lifelong learners by providing and celebrating quality learning activities outside the classroom, and thereby builds bridges to employment and higher education.
The program – which is offered by the Peter Underwood Centre at the University of Tasmania – has close to 900 active members in 42 schools around the state.
Members are given a `passport to learning’ in which they record their hours, and when they reach major milestones they graduate, receiving higher awards as their hours build.
Ella enjoys visiting learning destinations and is also rewarded for the regular activities she does, such as being a valued member of the Devonport Brass Band and playing her favourite sport, netball.
“I really like spending time with my family and learning lots of different things’” she said.
“I love going down to Hobart in the school holidays and going to the museum and things like that.”
Ella was among 47 north-west coast students who graduated at the paranaple convention centre.
The schools represented were Devonport High, Latrobe High, and four primary schools – Devonport, East Devonport, Miandetta and Spreyton.
The ceremony was the first of eight to be held in Devonport, Burnie, Launceston and Hobart during the next three months, and the first Children’s University graduation involving multiple schools since 2019.
Due to COVID-19 concerns school-based graduations were held in 2020.
Peter Underwood Centre director, Professor Natalie Brown, said it was wonderful to have the traditional Children’s University graduations back.
“The Children’s University graduations are such a special event, and to see the children and young people gathered together in their hats and gowns and the pride on the faces of their parents and other family members as they receive their awards is quite emotional,” Professor Brown said.
