Graduations

GRADUATIONS GALORE

As well as those graduating this Summer, Old Girls whose graduations were postponed due to the Covid pandemic were at last able to celebrate their successes – congratulations to all of them!

Jessica Ryan (Class of 2014 ) Jess graduated in July 2021 from East 15 Acting School with BA (Hons) in World Performance, after completing her Foundation Year in Acting and Musical Theatre at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts back in 2014-15.

She is now Head of the Withington Branch of the Urban Stage School of Performing Arts – a performing arts school Jess herself attended between the ages of 10 and 18, and subsequently taught at across all their branches (Swinton, Withington and Sale). She is looking forward to the challenge of heading up a branch and is excited to see what she can achieve.

Alexandra Hopkinson (Class of 2016)

Alex sat her Oxford Classics finals in 2020 from the dining room at her family home and inevitably her graduation ceremony was postponed. However, last September she returned to Oxford for her graduation ceremony in the Sheldonian Theatre. As she has been working through two years of law conversion, there was another degree to collect when she completed the GDL year – a Graduate Diploma in Law with a graduation in May, this time at the Barbican in London. This Summer has seen her complete the LPC year, earning her an MSc in Law, Business and Management from the University of Law. She is now embarking on her law career as a trainee solicitor with US firm Shearman & Sterling in their London office. Ashna Rayarel (Class of 2016) Ashna studied Fashion Public Relations at London College of Fashion. She graduated in 2020, but due to the pandemic the official graduation ceremony was held in the Spring of this year. Ashna has been working at McCann Manchester as an Account Executive working with popular retailer Aldi. Francesca Chuck (Class of 2017) Francesca studied Law at the University of Leeds, graduating in 2020 with a First-Class Honours Degree (like many, with a delayed formal ceremony this year). She loved the city and enjoyed the course, including the extra-curricular society activities such as volunteering. Whilst at the School of Law, Francesca decided to pursue a career in corporate law and, in the summer of 2020, successfully completed an internship with DLA Piper UK LLP, a global law firm, where she secured a Training Contract offer for 2022. She then studied for a year at the University of Law, where she was awarded a High Distinction LPC MSC, before temping for a financial services firm in Manchester until this summer. After getting away on a few holidays, Francesca recently started her Training Contract. Khadijah Ismail (Class of 2017) Khadijah graduated with First Class Honours in Aerospace Engineering after completing the Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Scheme at BAE Systems. She has chosen to specialise as a Mission Systems Engineer and her role involves qualification and testing of avionics systems. Her future plans include gaining international experience and contributing to sustainable solutions within the aviation industry. She also aspires to develop study abroad programmes for the Early Careers schemes at BAE Systems. Charlotte Johnson (Class of 2017) Charlotte finished university in June 2020 – and graduated on 26th April 2022! She was awarded a 2:1 BA (Hons) in Dance from the University of Chester. She continues to work at Heathlands Village care home and has recently been promoted to Family and Customer Care Co-ordinator.

Aaliyah Khan (Class of 2017) Aaliyah has graduated from Lancaster University with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery MBChB. She has started a foundation training post at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary on the medical wards, with further interests in emergency medicine and general practice with rotations in her FY2 year. Eloise Booth (Class of 2018) Eloise has graduated from the University of Cambridge with First Class Honours in Modern and

Medieval Languages (Spanish and Italian). After a wonderful time at St Catharine’s College and a fabulous year abroad as a teaching assistant in Cádiz, Spain, Eloise plans to pursue a career in Communications and Marketing, hopefully somewhere up north!

Hannah Penketh (Class of 2018) Hannah recently graduated from the University of York with First Class Honours (with Distinction) in Accounting, Business Finance and Management (with a year in industry). She also achieved the ‘Highest Achieving Student in Bsc Accounting, Business Finance and Management’, excelling in modules such as Advanced Financial Reporting, Capital Markets and Taxation Systems. Alongside her studies, Hannah was also a member of the University of York cheerleading team, ‘York Hornets’, competing in many national competitions. Hannah has very fond memories of York and thoroughly enjoyed her four years at university. In her penultimate year, she returned to Bolton to carry out her year in industry with Cowgills, working in their audit team. Having thoroughly enjoyed this role Hannah has decided to pursue a career in audit and moved to Jersey in August to begin her ACA qualification with PwC Channel Islands. Kathryn Austin (Class of 2019) Kathryn has graduated from the University of Salford – she has achieved a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Multimedia Journalism. In September she will begin a Master’s Degree in Publishing at Manchester Metropolitan University. Vanessa Azavedo (Class of 2019) Vanessa has completed a three-year Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning with Upper Second Class Honours. She is particularly proud of her examination results for which she achieved a First. Vanessa commenced studying for an MSc in Real Estate at the University of Manchester in September with a view to a career in Real Estate and Asset Management. Melissa Cartwright (Class of 2019) Melissa has recently graduated from the University of York with a 2:1 in Theatre: Writing, Directing and Performing. In September she began studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art as one of four students commencing their two-year Postgraduate Diploma course in Theatre Costume.

Jade-Emerald Green (Class of 2019) Jade-Emerald has graduated from The Manchester Metropolitan University with a 2:1 in BA International Relations (Hons). She was inspired to read politics and international relations after a conversation in Year 11 with her history teacher, Mr Winrow, made her realise the importance of having an understanding of the world around her. Her GCSE Spanish teacher, Mrs Naughton, has also been a huge influence, and her support has remained with Jade-Emerald into adult life.

Jade-Emerald is now a pension administrator for local government pensions and aspires to a career in the civil service.

Amelia Wood (Class of 2019) Amelia has achieved at First Class grade in her Philosophy, Politics, and Economics degree at Balliol College, Oxford. After travelling across the USA over the Summer, thanks to her receipt of the William Westerman Pathfinders award, she started her job as a trainee economist with the Civil Service Fast Stream in October.