The St Margaret's College Choir had the honour of singing the beautiful Wairua Tapu during the Graduation Service of Thanksgiving on Saturday, 11 May 2019.
May is graduation season in Dunedin when a couple of thousand graduates have their degrees conferred over four ceremonies on 11 and 18 May in the Dunedin Town Hall.
Immediately preceding the May 11 graduation procession down Dunedin's George Street, the Otago Chaplaincy Team organised a lovely Graduation Service of Thanksgiving in the Hunter Centre opposite the School of Dentistry.
The service was led by Rev Wayne Te Kaawa, one of the University Chaplains, and included two songs, a bible reading (Luke 5:1-11), a short reflection entitled "To Infinity and Beyond" by Rev Olivia Dawson (also a University Chaplain), prayers of gratitude and intercession, and of course the singing of that beautiful song by our choir. Rev Greg Hughson, a Fellow of St Margaret's and the College's Chaplain, also participated in the service.
I enjoyed taking some time out from the busyness of graduation day to attend and participate in the lovely service. Enjoy the accompanying video of the Choir singing at today's thanksgiving service, conducted by the Arts Representative, Tessa Dalgety-Evans.
Some St Margaret's College alumni, each of whom resided at the College for three years, graduated on 11 May and I enjoyed taking part in the graduation procession with them:
- Nicola-Mary Geraghty graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in physiology. She is now studying medicine at the University of Auckland. She served as Secretary of the Executive Committee in 2017 and was Tutorial Co-ordinator in 2018.
- Yi Biao Ang graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in microbiology. He served as Vice-President of the Executive Committee in 2017.
- Likhit Dukkipati graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in microbiology. He served as a College Leader for two years from 2017 to 2018 and is currently undertaking an Honours degree.
- Xavier Parackal graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences degree majoring in functional human biology. He was President of the College's Students' Association in 2017 and a College Leader in 2018. Xavier is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme.
Congratulations to Likhit, Nicola-Mary, Xavier and Yi- Biao! And well done to the St Margaret's College Choir for their beautiful singing at the thanksgiving service.
(Story by the Master, Dr Charles Tustin)
