A unique graduation for mother and daughter

Teesside University Principal lecturer Audrey Carver was the orator at the School of Health & Social Care graduation ceremony where her daughter Jennifer Alderdice received a First Class degree.

Audrey, 56, from Wolsingham, Wear Valley, is a Principal lecturer in Childhood and Community Studies and is due to retire next month.

She said: ‘It was a total coincidence that I was orating at Jennifer’s graduation and I was feeling a mix of identities. As a professional I always feel for the graduates as sometimes they get a little anxious before crossing the stage, so I was thinking about Jennifer in that way.

‘But I was also a proud parent and had to stop myself from waving at my husband Tom and Jennifer’s fiancé Simon in the audience. It was definitely a unique occasion.’ Jennifer, 24, from Willington, Wear Valley, was awarded a First Class BSc (Hons) Promoting Practice Effectiveness (District Nursing). It was her second degree from Teesside, as she has already achieved a BSc (Hons) Nursing. Jennifer works as a Community Staff Nurse for County Durham and Darlington Community Health Services and was sponsored by them to complete the second degree full-time.

She said: ‘The course was inspirational and the academic support I received on both degrees was fantastic. The degree was developed in consultation with the PCT and as such reflects contemporary district nursing practice and the way it has developed my knowledge, skills and decision making has been tremendous. I was over the moon to get a First - it’s nice to get the best degree you can have. ‘Not everyone can say their Mam announced their name at graduation and I like that, it’s made it more personal.’

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