Auckland Graduation Dinner and Ceremony 2010

More than 150 students had their awards conferred at our Auckland Graduation Ceremony at Greenlane Christian Centre on Saturday 10 April. The festivities began the previous evening with a graduation dinner at college. The dinner was a wonderful time of fellowship as graduands enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with their classmates and lecturers.

The guest speaker at the ceremony was Dr Rod Thompson, who spoke about the need for theological education to prepare students to live with both agony and anticipation in a “groaning” creation. Tu'amelie Koloi, who graduated with a Bachelor of Teaching and Worldview Studies and Christine Harding, who graduated with a Master of Theology also spoke, sharing what their time at Laidlaw College meant to them and how it had helped prepare them for their lives and their careers. The awards were presented by the programme coordinators and Dr Mark Strom.

A highlight of the evening was the responses of friends and family members as their loved ones received their awards – some responded with the haka and ceremonial greetings and songs. One group performed a spectacular hip-hop dance as their loved one received her award. Dr Mark Strom received a standing ovation from the graduands as they thanked him for his leadership at Laidlaw College over 5 years.