Graduation is just around the corner, and we’re counting down the days before our ceremonies begin next week. I’ll be graduating from the BA (Hons) English Language course on Monday and I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone there!
Since finishing university, I’ve been working in the Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO), and I can safely say that the team have a lot planned for us graduates! From receiving some free Hallam merchandise, to entering social media competitions, here are some of the things that you can get involved in during your time at City Hall:
- Post your graduation pictures on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #WeAreHallam to receive a FREE photo print from us. Collect downstairs at City Hall
- Pick up our Snapchat Geofilter at City Hall and Barkers Pool
- Get your hands on some free Graduation 2018 merchandise
- Enter our Facebook competitions to win fantastic prizes, worth £300!
- Find out about what it means to be an alumni and what support is available to you after graduating
The DARO team will be based in the City Hall’s ballroom, and you’ll be able to find us by spotting the giant inflatable Hallam ‘H’ that you can take your celebratory photos with – make sure to come and say hello!
We hope you all have a memorable day. Roll on graduation fortnight 😊
Name: Anna Blagg
Course: BA (Hons) English Language
Job Title: Graduate Intern – Development & Alumni Relations Office, Sheffield Hallam University
Finishing my English Language degree was a bittersweet experience. The relief of handing in that final essay was amazing, but I couldn’t help but feel upset about having to leave my time as a student behind. My course engaged me from the very beginning and encouraged me to explore a variety of career routes ranging from Speech Therapy and Teaching to Marketing and Communications. The module I enjoyed the most was definitely the dissertation, as it provided me with the opportunity to lead my own project, offer a contribution to my chosen area of research, and conduct interviews with detective inspectors about their interrogation techniques – which I thought was pretty cool!
A week before my final deadline date, I went for my first graduate job assessment centre that I felt quite nervous for given my lack of interview experience. To my surprise however, I was offered the post of Graduate Intern at Sheffield Hallam on the day I had officially finished my degree, which definitely called for a double celebration! The team I’m currently working for is called the ‘Development and Alumni Relations Office’ (or DARO – side note: Hallam is obsessed with acronyms!!). The aim of the department is to create giving back opportunities to current students and develop a community of donors through the Hallam fund. I’m currently working on a range of projects in my role, which include assisting with the planning of Alumni events, collating content for our bi-monthly Alumni e-newsletter and helping to support the delivery of the Graduation 2018 campaign. Even though I’ve only been in DARO for a few weeks, I have already been given the opportunity to do things that I wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to do. My highlights so far include going to Central London for a training day and writing articles that have been published in our e-newsletter.
As someone who wasn’t aware of the ‘Alumni offer’ during my final year, working within the DARO team has opened my eyes to what Hallam can offer me as a graduate. From seeking careers advice to arranging reunions, I was shocked at the amount of support that would still be available to me once I’d left. Finishing your studies therefore, doesn’t have to mark the end of your time at the University, so make sure to have a look at what you could get involved in and keep in touch!
It’s International Women’s Day today, a day to “celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women”. As part of the celebration, we thought we’d share and celebrate the achievements of just 5 of the many inspirational women that have graduated from Sheffield Hallam in previous years.
Kate Allatt
BA (Honours) Business Studies, Class of 1993 & PgD in Marketing Practice, Class of 1998. Honorary Doctorate awarded in 2017.
Kate Allatt is an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer and advocate raising awareness of locked-in syndrome. At the age of 40, she suffered a major stroke and became a victim of locked-in syndrome. Against the odds she went on to make a remarkable recovery and now devotes her life to helping those with similar conditions, as a health coach and motivational speaker. She is an active champion for research into locked-in syndrome and is an inspirational figure in raising awareness of the syndrome on an international level. Kate also runs a charity, Fighting Strokes, which raises funds for stroke victims.
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Jacqui Oatley MBE
PgD Broadcast Journalism, Class of 2003.
Jacqui Oatley is a British freelance sports broadcaster, presenting, commentating and reporting mostly on football for BBC Sport and ITV Sport. She is best known for being the first female commentator on BBC One’s Match of the Day. A keen footballer herself, it was a life-changing knee injury that encouraged her to take up a career on the sidelines. Retraining as a journalist, she built up invaluable experience with hospital radio, Radio Leeds and BBC London before eventually joining Five Live. It was the fan base that Jacqui built on the show that helped her to secure her MOTD debut in 2007.
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Debjani Chatterjee MBE
PGCE Education from Sheffield Polytechnic, Class of 1981. Honorary Doctorate awarded in 2002.
Debjani Chatterjee is an award-winning poet, children’s writer and translator, who has been described as ‘Britain’s best-known Asian poet’ (Elisabetta Marino), ‘full of wit and charm’ (Andrew Motion) and ‘a voice of rare originality’ (David Morley). Her more than 60 books include Animal Antics and Monkey King’s Party for children, and I Was That Woman and Namaskar: new and selected poems for adults.
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Jane Tomlinson CBE
PgC Paediatric Medical Imagine Practice, Class of 2002. Honorary Doctorate awarded in 2003.
Jane was just 36 when, in August 2000, she and her family received the devastating news she had incurable breast cancer. A mum of three, Jane was given just six months to live and she and her loved ones were told to prepare for the inevitable. But, thanks to Jane’s remarkable courage, something truly extraordinary was just about to begin. Over the next seven years, as she defied her diagnosis, Jane went on to achieve what many people might struggle to in a lifetime – surmounting increasingly difficult challenges, capturing the attention of people across the world, and raising over £1.85m for charity. She also founded what was to become her lasting legacy, the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, which would continue to support scores of causes long after her sad and untimely death.
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Kal Atwal
BA International Business, Class of 1995. Honorary Doctorate awarded in 2011.
Kal joined BGL in 2002 and is currently Group Director with Board responsibility for LesFurets.com, Group Corporate Development and Strategic Execution, along with providing assurance and oversight for the Group’s portfolio of Brands and Communications. During her time with BGL Kal has held a number of positions, including Managing Director of comparethemarket.com. Under her leadership comparethemarket.com became the UK’s leading price comparison website.
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We have many inspirational women passing through City Hall at our graduation ceremonies each and every year and we can’t wait to meet every single one of them in November.
The Graduation Team
Since finishing university, I’ve been working in the Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO), and I can safely say that the team have a lot planned for us graduates! From receiving some free Hallam merchandise, to entering social media competitions, here are some of the things that you can get involved in during your time at City Hall: