Bradford College students celebrated

Inaugural Principal’s Award of Excellence winner, Mahmuda Islam

Ophthalmic dispensing students were celebrated at Bradford College’s graduation event on 23 November at the Life Centre in Bradford. Certificates were bestowed for BSc (Hons) Ophthalmic Dispensing and FdSc Ophthalmic Dispensing.

Among the graduates was Mahmuda Islam, who won the inaugural Principal’s Award of Excellence for her outstanding work while on the course. The new award for excellence is given to the student who achieved the highest grades against all peers graduating, which included students from multiple courses and subjects.

Mahmuda, who works at Specsavers in Allerton, received the award in front of her family, colleagues and lecturers.

She said: “I didn’t know that I was going to receive an award so it came as a bit of a shock, but I’m delighted. I’ve made some really good friends on the course and it was great to be able to celebrate graduation with them.”

Mahmuda completed her Cert 4 programme with Specsavers before gaining advanced entry onto year two of the ophthalmic dispensing course.

She added: “I’ve had really good support throughout the course from my directors, the lecturers at Bradford College and my family, who have supported me throughout the course and during my exams.”

Paula Perrott, curriculum team leader at Bradford College, commented: ‘This award for Mahmuda is richly deserved. She has worked extremely hard while on the course, but she was never without a smile on her face and we are thrilled that her outstanding achievements have been recognised by the college. We know that she will be a huge success as a Dispensing Optician and can’t wait to see how her career develops in the future.”

More than 400 students attended the event

More than 400 students donned their caps and gowns to graduate in front of a packed audience of family, friends, staff, and VIP guests.

Speaking to the capacity audience, Bradford College principal and CEO, Chris Webb, said: “Graduation ceremonies are such a wonderful highlight in the academic calendar. I am proud to be the principal of Bradford College and I want to take this opportunity to say congratulations to all our graduands on this incredible achievement. You should all be very proud of yourselves.

“I hope that graduating today will give you the confidence to be brave and go out and change the world; to use your learning and education for the betterment of society.”

Anyone interested in studying ophthalmic dispensing on the face-to-face or blended learning courses at Bradford College is invited to email p.perrott@bradfordcollege.ac.uk for more details.