50 students will make history on Friday, 12 July, when they receive their MA degrees, awards and prizes at the first ever graduation ceremony at the University of Glasgow's Crichton Campus in Dumfries.

Over 200 academics, dignitaries and guests will attend the ground-breaking ceremony in Crichton Memorial Church.

Honorary degrees will be conferred on three people who have played leading roles in establishing the innovative university campus:

Sir David Landale, Chairman of the Crichton Endowment Trust from 1996 to 1999, and Convener of the Crichton Foundation from 1999

Barbara Kelly, a Trustee of the Foundation and a member of the Campus Advisory Board

Professor Russel Griggs, the board's founding chairman

Three students will be presented with special prizes: Elizabeth Tindal will receive The Kirkpatrick Dobie Poetry award for three Orkney sonnets

Vivien Jones is the winner of The Muriel Carmichael Prose Competition for her essay on urban restoration

Mary Urquhart will be awarded the Runciman Prize for Non-Fiction Writing for her studies on the 19th century cholera epidemic in Dumfries.

Before the ceremony, weather permitting, the academics and dignitaries in ceremonial dress will walk in procession from the Rutherford-McCowan building to the church, led by the Principal's piper.

Among those present will be the Chancellor Sir William Fraser, who will confer the degrees; the Principal, Professor Sir Graeme Davies; the Rector Greg Hemphill; the Clerk of Senate Professor Andrew Nash and the chaplain, Rev Stuart MacQuarrie.

Eight members of the University's General Council, (the 100.000 strong graduate body) will present a gift to mark the occasion ﾗ a sculpture by Annan artist Paul Cowan.

After the ceremony, the procession will return to Rutherford-McCowan for afternoon tea, served on the lawn if the weather is favourable.

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Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

You are invited to be represented at this event which begins at 3pm and will last for about 1 hour. There is a photo opportunity at 2.30pm when the academics and dignitaries, in ceremonial dress, will walk in procession from Rutherford-McCowan to the Memorial Church.

For permission for photography in the church during the ceremony, please contact Wendy Anderson: 01387 702 026; email w.anderson@crichton.gla.ac.uk

Further information from Frank Ryan, Press Officer on the Crichton Campus

01387 253700

email: smeddum@btinternet.com

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First published: 11 July 2002