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Summer graduation ceremonies for University of Southampton students begin this week, with thousands of students receiving their degrees.
Pioneering campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen will receive an honorary degree from the university, in recognition of her role as an ambassador for wellbeing.
And Formula 1 star Adrian Newey will be presented with an Outstanding Alumni Award to celebrate his impact on the global motor racing industry since he graduated from Southampton with a BEng in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1980.
A total of 16 graduation ceremonies are taking place over six days in Southampton, with almost 4,000 students attending to be awarded their undergraduate degrees, masters degrees and postgraduate qualifications at the O2 Guildhall Southampton.
Ceremonies will take place every weekday from Wednesday 16 July to Wednesday 23 July, with a 17th ceremony at Winchester Cathedral on Thursday 24 July for graduates from the university's Winchester School of Art.
Dame Esther, who is unable to attend graduation due to her terminal illness with cancer, said: "I would have loved to meet this year's graduates to congratulate them in person on their wonderful achievements. Well done, all of you!
"I am particularly thrilled that the University of Southampton is awarding me this distinguished honorary degree. I owe this university so much! You are my local university - living as I do in the glorious New Forest, I am being treated - as my husband Desmond Wilcox was - by the University Hospital Southampton, and your track record for innovation is unrivalled."
Adrian Newey, the world's most successful F1 car designer, said: "I feel tremendously honoured to be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from Southampton. When I think back to my days there in the late seventies through until 1980, to now be receiving this award is very special indeed.
"I really enjoyed the social side of Southampton as well as finding the academic side increasingly fascinating. The sort of blend of laboratory experiments and theory was a tremendous education."
Professor Mark E. Smith, the university's President and Vice-Chancellor, said: "Congratulations to our class of 2025, we are very proud of each and every one of you.
"Graduation is a highlight of our year as we celebrate and recognise the hard work of all our fantastic students and wish them well as they move forward with their careers.
"Graduation is also an opportunity show appreciation to our committed and dedicated staff who have supported the students throughout their studies."
The University of Southampton is awarding a series of honorary degrees and fellowships at this summer's celebrations, recognising those whose contributions and achievements are an inspiration, and whose expertise is valued nationally and globally.
The honorary graduates are:
- Professor Dame Margaret Brimble , Director of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Julian Joseph , jazz musician, composer, broadcaster, educator and author
- Isaac Nzue Kiva , Secretary for Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in the Republic of Kenya
- Sir Peng Tee Khaw , Professor at the University College London Institute of Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital
- Vice Admiral Jeremy Kyd CBE , former Fleet Commander of the entire Royal Navy Fleet
- Professor Sharon Peacock CBE , Master of Churchill College and Professor of Microbiology and Public Health, both at the University of Cambridge.
- Professor Sir Christopher Snowden , engineer, academic and former President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton (2015-19)
In addition, Stewart Edmondson , CEO of the UK Electronics Skills Foundation, is being made a Fellow of the University of Southampton, and John Lauwerys , former Secretary and Registrar of the University of Southampton (1992-2007), is being made a Doctor of the University of Southampton.
Four Outstanding Alumni Awards will also be presented. They are:
- Samuel Ajayi (BA Film, 2019), Production Manager at Channel 4, and alumni volunteer and student mentor
- Mfonobong Ekpo (LLM Law, 2011), CEO of The Discovery Centre, a training and development organisation in Nigeria, and Executive Director of The Future Project Africa
- Charlie Pericleous MBE (BSc Politics and International Relations, 2001, and MSc International Relations (Research), 2003), Preventing Violent Extremism Officer for Portsmouth City Council
- Francesca Trotman (MSci Marine Biology, 2015), founder of Love The Oceans, a non-profit organisation dedicated to marine conservation
