Graduates step out
NMIT Blenheim's first nursing graduates celebrate their milestone during the institute's 120th anniversary. Photo: William Woodworth.
Celebrations for NMIT’s 120th anniversary in Blenheim were made even more special with the graduation of the first cohort of locally trained nurses.
Eighty-eight of 236 approved graduates, along with officials and supporters, filled the Marlborough Events Centre on Tuesday, 9 December, before taking the traditional lap through central Blenheim to acknowledge their achievements.
NMIT executive director Olivia Hall says the institute has grown significantly over the past 120 years and will continue to adapt to the region’s needs.
“We have grown since early days and are always prioritising excellent vocational education and looking at the training needs of our region and our nation.
“The very first cohort of our Blenheim-based Bachelor of Nursing students graduating is a significant milestone for NMIT and for each of our nursing graduates, who are the first to complete this degree right here at home. And all of them have secured roles here in Blenheim – an amazing result.
“We’ve bounced back from Covid-19, and it’s been great to see enrolments growing this year. It’s especially pleasing to see more international learners choosing our region as their place to study, and we were thrilled to learn that NMIT had some of the highest rates of learners completing their qualifications last year among all New Zealand polytechnics.
“We are fortunate to have exceptional tutors, support teams and Students’ Association who share their expertise generously, bring out the best in their classes, and encourage learners to reach their potential.”
Guest speaker Kylie Cornelius, Executive Officer of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, says celebrating the graduates was a privilege and offered insight into local learning pathways.
“We celebrated such an impressive group of graduates – seeing the first cohort of nurses from the Marlborough campus complete their three-year Bachelor of Nursing programme was particularly special, especially with all of them stepping straight into local roles.
“It was also great to see strong pathways into aviation, engineering and primary industries, which are so important for our region.”