The ceremony signalled the start of ‘graduation season’ at CSU, during which 4000 students will graduate from multiple campuses across 10 days.

CSU vice-chancellor Professor Andrew Vann presided over the Orange graduation. Ms Annette Steele, CEO of the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council, carried the ceremonial university mace and Mr Michael Newman welcomed attendees to Wiradjuri country.

Professor Vann congratulated graduates, saying they “will always be a valued member of the university community and we look forward to your continued involvement with Charles Sturt University in the years to come”.

Rural community pharmacist and CSU graduate Kristi-Lee Rigby gave the occasional address. Ms Rigby is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) early career pharmacist working group, a councillor for the NSW branch of the PSA and was recently named by her peers as a rising star of pharmacy.

Ms Rigby advised graduates to put themselves in the way of opportunity and to say yes to new experiences, even if that meant stepping out of their comfort zone.

Ms Chelsea Noon, who graduated with an honours degree in physiotherapy, delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the graduates.

Chelsea described the journey through university as “one of our biggest challenges, but also one of our greatest achievements, in which we should all be proud”.

We at CSU congratulate the graduates and wish them well on their next adventure.