Felicity Reynolds presenting the Mercy Foundation partnership grant to Professor HowardMelbourne Campus (St Patrick's) Clemente students, learning partners and staff at end of semester celebrations.

End of course celebrations for Clemente

An end of course celebration for the first round of students from Clemente Australia’s Campbelltown arm was held at the St Vincent De Paul Nagle Centre recently.

Representatives from ACU, the St Vincent De Paul Society and other supporting Catholic organisations and religious orders gathered to recognise the achievements of the four soon-to-be graduates, and those who have contributed to the success of the program.

Mercy Foundation CEO Felicity Reynolds attended the event to present a partnership grant to ACU Associate Professor Peter Howard for the Program, on behalf of the Mercy Foundation.

Ms Reynolds commended the University for adopting the Program and ensuring its continued growth.

“It’s the sort of thing the Mercy Foundation clearly wants to support,” she said. “We’re happy to have this as one of our partnership projects and be able to work with the Australian Catholic University to ensure it continues.”

Associate Professor Howard said he was amazed to see how support for the program had grown in the Campbelltown area, with nearly 100 people attending the event, including representatives from the Daughters of Charity, the Presentation Sisters, the Sisters of Mercy, the Patrician Brothers and the Christian Brothers.

“If today isn’t a reflection of the identity and mission of a Catholic university, I’m not quite sure what is,” he said.

Campbelltown Clemente students Steven Foster, Jenny Sheppard, Cindy Lockhart and Stephanie Haule, who will be graduating at the Sydney spring graduation ceremony, hope to continue their education on campus next year.

Celebrations were also underway for Clemente students in Melbourne last week, marking the completion of the philosophy unit in the Certificate in Liberal Arts. Previous units include Introduction to Sociology and Introduction to Indigenous History.

For more information on Clemente Australia visit http://www.acu.edu.au/114429