The achievements of more than 1 100 students will be recognised in six formal graduation ceremonies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga next week.

More than 3 000 guests are expected to attend the graduation ceremonies in Joyes Hall, Pine Gully Road, from Monday 15 December to Wednesday 17 December.

All graduates will be formally admitted to their awards by Deputy Chancellor of CSU, Mr Peter Hayes.

Highlights include:

9.30am Monday 15 December

Graduates are from the Faculty of Arts, including the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Communication and Creative Industries and the School of Psychology.
 
- The Occasional Address will be delivered by Captain Richard de Crespigny, Qantas pilot and author of QF32. In November 2010, Captain de Crespigny safely landed an Airbus A380 with 469 passengers after a mid-air explosion en route from Singapore to Sydney.

- Animation students who have put their skills to good use promoting not-for-profit organisations will graduate in this ceremony.

- Ms Lucy Holbrook from Wagga Wagga will be awarded the inaugural Western District Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) and CSU Social Work Prize, -  awarded to a student who has completed their final social work placement in a regional or remote location working with families and communities to improve lives and realise potential. FACS Acting District Director Murrumbidgee, Ms Gargi Ganguly will attend the ceremony.

- Seven Doctors of Philosophy and one Doctor of Social Work will be awarded to graduates.

253 graduates and more than 700 guests are due to attend this ceremony.

3pm Monday 15 December

Graduates are from the Faculty of Education, including the School of Education and the School of Information Studies.

- The Occasional Address will be delivered by Dr Henry Gardiner, long-time Esquire Bedell (bearer of the ceremonial mace). Dr Gardiner will be admitted to the Order of the Companion of the University.

- Head of Campus of CSU in Wagga Wagga Ms Miriam Dayhew will be awarded a Master of Education. Ms Dayhew will also be Master of Ceremonies for the six graduations.

- Dr Jake Wallis and Dr Kathryn Hopps and their new baby, Erin, will attend the ceremony after the couple met early in their postgraduate studies at a research forum at CSU in 2011. Dr Wallis, from the University's School of Information Studies, will graduate with a PhD titled, #digitalactivism: Networks, new media and political action.  Dr Hopps, a Research Fellow with the University's Research Institute for Professional Practice, Learning and Education (RIPPLE), will receive her PhD titled, Intersetting communication and the transition to school at a graduation ceremony at CSU in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday 18 December.

237 graduates and more than 660 guests are due to attend this ceremony in Joyes Hall.

9.30am Tuesday 16 December

Graduates from the Faculty of Science, including the School of Biomedical Sciences; the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences; the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences; and the School of Environmental Sciences.

- The Occasional Address will be delivered by Right Reverend Professor Stephen Pickard, Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture.

- The University Medal will be presented to Bachelor of Pharmacy student Mr Jamie Pisani. In 2014, Mr Pisani was named Pharmacy Student of the Year by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. Mr Pisani will also receive three additional awards at graduation including: Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (NSW) Gold Medal for Highest Aggregate WAM Score over four years of Undergraduate Course, Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) NSW Branch Elizabeth Perks Prize for Excellence in Therapeutics, and ADA (NSW Branch) Ltd Prize for the Highest Academic and Clinical Achievement (Year 5).
 
- Ms Leah Garnett will receive a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) and will be presented with the Agricultural Science Medal, donated by CSU Emeritus Professor Jim Pratley.  Ms Garnett is now working for the Ricegrowers' Association of Australia.

198 graduates and more than 560 guests are due to attend this ceremony.

3pm Tuesday 16 December

Graduates are from the Faculty of Science, including the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and the School of Nursing Midwifery and Indigenous Health.

- The Occasional Address will be delivered the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural health The Hon. Melinda Pavey, MLC.

- During the Djirruwang's Program's 21^st year, 15 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates will receive a Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health).

- The Veterinary Science Medal will be awarded to Ms Rosemary McKean who moved from the Northern Territory to Wagga Wagga with her young family to study veterinary science at CSU. Ms McKean will also receive the Continuing Veterinary Education Clinical Competency Award.

- Dr John Broster from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga will receive his PhD titled, Design and Characteristics of Shelter Belts and their Influence on Survival of New Born Lambs.

- Ms Cassandra MacDonald will be awarded a Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science With Honours Class1 Division 2. While a student, Ms MacDonald took on Coles in a video about milk prices. She is now working in a mixed veterinary practice in Muswellbrook in NSW Hunter Valley. 

- Ms Lucy Watt will be awarded her Bachelor of Animal Science (Honours) after completing her research on how dairy cows digest their food and the potential for reducing methane emissions. Read more in CSU News here.

201 graduates and more than 560 guests are expected to attend the ceremony.

9.30am Wednesday 17 December

Graduates are from the Faculty of Business, including the School of Computing and Mathematics and the School of Management and Marketing.

- The Occasional Address will be delivered by CSU graduate and co-founder and co-director of 365cups Ms Simone Eyles.

- Mr Tom Gibson will graduate with a Bachelor of Information Technology after completing his studies through an integrated IT pathway program through TAFE NSW - Riverina Institute. Read more here.

- Dr Amjed Majeed will travel to Wagga Wagga from Dubai to receive his PhD titled, Prolonging Network Life Time and Running Multi-Sequence Applications in Wireless Sensor Networks. Dr Majeed has studied through distance education and said, "Graduation is one of life's most precious events."

159 graduates and more than 420 guests are expected to attend the ceremony.

3pm Wednesday 17 December

Graduates are from the Faculty of Business, including the School of Accounting and Finance
 
- The Occasional Address will be delivered by Dr Julian de Meyrick, tertiary education administrator and marketing researcher.

55 graduates and more than 150 guests are due to attend this ceremony.