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Thursday 14 May 2020 12:14am

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A lockdown graduation party for the School of PE. Top row (from left): Professor Chris Button, Associate Professor Sally Shaw, Leena Shoemaker (PhD graduate); Jessica Calverley (graduate); middle row: Professor Jim Cotter, Associate Professor Nancy Rehrer, Associate Professor Elaine Hargreaves; Associate Professor Tania Cassidy; bottom row: The Calverley Family (from New Jersey, USA), Ms Margie Lazar; Jessica’s sister Sophie Calverley (not on video).

The School of Physical Education Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Otago didn’t let lockdown prevent them from celebrating their graduating students over the weekend – replacing a physical morning tea with a virtual party.

Several staff of the School (some arriving in full regalia), graduating postgraduate students and family members shared in the celebrations from their bubbles.

Dean of the School Chris Button says it was heart-warming to talk to and hear from the students and their families at this special time and is proud the School could still provide an improvised celebration despite lockdown.

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PE Master's graduate Jessica Calverley (centre) during her surprise makeshift graduation ceremony on Saturday.

And it turned out to be a pretty unique experience for American graduate Jessica Calverley when, following the virtual party, her flatmates surprised her with a makeshift graduation ceremony – all that was needed was a colander covered with a rubbish bag (for a hat), a blown up rubbish bag (for bagpipes), drums, a handmade degree, and both a proxy mum and professor. Her celebration even made the front page of the Otago Daily Times.

She told the Otago Bulletin Board the surprise was "lovely and thoughtful" - so unexpected that she hadn't even put on shoes.

"They knew that it was a special day but that I didn't want to make a fuss of it or be the centre of attention," she says.

"I think I laughed the entire time, particularly when the ODT photographer stopped by during our photo shoot! To have a little celebration in such a fun and inventive way meant a lot, especially as my parents couldn't travel over from the States to be here."

Jessica is a Kiwihost and RA for Uniflats, and says she and her eight flatmates are all in the same boat in terms of having their families overseas.

"It makes significant times like these really special to share with the flat whānau and I think it speaks volumes to the collegiality, sense of community, and pride felt with being an Otago student."

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