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Graduation

Class of 2020

A collage of nine of our students' faces

We’re so proud of our class of 2020. They've overcome enormous challenges to graduate, but at the same time they've been determined to make a difference - helping others, grasping opportunities to develop their skills and showing their Essex Spirit in so many different ways. Now we're taking the chance to celebrate their achievements.

Class of 2020: Macadie Amoroso
Macadie Amoroso knew from the age of 12 that she wanted to act but she can also add writer to her CV as she leaves East 15 Acting School with an award-winning play heading for the London stage.
Class of 2020: Joseph Barker
Joseph Barker chose to study BSc Sport and Exercise Science at Essex after being wowed by our fantastic lab facilities, which he later got the chance to use to develop his own skills when he spent a placement year in the Human Performance Unit.
Class of 2020: Nina Beckmann Gámez
Nina Beckmann Gámez’s advice to new students is to seize every opportunity and that’s exactly what she has done with her time at Essex.
Class of 2020: Miles Clayton
Dedicated lecturers in the Department of History have inspired Miles Clayton to train as a teacher at his former sixth form college where he hopes to prepare school leavers for their own university experiences.
Class of 2020: Stanimira Dimitrova
Despite the challenges of entering the job market during a pandemic, Stanimira Dimitrova believes her placement year at Nissan UK has given her the skills and confidence to land her dream job in the future.
Class of 2020: Catherine Duggan
The chance to help vulnerable people and develop vital legal skills prompted Catherine Duggan to transfer from the Open University to Essex where she has successfully juggled studying, pro bono work, part-time employment and two young children.
Class of 2020: Stella Eckl
A passion for volunteering and her own heritage as the child of migrants meant joining the Refugee Teaching Programme was an obvious extra-curricular activity for Stella Eckl, who is leaving Essex with a BA International Relations.
Class of 2020: Mick Ekers
For mature student Mick Ekers, returning to university wasn’t just about broadening his horizons, it’s also been a chance to develop his writing skills which he has already put to good use with a book about guitarist Frank Zappa.
Class of 2020: Amanda Horne
Determination and one great friendship have helped Amanda Horne complete her BA History with a piece of historical fiction under her belt after her chances of success were threatened by anxiety, PTSD and disability.
Class of 2020: Natalia Kheldouni
Panto provided the perfect opportunity for BA Stage and Production Management student Natalia Kheldouni to hone her skills when she landed a placement at one of London’s most iconic and historic theatres.
Class of 2020: Sam Nelson
Sam Nelson will leave Essex with more than just a BSc Physiotherapy. His final-year placement in Covid 19 care has given him invaluable experiences that will help his future career and heart-warming memories that will last a lifetime.
Class of 2020: Ijeoma Okolo
Coronavirus has turned lives upside down around the world but it has also given Ijeoma Okolo, who is graduating with an MSc Adult Nursing, a unique learning experience that will stay with her forever.
Class of 2020: Jacob Ottaway
Jacob Ottaway isn’t just leaving Essex with a first class BA Multimedia Journalism degree, he takes with him a wealth of practical experience in the newsroom that has already taught him valuable lessons about live journalism.
Class of 2020: Abena Prempah
A passion for righting injustices attracted Abena Prempah to a law degree but it was this desire to help others that led her to volunteer as a Wellbeing Ambassador too.
Class of 2020: Amber Scott
Aspiring diplomat Amber Scott knows the job market in the wake of coronavirus will be tougher than ever but is confident the skills she’s picked up on the applied quantitative methods pathway and through her extra-curricular activities will help her get a step ahead.
Class of 2020: Conor Walker
For committed volleyball player Conor Walker an Essex education has been about juggling training and matches with the pressures of studying, all whilst holding down a job with Essex Sport, but success in the BUCS Premier South league made it all worthwhile.
Class of 2020: Holly Worrall
Holly Worrall, who was drawn to Essex for its international community, is already using her degree to advance space exploration in an internship focused on preparing teams for missions to suborbital space, Mars, the Moon and beyond.
Class of 2020: Zina Younes
Zina Younes chose to study law in order to help others which is exactly what she was able to do during her placement year, which was split between volunteering in Kenya and working as a paralegal in the UK.
Also see
Graduate Stories - Class of 2024
Graduate Stories - Class of 2023
Graduate stories - Class of 2022
Graduate stories - Class of 2021
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