STUDENTS from University Centre Truro & Penwith graduated under a seven-metre replica of Mars on Saturday [October 18]. More than 700 people attended the sold-out ceremony at Truro Cathedral, which is currently hosting artist Luke Jerram’s Mars: War and Peace.

The event marked a significant milestone in the lives of graduates as they prepare to embark on careers in education, business, law, the creative industries and on the frontline of Cornwall’s NHS.

Among them was BSc (Hons) Archaeology graduate James McBlane, who was presented with the University Centre Truro & Penwith Award for Excellence by Dr Emily Myatt, Dean of the University Centre.

Hailed as Cornwall's own Indiana Jones, James undertook deep-dive training in the Mediterranean and was commissioned to digitally map the seabed off the Caribbean Island of Bonaire alongside his studies, later leading a team in Egypt to explore a Second World War shipwreck for his dissertation project.

“We’re incredibly lucky to have an institution of this quality on our doorstep in Cornwall,” said James, who is now studying his Masters in Global Maritime Archaeology at the University of Malta.

Health and wellbeing graduate Rebecca Harvey was awarded the Plymouth Partnership Prize for extraordinary courage. Rebecca started her studies on the waiting list for a lung transplant, and received the devastating news that her health condition is terminal and a transplant is not possible.

“I continued with my studies despite my personal health issues, because they made me feel good - and I wanted to show my children that you can still achieve something even when things are difficult,” she said.

Truro and Penwith College principal Martin Tucker attended his final graduation ahead of retiring after 41 years in education. “The real privilege of our work is to give people the opportunity to learn, develop and change,” he said. “That means the communities they serve can develop and make progress too.”