University of South Wales student Elis Jones missed his graduation ceremony on July 14 after being seriously injured in a road accident. Instead, he received a surprise ceremony from staff at the University Hospital of Wales, where he was being treated.
Jones, from Blaenau Ffestiniog, was due to graduate with a photography degree. He was being cared for by the major trauma team before being transferred to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
Staff rally round
When Jones mentioned he would miss the ceremony because of his injuries, the trauma team organised a special celebration. They made a homemade mortar board with a tassel and presented him with a congratulatory scroll to mark his degree completion.
The event turned what could have been a disappointing day into one Jones said he will always remember.
A memorable day
One staff member said: “I remember my graduation day as a really great day, a chance to celebrate all the hard work that goes into studying at uni, alongside friends and family. We wanted to do something for Elis to make it a memorable day for him and do a small bit towards making a difficult time a bit better for him.”
