Supreme Court Justice to Address Graduates

Queensland Supreme Court Justice Glen Williams will address graduates at a University of Queensland graduation ceremony in Mayne Hall at 6pm tonight.

Justice Williams, a UQ Arts and Law graduate, was Chairman of the Queensland Law Reform Commission from 1993 to 1996.

Tonight's ceremony will see the conferral of doctorates of philosophy and graduation of students from UQ's faculty of Business, Economics and Law.

There will also be a presentation of University Medals, awarded to graduands with an outstanding academic record.

Among tonight's medallists is Megan Hirst who will receive dual medals for first class honours in Arts and Law.

Ms Hirst has received three Dean's Commendations for her academic achievements and was awarded first-class honours in Arts, majoring in history in 2000, and first class honours in Law this year. She has also recently been selected as a Commonwealth Scholarship Fellow to study in the United Kingdom.

Ms Hirst will be following in the footsteps of her brother Scott who at a graduation ceremony in May last year also received dual medals and was a valedictorian.

This evening's valedictorian is Emma Wilke, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours.

Ms Wilke, who also received a Bachelor of Arts degree from UQ in 1998, will tonight reflect on her time as a student at the T.C. Beirne School of Law and what the future holds for her fellow graduates.

"I'll be expressing my hope that as graduates we can reach our potential and secure a return on the personal investment the years of study represent.

"I hope that we will maintain a sense of commitment to the Law School and a sense of solidarity with our fellow graduates," Ms Wilke said.

Media: For more information, contact Mark Cusack in the UQ Communications Office (telephone 3365 3439) or email communications@mailbox.uq.edu.au.