Graduation 2016: Posthumous Award For Eloise Parry

The family of Wrexham Glyndwr University student Eloise Parry have accepted a posthumous award for the work she completed during her studies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

21-year-old Eloise, from Shrewsbury, was studying for an honours degree in Families and Childhood Studies when she died in hospital in April 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Eloise, who would have graduated alongside her fellow students this week, was awarded a Diploma of Higher Education in Families and Childhood Studies. It was presented to her mother, Fiona Parry, in a ceremony at the William Aston Hall. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fiona said: “Like every young person, Eloise was a complex and vibrant individual with many divergent aspects to her persona. She was capable of being both serious and funny, studious and trivial, sociable and private. A very ordinary person; but special to everyone who knew and loved her. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The kindness and support that other people have shown us since Eloise died has been heart-warming and, as a family, we are very grateful to everyone who has taken the time to reach out to us. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“However, in terms of moving on and coming to terms with what happened, I think it is important to focus on the good and positive aspects of her life, and not to dwell on the bad things that happened. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Remembering and celebrating her achievements is immensely helpful. It gives her life meaning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am grateful that the University has recognised Eloise’s time at Glyndwr with a posthumous award, and feel very privileged that I have been allowed to receive it on her behalf. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the work that she had completed in her time here.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fiona also thanked Glyndwr University for supporting Eloise through her studies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She added: “Eloise’s time at Glyndwr University was a positive point in her life; choosing to enrol on the ‘Families and Childhood Studies’ course was a pivotal moment for her. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“She had found a focus, a purpose, something she wanted to do with her life and this qualification was going to be the key that unlocked the door and allowed her to follow her dreams.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ruth Davies, senior lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, taught Eloise at Wrexham Glyndwr University and said she always found time to help others. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ruth said: “Ella was a vivacious, intelligent, diligent and kind person. While studying on the BA (Hons) Families and Childhood Studies programme Ella always participated fully in her studies, ensuring her work was to a very high standard. Ella also supported her peers in the group, and they likewise would try to support Ella. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Ella would come and spend time talking to her lecturers on a regular basis and was a valued member of our student community. She has been missed by both students and staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“She should have been here today celebrating a first class honours degree, which I am certain she would have achieved.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Marc Caldecott, former Wrexham Glyndwr University Student Union President, said: “Eloise was an active member of the Union. Just before her passing she had planned to take part in our Raising and Giving week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“She was bright, very talented and always put others before her.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​