Matthew Hogan
19 April 2016: As a schoolboy in Sydney, Sean Willis dreamed of one day working for the Australian Olympic Committee, and he soon discovered that the best means of pursuing that goal was for a degree from the University of Canberra.
His five years of hard work and dedication came to a head when he received his Bachelor of Tourism Management and Bachelor of Sports Management double degree at Parliament House on 7 April.
It wasn't an easy road for Mr Willis, with his father and grandfather passing away during his third year of study.
"I guess it took a lot of courage for me to get back into uni, but it's what they would have wanted me to do," he said.
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Sean Willis graduated with a Bachelor of Tourism Management and Bachelor of Sports Management double degree. Photo: Kim Pham.
He also praised the support he received from the University during this difficult time.
"I received a lot of support from a lot of my lecturers," he recalled. "They weren't just saying not to worry about that semester and come back next semester; I was getting texts and emails just making sure that I was okay."
Mr Willis was very active both on and off campus during his studies, putting in time as competitions manager at Basketball ACT and as vice president of the University of Canberra Hockey Club, a team for which he still competes, and has led to his current role as membership coordinator at Hockey ACT.
"My goal is to work for the Australian Olympic Committee and I feel like my experience at UC has put me on the right track to achieve it," he said.
Mr Willis was cheered on by his mother and girlfriend at his graduation ceremony.
Read about more of our recent graduates:
Third UC degree for masters graduate
UC honours graduate delves into hidden collections
Single mum graduates with masters degree
PhD graduate fights the invasion of the cloning snails
Grad finds success in exercise physiology
Comms grad chases advertising dream
UC grad follows forensic dreams
IT grad flies in from Saudi Arabia
