Over 3000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from Cambridgeshire and Essex will be soon be celebrating graduation.

They will don ceremonial graduation gowns and bring family and friends to participate in the various ceremonies at Anglia Ruskin University to mark the formal completion of their degrees.

The graduation ceremonies will be staged at the Corporate Pavilion at Anglia Ruskin University's Rivermead campus, Chelmsford (5, 6 and 7 October) and the Guildhall, Cambridge on 20 and 21 October.

Honorary awards will presented during the faculty-themed ceremonies to various individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievements.

Stephen Welfare will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science award for his achievements in healthcare. Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Workforce with NHS East of England, he was previously the Chief Executive of the Essex Workforce Development Confederation and has held Board level positions with four NHS Organisations.

The NHS East of England covers one of the fastest growing regions in the UK, with a population of just below 5.6 million. The East of England NHS budget is £8.2 billion and there are over 125,000 staff employed in the region. As the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Workforce Stephen is responsible for overseeing the workforce and organisational development programmes associated with the new Coalition Government White Paper in the East of England. Stephen drives the policies that support the delivery of high quality healthcare providing value for money through a dedicated, well trained and committed workforce that has the skills and confidence to deliver high quality patient care.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development and has a BA in Politics from the University of Warwick.

Lynne Berry OBE will receive an Honorary Doctor of Health Science award for her inspiring role within the Third Sector. She is Chief Executive of WRVS - a major national charity that enables older people to get more out of life by providing a range of practical services, powered by around 2,500 staff and 55,000 volunteers.

Educated in Redditch, Worcestershire; at Cambridge College of Arts and Technology, a forerunner of Anglia Ruskin University; and University College Cardiff, Lynne Berry studied English and History before specialising in social sciences, public health, and cross-cultural studies.

Lynne is WRVS' third Chief Executive. She was appointed in 2007 having joined from the General Social Care Council. Previously she worked at the Equal Opportunities Commission and before that was Executive Director of the Charity Commission and Chief Executive of the Family Welfare Association.

Her earlier career has spanned central and local government, higher education, management development and training, community development and social work.

Her services to the social care sector were recognised in 2006 when she was awarded an OBE and it is for her continuing and inspiring role with the Third Sector that we recognise her with this award.

David Haye is a contemporary boxing legend known for his energy and professionalism and for being a role model to young people. He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science award for his boxing success. He is currently WBA Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World.

Boasting the hand and foot speed of a middleweight and simply unimaginable power, he scooped and unified all the major world cruiserweight titles within an explosive four-month period, before venturing to heavyweight and capturing the World Boxing Association's (WBA) heavyweight title.

Born in 1980 in Bermondsey, South London, David Haye's progression towards the combat sports was a natural one encouraged by his parents. At one point he was steered towards martial arts but at just 10 years of age stepped into the Fitzroy Lodge boxing gym and quickly caught the bug. Over the years, Fitzroy Lodge would become his home. Articulate and intelligent, David realised the importance of school grades but was lured by the riches and accolades of boxing. He left school at 15 with no qualifications but enough grounding to understand that sport is business.

David Haye began his professional career as a cruiserweight in 2002. Blessed with a knack of ending fights in dramatic style and intent on taking risks, 'The Hayemaker' quickly became a UK favourite and ultimately The Ring magazine's Champion.

Cruiserweight fights saw him beat WBO title holder Enzo MAccarinelli and his high profile battle with Monty 'Two Gunz' Barrett signalled the arrival of David Haye in the heavyweight division. His title shot came against 23 stone world champion Nikolai Valuev in 2009. Overcoming the 'Goliath' of boxing in 12 rounds, he fulfilled his life-long dream of lifting the WBA world heavyweight title and now installed as champion, he looks to replicate his cruiserweight success and unify the heavyweight titles.

While enjoying his achievements, he is actively working to give something back to the sport and has used his entrepreneurial skills to develop his international 'Hayemaker' business which helps develop young talented boxers who are looking to become professionals in the sport. He has also given his time and support to Anglia Ruskin University's new Postgraduate Medical Institute which is helping to develop the expertise of the medical profession for the benefit of people in the East of England including top sportsmen and women.