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Millie Bright OBE, professional footballer for the England national team and Women's Super League club Chelsea, has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters at the University of ��«Ӱҵ, in recognition of her amazing success.

Hailing from Chesterfield, Millie Bright quickly rose through the ranks of football’s elite, playing for Doncaster Belles and Leeds Ladies, representing England on the under-19 and under-23 national teams, ​being named as captain at Chelsea and ​​having captained the England national team.

Domestically Millie has won multiple league and cup titles with Chelsea, including five Women’s Super League titles, the Women’s FA Cup four times, and reaching the UEFA Champions League final in 2021. She started every match of Chelsea’s 2021-22 season and has made over 200 appearances for the club.

A key player in the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 winning campaign during her time as vice-captain, Millie started all six games of the tournament finals and was described as a ‘figurehead’ of the squad. She is also a respected personality in the promotion of women’s sport.

During the ceremony on Tuesday (17 June 2024), Millie spoke to fellow graduates and said: “I feel honoured to be here with you all sharing this special day.

“If there's one thing I can relate to you all with, it’s hard work, it’s commitment, and it’s sacrifice, to make sure we're all here today enjoying this special occasion.

“I'm really delighted to receive this award, but mainly it's for everyone out there supporting the women’s game.”

Professor Koen Lamberts, Vice-Chancellor of the University of ��«Ӱҵ, said: "Throughout her incredible career in football, including with South Yorkshire clubs ��«Ӱҵ United Academy and Doncaster Belles, Millie has been a fantastic ambassador for the women's game. She and her fellow Lionesses have inspired women and girls across the country to get involved in sport, and continue to build a remarkable legacy from their Euro 2022 victory. We are very proud to recognise Millie's enormous talent and dedication, and to welcome her to the University of ��«Ӱҵ community."

He added: "All of our honorary graduates have contributed so much in their respective fields, and we are so pleased that we can recognise their extraordinary achievements. We know they will go on to be brilliant advocates and ambassadors for the University and will inspire our students as they plan for their next chapter.”

Millie was joined this week by Christine Bush, a ��«Ӱҵ-born critically acclaimed playwright, lyricist and theatre-maker, most widely known in the city for the award-winning Standing at Sky’s Edge, about the residents of Park Hill flats.

Christine received a Doctor of Letters on Thursday 18 July in recognition of her work specialising in musicals, large-scale community work and political theatre, which give a voice and dignity to frequently marginalised perspectives.

Currently an Associate Director at ��«Ӱҵ Theatres, she has written frequently about the city, and the success of her work has helped the national and international profile of the city, promoting ��«Ӱҵ beyond the region.

Christine rose to fame with her satirical comedy musical TONY! The Blair Musical, which won the inaugural Sunday Times National Student Drama Festival (NSDF) Award. She won a UK Theatre Award for Best Musical in 2018 for The Assassination of Katie Hopkins, about the polarisation of public debate in the age of social media. Standing at Sky’s Edge, the musical about the residents of Park Hill flats, won her a second UK Theatre Award for Best Musical. 

Millie Bright and Christine Bush were joined by a further four other honorary graduates, who were all recognised throughout the week for their own significant contributions to the region, including:

Helen Milner, OBE, received a Doctor of Letters

Chief Executive of the ��«Ӱҵ charity, the Good Things Foundation, Helen Milner has paved the way for the development of online education, both in the UK and abroad.

The foundation supports digitally and socially excluded people to improve their lives through digital skills, and Helen’s ambition is to ensure that no-one is left behind as the world becomes increasingly more digital. Since 2010 the charity and its local partners have helped more than 2.7 million people to cross the digital divide.

Helen’s efforts have been recognised nationally, having been inducted into the British Interactive Media Association’s Digital Hall of Fame in 2012; appointed an OBE for services to digital inclusion in 2015; in 2017 she won the coveted title of Digital Leader of the Year (UK) and she was recognised at the UK Technology Awards in 2021 with a special achievement award for diversity and inclusion work.

Jenny Lay-Flurrie was awarded a Doctor of Engineering

University of ��«Ӱҵ music alumna Jenny Lay-Flurrie, is one of the tech industry’s foremost leaders on accessibility and inclusion and is currently Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft.

Leading the company’s efforts to drive products, services and websites that empower people and organisations to achieve more. She is noted as the founder of Microsoft’s Disability Employee Resource Group, which she claimed empowered her as a deaf disabled female leader. Her work on championing disability and inclusivity has seen a significant shift towards products being specifically designed to be accessible for people with disabilities, and led to Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, nominating Jenny as his individual who would change the future of technology in Wired Magazine’s 25th anniversary edition.

Professor Gavin Bryars was awarded a Doctor of Music

University of ��«Ӱҵ philosophy alumnus Gavin Bryars is one of the most important and influential British composers of the last half-century.

Bryars’ major early compositions include Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet and The Sinking of the Titanic. The 1990 release of Jesus Blood, featuring Tom Waits, was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize. A 12-hour performance of the piece was staged at the Tate Modern in 2019, using both professional musicians and performers with experience of homelessness, while the London Philharmonic performed it twice in 2023, during the week of his 80th birthday.

Bryars’ Operas have been performed worldwide including by the Opéra de Lyon, the Opéra de Paris and the English National Opera. Bryars has also been commissioned to write for a vast array of individuals and ensembles, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Julian Lloyd Webber, the London Sinfonietta, and the Netherlands National Ballet.

Dr Bikramjit Singh Bhangu, OBE, received a Doctor of Engineering

Engineering alumnus Dr Bicky Bhangu is currently President for South East Asia, Pacific and South Korea within Rolls Royce.

Actively involved in the advancement of regional aerospace, marine and high-value manufacturing industries, Bicky is Council Member for the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), Deputy President of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and Board Member of Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC). He has also served as President of the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore over several terms and as Vice President for the Euro Chambers of Commerce Singapore. 

He was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours List for service to international trade, investment, export and strengthening partnership between Singapore and UK.

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