Emotional moment at USP Graduation as family accepts late son’s certificate

In an emotional and proud moment at the University of the South Pacific graduation ceremony held at the Vodafone Arena today, a family from Sigatoka accepted their late son Ajinesh Kumar’s Bachelor of Agriculture certificate on his behalf.

Fighting back tears, father Ashok Kumar described the achievement as “a big early Father’s Day gift before going away.”

Ajinesh’s older sister, Auyashna Lata, also graduated today with a Diploma in Early Childhood Education, an achievement she had hoped they would receive together.

Lata says she and her late brother withdrew from taking part in the April graduation due to a sickness his brother had been battling for two months—a bone marrow disease.

She says the family had taken him to India for his medical treatment, and while there, he lost his life.

Lata says Ajinesh’s passion for agriculture stemmed from working on their family farm in Sigatoka.

She says he loved his job as a Biosecurity officer and was planning to open a nursery.

She says his determination showed when he was doing his assignments while in the hospital, which taught them an important lesson: to always work hard in whatever you put your mind to.

Lata and her late brother were part of 625 USP students who graduated from the School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean & Natural Sciences (SAGEONS), School of Business & Management (SBM), School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics (STEMP), and Pacific Technical and Further Education (PTAFE) today.

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Emotional moment at USP Graduation as family accepts late son’s certificate #fiji #fyp

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