Graduation day is always a landmark occasion and today was no exception as the JMU Journalism Class of 2026 marked the end of a long and successful journey at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.
The cathedral’s majestic setting was, as ever, a fitting venue for the convocation ceremony, with family members and friends beaming with pride as graduates gathered for a moment they had waited and studied three years for.
The Metropolitan Cathedral then hosted the traditional ‘Toast to Your success’ event, as Liverpool John Moores University saluted its latest crop of trainee reporters.
Head of Journalism, Fran Yeoman, said: “Graduation is one of the best days in the academic calendar because it the culmination of so much hard work on the part of both staff and students, and a chance to celebrate the achievements of the next generation of talented young journalists.
“I have been at LJMU for ten years now and it is always exciting to see our graduates go on to build successful careers in journalism and across a wide range of industries, strengthening our growing alumni network each year.
“I am excited to see what the Class of 2026 achieves and hope they will stay connected with us and return to share their future successes.”
Instagram: Photo gallery from JMU Journalism graduation day 2026 >>
Award winners
Achievement in Journalism: Rebecca Thompson
Achievement in Sports Journalism: Louis Parr
LJMU Journalism prize for Research Excellence: Freddie Thomas-Neher
Tim Hetherington Prize for Outstanding Long-Form Journalism: Katie Bowers (Final Project)
Arek Kiciek Memorial Prize for Outstanding Contribution to the Journalism Department: Rayhan Bengougou
Class of 2026 graduates
Journalism
Bachelor of Arts with Honours: Matilda Bancroft; Katie Bowers; Charlie Colson; James Corrigan; Matthew Cowley; Emily Doughty; Stephen Hornby; Poppy Howard; Oliver Hughes; Anasimone Ibrahim; Jade Jones; Joseph Jones; Freya Leather; Alexandra McCleary; Tierna McCourt; Joseph McLachlan; Chloe Mcloughlin; Hannah O’Sullivan; Elizabeth Patten; Minnie Paynter; Tom Pratten; Diana Quintal; Toby Roberts; Megan Rogers-Jones; Lily Safar; Daisy Sharman-Smith; Emily Shillcock; Isabella Stanley; Savannah Stewart; Rebecca Thompson; Oliver Watson; Megan Wells.
Sports Journalism
Bachelor of Arts with Honours: Omar Achoukhi; Rayhan Bengougou; George Brassey; Sophie Brooks; Alfie Bugg; Jack Cheseldine; James Chettle; Rebecca Clayton; Callum Clutterbuck; Luca Crane; Thomas Day; Zephryn Dockree; Lewis Francis; Sam Hackett; Sienna Hughes; Thomas Gardiner; Lewis Glascott-Ryan; Jesse Hornby; Oscar Howell; Jacob Howson; Aled James; Grace Johnson; Dylan Jones; Lucy King; Samuel Lawrence; Owen Linnett; Keira Lucock; Daniel McNutt; Elliott Newby; Cole Osman; Louis Parr; Lucas Patrick; Ruben Picardo Ashworth; Oliver Powell; Rahul Prinjha; Jake Reed; Phoebe Ross; Charlie Sangha; Mason Savva; Frederik Thomas-Neher; Carys Wallace; Jack White; Cai Wilshaw.
Students from the @JMUJournalism Class of 2026 celebrate graduation day @LivCathedral #ljmugrad pic.twitter.com/ZMPWjpUhEx
— JMU Journalism (@JMUJournalism) July 23, 2026
Congratulations to the @JMUJournalism Class of 2026 as they celebrate graduation day @LivCathedral #ljmugrad pic.twitter.com/6Y4ibqcQrx
— JMU Journalism (@JMUJournalism) July 23, 2026
Congratulations to all of our graduates celebrating their achievements today 🎓 Pictured are Freddie Thomas-Neher, who was awarded the LJMU Journalism Research Excellence Prize and Rebecca Thompson, who was awarded the Achievement in Journalism Prize🎉 pic.twitter.com/SYoR9UZXfl
— JMU Journalism (@JMUJournalism) July 23, 2026