Professional rugby league player, Karmichael Hunt, who typically dons the Brisbane Bronco’s jersey, switched to academic regalia when graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from University of Southern Queensland.
Karmichael attended the graduation ceremony with his family and delivered the Valedictorian speech, thanking all families for supporting their loved ones.
“Thank you for being there for us, when we have been stressed out with assignment deadlines, overloaded with work duties, and simply worn-out by the enormity of our lives,” he said.
“If not for your unconditional support, love, kindness, patience, and comfort, graduating today would not have been possible.”
Karmichael’s UniSQ path started with a bridging course to enter an undergraduate program.
“I was going through some difficult times when I looked to UniSQ to enrol in a Tertiary Preparation Pathway (UniReady) program. This led me to get on the phone to UniSQ, to firstly enrol in the Tertiary Preparation Pathway (UniReady) and then go on and get a Bachelor of Science in Psychology,” he said.
Karmichael has played at the top level in rugby league, rugby union and Australian Rules but said the next arena was the most important of his life. His sights are now set on kicking goals in the Master of Research in the sport psychology field at UniSQ under the supervision of leading sports psychologists Professor Peter Terry and Professor Andrea Lamont Mills.
“I have a rich history in sport and to be able to learn the theory behind the psychology of sport performance in athletes is the direction I want to head,” Karmichael said.
