The celebration took place in the new student hub on the Medway Campus and was conceived as an opportunity to mark the end of Spring Term and showcase student talent.
Congratulations to the organising committee for organising such a fantastic collaborative event. Good luck to all the final-year students sitting their final exams. This year the theme of the ball was ‘casino’ and it was attended by over 170 students and staff from Kent Business School and the School of Music and Fine Art. The ball was sponsored by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and was organised by a committee of nine, including KBS and SMFA students, the head of Greenwich and Kent Unions and KBS’s Student Experience Assistant James Lagdon. 
An event casino was set up on the mezzanine, and guests arrived to a cocktail reception and SMFA art exhibition in the foyer area before a three-course dinner was served. Music was played throughout the meal by final year Music student Noel Chambers, before an informal awards ceremony took place, where the achievements of the organising committee were recognised, and some tongue-in-cheek awards were distributed to students from both schools. The evening then moved into it’s most lively stages, with live music and student DJ group carrying the party through to the early hours.
‘The best part of the ball was seeing it all come together, it was so nice that the two schools were able to come together and celebrate. Although most of us still have our final deadlines coming up it was still a lovely send off for us final year students. I hope that the event continues so that years below us are able to have the same experience!’ – Kirsten Short, SMFA Student.
Sue Tarrant, Director of BA (Hons) Business and Management with a Year in Industry, said; ‘The Ball was a great success. It was very well organised by the Committee and incorporated a fun casino element. It also broke new ground; it used The Deep End as its venue, and the staff there should be congratulated on the good food and the excellent organisation – they worked very hard on the night!’
‘It also was a collaboration between the Business School and the School of Music and Fine Arts and that was wonderful to witness – to see the students mixing, to realise the friendships that exist across the Schools, and to be able to see the talents of the SMFA students in the art exhibition they put on and the bands that played at the event. There was an awards ceremony that was very amusing and at times touching, and we should note that the event was sponsored by the Chartered Management Institute whose contribution to the evening was much appreciated. Overall it was a wonderful evening that I believe the students and the staff attending thoroughly enjoyed, and could only have strengthened the partnership between the two Schools.’
Hannah Brown, President of the Music Society and final year SMFA student said: ‘The Dockyard Ball was a great experience for both KBS and SMFA students. The food and service were fantastic, along with great company. The Music Society organised all the live music for the event, and it turned out to be a great success. I hope both KBS and SMFA join forces again in the future to create such high standard event.’
Special thanks go to James Lagdon, Maddie Joyce, Kirsten Short, Hannah Brown, Ada Worswick, Chenille Harris, Syriol Benissan, James Burns and Lesley Ellard.
I attended the ball with my daughter who is studying Business Management and it was extremely enjoyable. Thanks very much.
Hello Kevin, thank you for your kind comments. We’re glad you enjoyed the Dockyard ball.