Commuting 100 miles, from bottom of class to top of School, and needing 30-hour days: Valedictorians of 2025 reflect on BNU experience
Graduation 2025 has arrived and with that the celebration of our Valedictorians. This year’s Valedictorians are well-rounded and exceptional students who have demonstrated academic excellence, strong leadership, and a dedicated work ethic.
As well as consistently achieving high grades, they have demonstrated resilience and a positive attitude in the face of challenges, as well as an unfailing commitment, perseverance, and drive to succeed.
From one student's story of commuting 100 miles while juggling parenting, studies, and part-time work, to another’s tale of consistently coming bottom of the class before graduating with the highest mark in their school, our ‘25 Valedictorian’s stories portray them as inspirational individuals for their peers and future BNU students.
Hear a few of our ‘25 Valedictorians’ inspiring stories and reflections from their time at BNU below.
Alice Belewa – Valedictorian for Creative and Digital Industries
“My path to this point was unconventional. I was on this same course twelve years ago, but did not complete it. Then life took its course: divorce, single motherhood, financial struggles, my educational dreams seemed out of reach.
“However, it's often during our toughest moments that we find our true strength. Film and TV helped me regain control of my story, and BNU provided the resources and community I needed to share it.
“As a mature student among younger peers, I often wondered if I belonged. I commute over 100 miles, juggling parenting, studies, and part-time work – this fueled my determination. My journey isn’t just about me, it’s about proving it’s never too late to rewrite your story."
Sahil Din – Valedictorian for Engineering and the Build Environment - apprentice
“I’ve always struggled a bit with most things – school, university, figuring out how to use a printer. I actually spent most of school in the bottom sets. At one point, I even required special needs support.
“And during my first two years at Uni, this was no different as I was consistently at the bottom of my class. But somehow – through stubbornness, caffeine, and probably more late nights than I care to admit – I became the first engineering student to graduate with a mark above 80%.
“But. This would not have been possible without the lecturers who went above and beyond to support me.”
Sinead Spencer – Valedictorian for Nursing and Midwifery
“University is not without its challenges. Speaking as a nursing student, the hardest part was balancing studying and coursework with placement hours. I believe this is the case for many different subjects, where students are required to achieve practical experience alongside their studies. It felt like you needed a 30-hour day sometimes! Being a full-time student during a cost-of-living crisis has also been a real challenge, but again, BNU did a lot to support us, with various financial support options to apply for and subsidised food on campus.
“The best bit has absolutely been the people: the friends I’ve made, our brilliant personal tutor and the staff, as well as the healthcare staff I met on my placements. Our brilliant Students’ Union deserves a shoutout too, for the support they offer and the great events they organised for us.”
This year’s Valedictorians are:
- Eryn Peskett - Interior and Spatial Design
- Julie Chamberlain - Psychology
- Om Dhadwal - Aviation and Security
- Peter Ashiagbor - Business Management
- Sahil Din - Engineering and the Build Environment - apprentice
- Alice Belewa - Creative and Digital Industries
- Sinead Spencer - Nursing and Midwifery
Find the dates and ceremonies for this year’s Graduation here.