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Newry man Yousef Almahamed (23) has been named Student of the Year within the Faculty of Professional Services at Southern Regional College, having graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Sports and Exercise Science. The award was presented at SRC's graduation ceremony on Friday 28 August 2026, marking a major milestone in a journey that began with Yousef and his family fleeing conflict in Syria.
Yousef has lived in Newry with his family for the past ten years, having found a new life and opportunities in Northern Ireland after seeking refuge from Syria. Upon relocating, he learnt English with the help of retired Sister of Mercy Annie Jo Heduan and YouTube videos, and went on to gain GCSEs, a BTEC equivalent to three A-levels in Sport and Exercise Science, a foundation degree and now an honours degree with SRC.
and Stephen Ferris.
Yousef is not finished yet, with plans to begin a masters in Sports Coaching and Performance this September. Reflecting on the challenges of learning English as a speaker of other languages while attending school and college and sitting exams in an unfamiliar language, he said determination has been key throughout. He said: "You have to set your own goals and get on with the actual work."
Sport has always been Yousef's main interest, though he points out that his degree covers far more than that, giving him in-depth knowledge of physiology, psychology, nutrition and coaching. He hopes this may one day lead him to a career coaching or training top football teams, or even returning to education as a lecturer.
Throughout his educational journey, Yousef's most dedicated supporters have been his mum and dad, who proudly watched him cross the stage at SRC's graduation ceremony to receive his degree certificate. He was joined by Annie Jo Heduan, who first taught him English and has since become a close family friend.
