When you step into campus for the first time, you’re not just walking into a lecture hall, you’re stepping into a new chapter that can shape who you become. For some, their university years float by quietly. You go to class, pass your exams, and when it’s all done, you leave with a degree in hand and a sigh of relief. And that’s valid. Sometimes, simply finishing is enough.

But for others, university is a launchpad, a place that dares you to explore beyond the classroom. You stumbled into a club one Friday afternoon just to fill time, and somehow, you found yourself returning week after week. Before you knew it, you were organizing events, standing in front of crowds, learning to lead, collaborate, and contribute. Or maybe you were the athlete, the one whose love for sports didn’t fade after high school. You weren’t chasing a professional career, but the thrill of the game, the rhythm of training, and the joy of teamwork kept calling. So you joined a team: basketball, rugby, hockey, volleyball, football, whatever it was, you found your tribe. You discovered what lit you up. You learned to balance lectures and practices, group work and game days. You rose every time you fell.

That was the journey for Jeriah Onsare and Timothy Ayieko, two standout Strathletes who turned their university years into a beautiful balancing act of books and the game. Jeriah, a fierce hockey player, rose through the ranks to represent not just Strathmore, but Kenya at national tournaments. The transition from school-level play to the national stage wasn’t easy, it took grit, discipline, and relentless courage.

Then there’s Timothy. Towering in height and unwavering in passion, basketball was always in his blood. From the court to the classroom, he soared, and it’s safe to say, the sky is just the beginning.

There were days they carried their notes to the sidelines, juggling deadlines with game time. But through it all, they poured their energy into their studies, their teams, and their passions. They reaped the reward taking home the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Award for the Class of 2025.

And yet, at the heart of it all, beneath the friendships, the fun, and all the late-night plotting of dreams, there’s one unrelenting thread that ties the university experience together: academics. It’s the silent pressure that hums beneath every deadline. The part of the journey that doesn’t Sometimes, even after giving it everything you’ve got, you still find yourself slouched over on a study desk, eyes red from exhaustion, notes scattered around you like confetti. You stare blankly at a page you swore you’d memorized. Suddenly, the photographic memory you once bragged about seems to have gone on strike.

And among all these determined students, a few have consistently stood out. The rare ones who carried that fire from the very beginning. The ones who always had their names at the top of the list. Best student overall. Top marks in every subject. Teachers called them focused, classmates called them brilliant. But behind the titles and the trophies were hours of hard work, quiet sacrifice, and relentless discipline.  This year, six students, one from each school, stood out as the best overall. They were intentional. Their excellnece was the standard.

Some students come to campus looking for success. Others come searching for purpose. For Aisha Too, university became her launchpad for impact. A place where books met real life, and learning meant rolling up your sleeves and stepping into communities with heart and humility. At Strathmore, service to society is deeply ingrained in our DNA. A quiet but powerful call to use what you’ve learned to make someone else’s world better. To act with compassion, lead with courage, and solve problems with both skill and soul.

Aisha didn’t just hear that call: she answered and lived it. Loudly. Consistently. Through her initiative, Another Kind Christmas, she turned the festive season into something deeply meaningful for families in need. Her journey took her hundreds of kilometers away, to Turkana and Kitui among other regions, where she spent weeks on the ground. Together with fellow students and key partners, she worked toward one shared goal: to serve. Genuinely. Humbly. Fully. Her experiences are endless. Her journey is one of heart and hands working together. Not for recognition, but because she believes in the difference one person can make.

In Aisha, we see what service truly means at Strathmore: A life lived for others. She is the well-deserving recipient of this year’s Service to Society Award.

Mbugua Kibe is the kind of person who serves without being asked. Always kind, always ready to help, and always doing it with a smile. His selflessness and consistency have made a real impact in the School of Tourism and Hospitality. Whether it was helping out at events, supporting classmates, or simply being there when needed, Mbugua showed what true service looks like.

In recognition of his dedication, he receives the Esther Kidambi Excellence in Service Award, a special honour given to students who go above and beyond in serving others with heart and humility.

It’s been a journey. And they’ve made it count. They worked hard, played hard. And made it to the end victorious. Congratulations to these awardees. The #SUreFuture awaits you!

Article written by: Jemmy M. Kamau