AIMS South Africa hosted its Recognition of Achievement Ceremony today at its Muizenberg centre, honouring students in the Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences programme. The ceremony marked the completion of an intense and transformative academic journey for the January 2025 cohort. 

Welcoming guests and students, Director Prof Ulrich Paquet reflected on the achievements of the class and the spirit of the Institute, saying: “Today we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our students. AIMS thrives because of our exceptional lecturers, visiting academics and partners, and we are grateful for their continued support. Thank you to everyone who makes AIMS a vibrant, full-capacity centre of excellence.”

Academic Director Prof Karin-Therese Howell then delivered a message that captured the heart of the ceremony. She said: “Today we gather to celebrate something greater than the completion of a programme. We celebrate bravery, the quiet kind that looks like taking a chance on something uncertain, saying yes to an opportunity that felt almost too good to be true, and persevering through challenges that pushed you beyond your comfort zone. Bravery was learning new skills, tackling unfamiliar topics, and learning to live in community with people from across Africa. Opportunity rarely arrives wrapped in certainty; it often looks like risk or discomfort. Yet you embraced it. You are braver than you think and capable of more than you know.”

Students then received their Recognition of Achievement Certificates, formally marking the completion of the AIMS Master’s programme in Mathematical Sciences. 

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of Academic Excellence Awards to Nonkoliso Thobeka Vundla, Omar Khamis Sayed Ahmed Allam, Alice Isabel Markham and Dean Malan, recognising their outstanding academic performance.

Student representatives then shared reflections on the cohort’s journey. Alice Markham said: “This year has felt like climbing a mountain together, through challenge, late nights and shared courage. Today we finally pause to admire the view and recognise how far we’ve come. It is no small feat to complete a Master’s in mathematical sciences, and I hope each of us can feel proud of the journey that brought us here.”

Morongwa Egnes Ralefeta added: “We came to AIMS with empty toolboxes and leave equipped to solve real problems in our communities. Through challenge, community and courage, we learned what it truly means to ‘embrace and enjoy.’ We supported one another and formed friendships that will last a lifetime.”

AIMS also recognised students who completed all three phases of the Africa Scientifique Programme: Ms Sophy Mashashane Kgoahla, Mr Similoluwa Adetoyosi Okunowo, and Ms Morongwa Egnes Ralefetafor their science communication and outreach projects delivered in partnership with House of Science and African Gong.

Guest speaker Prof. Daya Reddy, Professor Emeritus at the University of Cape Town and a member of the AIMS Trust and Council, delivered an inspirational address, weaving together the mission of AIMS, Africa’s youth potential and the importance of preparedness. He said: “AIMS was founded on a powerful call to action: to grow Africa’s talent and empower young people to lead the continent’s future. You are part of a generation that represents Africa’s greatest opportunity, its youth dividend, and your training here places you in a strong position to shape progress on this continent. As you move forward, be deliberate in your choices but open to serendipity; ‘chance favours the prepared mind’. With your curiosity, discipline and courage, you are well prepared to recognise and seize the opportunities ahead.”

As the ceremony drew toward its close, Prof Paquet shared that the event marked the end of his tenure as Director. “As I step down from my role at AIMS, I am reminded of the African idea that a person is a person through others. My journey here has been shaped by the staff who supported me, the students whose energy inspired me, the council and trustees who guided me, and above all my wife and family, whose support made this chapter possible. It has been a privilege to grow alongside this community. As AIMS enters its next chapter, I could not imagine a more capable or visionary person than Karin to lead it forward.”

Prof. Howell then expressed the Institute’s appreciation for his leadership, saying: “We extend our deepest appreciation to Ulrich for his outstanding service to AIMS. His leadership has been far more than administrative, he is the kind of person who sits with students for hours, teaching, coding, debugging and meeting them exactly where they are. His steady guidance and ability to lead high-impact events with small teams have left a lasting mark on our community.”

Prof Karin-Therese Howell will formally assume the role of Director of AIMS South Africa on 1 December 2025, ushering in a new chapter for the Institute. The ceremony closed in a spirit of pride and optimism for the Class of 2025 and for the future of AIMS South Africa.