27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Turning pain into purpose': Student who fled civil war heads list of Queen's summer graduates
Aung Khant Kyaw is graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and said it was the prospect of academic success that kept him going after losing both parents when young.
The graduate fled civil war in Myanmar, southeast Asia, before travelling to Belfast to pursue his education.
As a child, Aung looked up to his father and was always interested in fixing things and solving problems.
Speaking about his journey to graduating, he said: 'Turning pain into purpose takes time, but it's possible.
'As my father was a Civil Engineer, I initially followed this path but eventually chose mechanical engineering. Engineering became a way for me to understand the world and to build a future where I could contribute to something greater than myself.
'Graduating means more than a degree for me, it's a symbol of survival, of honouring my parents' dreams, and of hope,' he said.
Aung says it was the memories of his parents and the support of staff and students at Queen's that helped him to persevere.
'I remembered their sacrifices and their love, and I wanted to carry their hopes with me.
'I think and I hope my parents will be proud of me as someone who kept going, who was kind to everyone, and who never forgot what kind of life he came from. I carry them with me every step of the way, and I hope I've made their dreams live on through mine.'
Aung now hopes to secure employment in the automotive or aerospace industry.
Also graduating is Abi Way with a degree in Product Design Engineering and she is the first student with a significant visual impairment to complete the course.
Originally from St Alban's, Abi joined the course in 2021, knowing that it would involve working with highly visual tools and software not designed with accessibility in mind.
'I can't deny that I panicked when I first realised the extent of the accessibility issues, but I was determined to find a way to make it work,' she said.
'I spent many extra hours learning the software, often relying on memory rather than visual cues.'
Abi's time at Queen's has been defined by more than just academic success.
She was an active member of the Formula Student team and Queen's Propulsion Laboratory, and also found time for music and trampolining.
During her placement year at Airbus Defence and Space, she worked across multiple departments in innovation management and took part in the UK Challenge — a demanding three-day event involving running, mountain biking, canoeing and problem-solving.
That same year, Abi launched her own charity, Boomerang, to help visually impaired children access STEM education.
'STEM subjects can be really difficult to access at school if you're visually impaired — from the teacher's handwriting to calculator displays,' she said.
'Boomerang aims to change that by offering mentoring, hands-on events and an online community to help bridge those gaps.'
Abi received the National Trust Time and Space Award during her placement year, and recently won the Enactus Spark 2025 competition to support Boomerang's growth. She was also awarded the Walter Wilson Scholarship from Ulster Carpets for her contribution to the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Queen's.
Abi was born with Oculocutaneous Albinism and Nystagmus, a condition affecting her vision but not her determination.
She now plans to pursue a master's degree in either space or design engineering and continue developing Boomerang alongside a career in the space industry — a dream she's held since childhood.
Also graduating are two students who have excelled in their chosen sporting fields.
News Catch Up - June 25th 2025
Elia Tutty is graduating with a degree in Pharmacy from Queen's and leaves behind a lasting legacy both in the lab and on two wheels, having not only competed in cycling for Ireland at the top level, but also initiated and led Queen's University's first-ever women's cycling team in 2023.
'When I joined Queen's, there wasn't a clear path for women in competitive road cycling, so I took the initiative to change that,' she said. 'I believe championing women in sport is so important because visibility leads to opportunity. If young women can see others doing it, they know it's possible.'
And Jenna McCarlie graduates with a degree in Dentistry.
While completing her final year of her degree, Jenna represented Ireland's senior indoor hockey team in South Africa and Malaysia.
And, as captain of Queen's women's 1st XI, she led the squad to their most successful season ever when they became Ulster Premier League champions and won the EY Hockey League Division 2, securing promotion to the top tier of Irish hockey for the first time in the University's history.
