Yadiel’s double triumph at UKZN

DESPITE beginning his university journey during the pandemic's uncertainty, Yadiel Chatterpersad has defied the odds by winning two of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN's) most prestigious undergraduate scholarships, becoming a beacon of inspiration for his community.

When Chatterpersad, 22, walked onto the UKZN campus as a first-year student, the odds were stacked against him.

Having completed both Grades 11 and 12 under the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, and starting his university journey entirely online, he could easily have been just another statistic of lost potential.

Instead, this Arena Park, Chatsworth, son turned adversity into achievement - and this week, his name shone brightly across the university community.

Chatterpersad, a top-performing Bachelor of business science student majoring in investment science, has earned not one but two of UKZN’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships.

He is the recipient of the Lawrence and Constance Robinson Scholarship, awarded annually to the highest-performing undergraduate student across all five of the university’s campuses - a distinction that spans more than 30 000 students.

Adding to this honour, he also claimed the Dr Townley Williams Scholarship, presented to the top-performing student entering the final year of their degree.

“These scholarships mean so much to me. They stand as a testament to the hard work and passion I have poured into my studies, and I am truly grateful to the university for recognising and affirming that effort,” he said.

For Chatterpersad, the journey has been defined by discipline and resilience. Completing senior school and beginning university under the Covid-19 lock-down was far from ideal - particularly for a field as analytical as his.

“The lack of a contact-learning environment made it more difficult to absorb complex concepts. I had to work twice as hard. Throughout that time, my family played a critical role in motivating and supporting me,” he added.

Raised in Chatsworth, Chatterpersad matriculated at Arena Park Secondary.

His brilliance was nurtured in the heart of a community known for producing determined, hardworking young people. Like many of his peers, he faced the disruption of the pandemic. But rather than allow it to hold him back, he used the experience as fuel for growth.

Initially registered as a finance and economics major, he soon discovered his true calling.

Excelling in mathematics, he switched to statistics - a move he calls one of the best decisions of his academic career. He even went on to enrol in an additional mathematics module in his third year, sharpening his analytical abilities and preparing for the career he now sees in quantitative analysis.

This he said, was where finance, mathematics and statistics intersect to solve complex, data-driven problems.

As Chatterpersad looks ahead, his path is clear: to bridge disciplines, contribute to solutions, and continue excelling.

But his message is simple, and it carries the voice of a Chatsworth youth who knows the power of perseverance. His story tells every youth walking through the gates of high school, that hard work, courage, and focus can open doors once thought beyond reach.

In a community where triumphs are often hard won, Chatterpersad’s success Is a beacon: a reminder that the spirit of Chatsworth continues to rise, one youth at a time.

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