A first class tribute

Said Nasser Al-Burtamani clinched the Cecil M Yuill Foundation Award: Achievement in any field, making him our student of the year.

BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering graduate Said achieved a First Class degree, and also gained the Teesside Science Award. Originally from Oman, he has dedicated his degree and prizes to his late father Nasser, who died back in Oman during the last month of his degree.

Father-of-two Said, 33, brought his wife and children Maysoon and Fares over to Teesside. He was sponsored to complete the degree by his employers, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), whom he first joined 15 years ago. Said worked on oil and gas stations for the company before deciding to aim for a degree at the age of 29. PDO sponsored Said to complete the degree, and there were five opportunities for degree sponsorship, with Said achieving a top five placing amongst 45 competitors. Said explained: ‘My father passed away just after my final exam and I was about to submit my design project. With our religion burial takes place within two to four hours after death so there was no time for me to go back. My mother told me not to come back, she said ‘don’t waste your three years.’ ‘My wife, friends and tutors were very supportive. I was given an extra week to submit my design project, and the spirit of my father encouraged me to finish it. I was really surprised to be awarded student of the year and I dedicate this award to my father.’ Special thanks to the Chemical Engineering department Said is currently enrolled on a Masters degree and will then return to the company to work as a specialist process engineer. He added: ‘I was worried about so many things before I came here, as it was my first time outside Oman, such as the language barrier. When I arrived on the first day I saw a wonderful place, a really friendly environment and from then I started to enjoy it.

‘I’d like to add my appreciation to PDO for the opportunity they gave me to do the degree and their support. My special thanks also to the University’s Chemical Engineering department for their guidance and help during my study.’

---