Alden Arun (12) from Edinburgh is a genius at maths. He says “Maths is easy!” And in the video below you can see him in action after receiving the Maths Grandmaster title at the BYITC Inspire Awards 2025 at The Scottish Parliament.
His parents said: “Alden’s passion for maths has grown beautifully, and we are so proud of him. His confidence soared with each Olympiad win, and now the INSPIRE Awards have given his confidence a further push!”
Hosted by the British Youth International College (BYITC), the event brought together families, educators, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and dignitaries, with Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP serving as Chief Guest of Honour and Sponsor. Also in attendance was Anas Sarwar MSP, leader of the Scottish Labour party.
Dr Rashmi Mantri, founder of BYITC, said the atmosphere in the room was electric: “There was a real buzz on the night – pride, joy, and celebration filled the chamber. Our young winners have shown talent, perseverance, and creativity beyond their years, while our business leaders demonstrated vision and innovation that inspire future generations. Together, they represent the very best of what Scotland, and the UK, has to offer.
“This year’s Inspire Awards proved that excellence has no age limit. From our youngest winner, just six years old, to our established business leaders, each story we heard was remarkable. These awards are about celebrating achievement, yes, but also about inspiring the next generation to dream bigger and aim higher.”
Aiden was one of several award winners from Edinburgh and the Lothians honoured with one of the annual awards earlier in the week.
The winners included:
- Stem Wizard – Kanav Jain (15, West Calder, West Lothian)
- He is a 15-year-old STEM prodigy. A licensed, self-taught drone maker who led a Drone Workshop in Glasgow recently with BYITC. He builds custom drones that help farms, festivals, and local groups.
- Young Intellect – Chinemenma Okorie (17, Livingston, West Lothian)
- She is a 17-year-old and has never received less than an A in her academic journey. A gifted artist and resilient fighter, she has overcome multiple health challenges to achieve outstanding results, recently earning the prestigious Naismith Award for best academic performance in her school.
- Maths Grandmaster – Alden Arun (12, Edinburgh)
- He is a natural maths prodigy and four-time Maths Olympiad winner who has sharpened his skills at BYITC. A Chess Champion, the Clan Chief of his school and a gifted violinist, he has truly proved himself to be a grandmaster.
- Dynamic Achiever – Arush Gosain (14, Livingston, West Lothian)
- This 14-year-old is a remarkable achiever won the Maths Olympiad in the highest age category and raised £3,000 for River Kids Charity through the YPI event. A brilliant student and prolific writer, his work has been published on multiple websites. He never calls it a day without writing!
- Rising Marvel Young Author – Kenisha Jain (14, West Calder)
- This brilliant 14-year-old mind has secured the UKMT Gold Award, triumphed in a Robotics Competition at Heriot-Watt University, and is now embarking on her journey as a writer—preparing to publish her first novel.
- Tanwi Bhattacharya (Nikkan Dance Academy) – Artistic Visionary of the Year in the new Business Excellence categories.
The judges were: Barry Gunn, lecturer at Clyde College; and Derek Timpany, Associate Dean: Business & Management, City of Glasgow College.
Supporters and sponsors of the event included: Whitebridge Financial Services, Masala Twist, Oakminster Care Homes; and ScottishIndian.com
