University of Bedfordshire success stories

Heart-warming success stories & role models who went to the University of Bedfordshire

Poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

That’s a bit deep for us Ralph, but we appreciate the sentiment. He’s right though (kind of). It’s always important to embrace your individualism and forge your own magical route through this crazy journey that we call life.

But sometimes we need a path. Knowing that others have gone before you and made a success of things can really motivate you to smash your own goals.

That’s why we wanted to take a look at some of the people who have graduated from the University of Bedfordshire and gone on to carve out a successful career. If you’re a creative type and you’re currently weighing up your uni options, you’ll want to read this.

Music makes the people come together

Sorry if you’re still trying to erase Madonna’s painfully awkward Eurovision cameo from your mind, but in this instance her lyrics really do make a good point (honestly).

Melvin Odoom graduated from the University of Bedfordshire with a degree in Media Performance and Radio in 2001 and is best known for co-hosting the Xtra Factor and presenting on BBC Radio 1.

He is one half of a popular broadcasting double act alongside his pal and fellow UoB alumni Rickie Haywood-Williams. The pair made a name for themselves at Kiss FM, before being snapped up by the Beeb in late 2018.

Melvin was quoted by the UoB website as saying: “Although I had a passion for radio I didn’t really have the skills to do it until I came to Luton. Being at Luton really prepared me in terms of my skill set.”

Fancy a ‘Swashbuckling’ career in front of the camera?

Gemma Hunt - BA (Hons) Media Performance - is another great example of how studying at the UoB can open doors in the media world.

If you have a much younger brother, sister or cousin, we’re willing to bet that they know exactly who Gemma is.

She has presented a number of programmes on CBBC, the most recent being Swashbuckle - a pirate-themed game show for two to seven-year-olds. We’ve never seen it ourselves, but it sounds pretty awesome.

Gemma told the UoB website that her time at uni not only allowed her to hone her on-camera skills, it also taught valuable lessons about studio etiquette.

“All that kind of stuff was really, really, important for me when I started my career in television, so I am so grateful for the valuable experience that the University has given me and I really hope that the students now make the most of their experience here as well,” she said.

What a way to earn a living!

BREAKING NEWS: Persistence pays off!

Becky Jago had wanted to be an actress, but her plans changed when she didn’t get on to any of the courses she applied for and she instead ended up going through the Clearing process.

This took Becky on a slightly different route, as she went on to graduate with a Media Performance degree (just like Gemma) in 1997.

Following this, Becky spent some time as a presenter on CBBC’s Newsround and used this experience to build a successful career as a newsreader with ITV Anglia.

Speaking to the University of Bedfordshire website about her journey from Clearing to news desk, Becky said: “For anyone who is facing going through Clearing, I want to say that you will get to where you want to go if you keep pushing. Just take a deep breath and keep trying.”

Persistence pays off you guys!

Wordsmiths do well in Bedfordshire too!

It’s not just those with a talent for presenting - whether on screen or over the airwaves - that have benefited from taking a course at the UoB.

Stephen Kelman is a best-selling author from Luton and this guy sure can write. His debut novel Pigeon English received huge acclaim and was shortlisted for a crazy number of awards, including the Guardian First Book Award and the Man Booker Prize.

It goes to show that this university is a breeding ground for all kinds of creative minds.

Suffice to say we love a good success story here at Campus Living Villages (check out our recent post for more motivational stories).

We’ve barely scratched the surface here, but we’ve got lots more information about the UoB Bedford Campus and Luton Campus on our website. So make like good ol’ Ralph Waldo Emerson and start creating your own path right now!​