Abigail Kok can be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed. The week after she was announced as South Africa’s top national achiever in the 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations unfolded in a blur: a whirlwind trip to Gauteng as a VIP guest of the Department of Basic Education, dozens of media interviews, and then a hero’s welcome back at York High School in George, where she served as head girl in 2025.

“This feels so surreal. It’s a bit of a wild dream for me,” she says.

Kok’s bubbly voice reveals the excitement of the past week hasn’t worn of yet. She’s visiting her grandmother in Johannesburg and ticking off last-minute shopping before moving into Sonop residence soon. A church camp lies ahead, followed by registration for a degree in data science next week. She is, she admits, “super excited” about the welcoming activities that will mark the start of her life as a Matie.

Her academic achievements are formidable. With an average of 98,4%, Kok achieved the country’s top result in Physical Sciences (99%), along with 100% in Accounting and Life Orientation. She obtained 99% for Mathematics, 98% for Afrikaans First Additional Language, 97% for Life Sciences and 96% for English Home Language. She was York High’s dux learner and represented her school in first-team hockey and squash.

Kok, who describes herself as a “talkative person who struggles to sit still and cares deeply for others”, attributes her success to discipline, consistency and a supportive family. She is quick to deflect praise. “I wouldn’t be anywhere without my parents, my brother, my teachers, the principal and the learners at York who cheered me on all the way,” she says, adding: “It’s only due to the grace of God that I’m here.”

SU the obvious choice

When she explains her decision to study at SU, Kok reveals something of the methodical thinking that set her apart as South Africa’s top matriculant. The choice, she says, rested on a combination of personal, academic and lifestyle considerations. There were four good reasons, she explains, smiling broadly.

“My first reason is because my brother Daniël is also a Matie, he’s starting his third year in electrical engineering, and he stays in Helshoogte res. We’re very close and I love the prospect of being on campus with him for the next two years.”

She was equally drawn by SU’s academic standing, particularly the strength of the Faculty of Science and its reputation for excellence in data science. Student life, too, loomed large in her thinking. Stories from her brother’s residence experience offered a vivid glimpse of campus culture and community – something she is eager to experience for herself. “Also, many people speak Afrikaans, so I’m looking forward to sokkie as a Matie,” she grins.

The town itself ultimately sealed the decision. “I’ve never been a city person and I love the outdoors. Stellenbosch’s atmosphere is simply magical.” The University’s sporting infrastructure also appealed, she adds, singling out Coetzenburg’s “stunning” facilities. Coming from a family that enjoys hiking, Kok hopes to try out for Stellenbosch’s hockey and squash teams, perhaps play tennis and table tennis at residence level, and explore the many hiking routes around town.

Walking, she says, has long been her preferred way of managing stress. “Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I put on a pair of hiking boots and go out in nature. My other coping mechanisms are phoning my mom and praying.”

From actuarial science to data science

Although she initially planned to pursue a B Actuarial degree, Kok has since experienced what she describes as a “change of heart” and now intends to register for data science. The shift, she explains, was driven by a desire to use her mathematical skills in ways that could have a meaningful social impact. Data science’s blend of statistics, mathematics and computing, she feels, offers broader opportunities to tackle real-world challenges and apply data in ways that can improve people’s lives. “I want to be able to go into a career where I feel like what I'm doing every day is going to help an ordinary person.”

Her affinity for mathematics and science, she notes, was nurtured at home. Her parents – Albert, a computer programmer, and Susi, a veterinarian – encouraged both their children to approach learning with curiosity and confidence. Mathematics, Kok says, was always framed as something to enjoy. Although computer science was not offered at her school, she pursued the subject independently through the Cambridge system, completing AS-level coursework while still in Grade 11.

Looking further ahead, Kok imagines a future shaped by the same values that guide her choices today. She hopes to build a career in economics and finance, remain rooted in South Africa, and one day raise a family here. “A stable home environment would be really important to me.” At the same time, she dreams of seeing the world, perhaps travelling through Europe in a caravan with her future husband, taking things slowly and simply. 

For now, though, her sights are firmly set on Stellenbosch, where South Africa’s top learner is ready to begin her next chapter as a Matie.