Meet Three of Burgmann's BNABs
Article by Resident Celia Watson (2026 Communications Intern)
Burgmann ought to have its own dictionary. From ‘flarty’ to ‘fimblewick’, Burgmann’s unspooling torrent of lingo produces one most prestigious title…BNAB, or, ‘Big Name at Burg.’
Affectionately used for Ressies that make a large impact on college culture, in a close-knit community, it’s hard not to apply the title to everyone. Be it sport, arts, academics, or otherwise, everyone is a BNAB themselves.
Take Jude Elzinga as an example. When he isn’t depriving people of Lilac Red-bulls or explaining his room’s ad hoc ‘evaporative cooling system,’ Jude is busy making a name for himself as, to put it colloquially, an academic weapon.
When I asked Jude what brought him from the quiet streets of Melbourne to our bustling capital, Jude spoke about his degree with vigour. Completing a PhB over the next four years, Jude praised ANU’s flexibility, research orientation and in-depth approach to physics, maths, and computer science. Though the switch from high school to university learning can intimidating Jude reflected that ANU allows him to “dive deep into the possibilities of each subject without abandoning others.”
Unfortunately for Jude, as I watched him turn into a cartoon while raving about his weekly reports on emerging technology like quantum computing and nuclear fusion, I realised that due to Burgmann’s humanities skew, he is often deprived of follow up questions about his blatantly STEM degree. However, after asking about how he finds the Burgmann student body’s preference towards humanities, Jude reflected that while he enjoys the STEM side of academic subjects, Burgmann steps in as a hypersocial, motivated environment in which he can thrillingly consume the Arts via his friends as they compare degrees.
Whether in his natural habitat of Burgmann study spaces, or out late at one of Canberra’s Jazz Bars, Jude reflected that he enjoys studying and dancing with the same peers. “Everyone here is just so dedicated to what they choose to do,” he smiled as he took a Red Bull out of my fridge.
Kalara Pringgoharjono, a third year BNAB, also praised Burgmann as a motivating environment. Studying International relations and Commerce, Kalara completed her high school education in Sydney, but resident in 5 different countries as she has grown up, Kalara has found Burgmann to also be a fantastic home.
According to Kalara, Burgmann has fostered her ambitions and offered her “eye-opening” experiences to serve on the Board of Management. Beyond attending sports games at Willows, International Trivia Nights in the Common Room, or ‘Afters’ at Mooseheads, Kalara’s experience in Governance has enabled her to “see all sides of the college and what it takes to make things happen.” As an Resident Advisor, Kalara has also been recognised as a key leader at Burgmann. As a Board Member and Residential Advisor, Kalara says Burgmann has fostered her ambitions and offered “exceptional professional development and exposure” that she hopes to apply in a career in the energy industry or disaster relief.
When she was a lowly first year, a ‘Small Name at Burg’, Kalara described how college made a wreckage of her First-Year sense of self and world outlook, and encouraged her to relish the rubble. Growth, re-evaluation, meeting new people, Kalara reflected that at Burgmann, “if you feel passionate about something, people you live with will materialise it.”
As the year progresses, I can only eagerly wait to see how other people become BNABs in their own way, or, at least, contribute to Burgmann’s relentless churn of signature vernacular.
Kelly Schofield, a BNAB in second year, loves her room at Burgmann. Filled with photos of Queensland life, Burgmann’s Regional, Rural and Remote (RRR) Advocate’s room offers a glimpse into the warmth and greenery that she calls home.
In an elaborate prank, Kelly was told at the 2025 Inward Bound Endpoint that the event encompassed running and swimming so that, after asking the alleged ‘coach’ how it was all going, she would be met with confusion. Laughing about it still, Kelly’s story told me how trusting and willing Kelly is to strike up new connections, even if that means discussing a fictitious swimming event.
From Maleny, Queensland, Kelly has embraced moving 1281 kilometres away from home to Australia’s capital. Though she misses home-cooked meals and her cats, Kelly has happily made Burgmann into a place of comfort and growth, and enjoyed making the college a “supportive environment” for students like her that have completed a leap of faith to be here.
For Kelly, making Burgmann home has meant embracing her love of history, disdain for chocolate, and desire to create a community for RRR students in which they can “be inspired and passionate about their degree” and experience something new to themselves or even to their hometown community. As RRR advocate, Kelly enjoys supporting these students with food and friendship, commenting that after settling here, “I wanted to give back to the
Burg community that made my first year so incredible.” Under Kelly’s leadership, the College hosted a professional careers night for the RRR students, welcomed 140 rural and regional students and their families in at Open Day for lunch, and supported all of Burg’s current RRR students like a big sister would.
As her Second-Year progresses, Kelly’s smile and energetic presence in common areas suggest that she has come far from refusing to decorate her dorm because “I still have my room at home.” She has made Burgmann home as well, and her warm room reflects that comfort and care that home carries.
