Diabeng Sebiloane from the University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus was recognised as Dux student of the year at the Student Excellent Awards held in October. The Excellence Awards are an annual celebration of our students’ successes in academics, sport, campus leadership, and culture.

The 20-year-old Bachelor of Administration student is in her final year. Having started her degree during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said determination and hard work carried her through her academic journey and helped her conquer even the hardest modules. 

Being awarded as the best overall student on the campus for 2023 is something she said she did not see coming, but she feels thrilled about the recognition of her dedication.

“I am excited! I didn’t expect to be announced as a top learner, but I made it through Christ, who gave me the strength.”

After not being too keen on it at the outset, Sebiloane not only made academic strides – she also fell in love with the theory of policy making in government, which she hopes to pursue in her postgraduate journey.

“When I first came to the university, I wanted to pursue a BEd degree in Accounting. I thought the BAdmin was just about office administration,” she said.

Sebiloane is from a small village – Tsheseng in Qwaqwa – and hopes to not only inspire university students, but also make a positive impact in her community by influencing young learners to achieve academic excellence and change their lives. 

As she ends her undergraduate journey, Sebiloane said her immediate goal is to further her studies by enrolling for an Honours degree in Public Administration on the Bloemfontein Campus. “I am interested in policy making and see myself one day working at one of the government institutions.”