Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
17 April 2018 Photo Johan Roux
Be an ambassador for hope - Miss Deaf SA Chantelle Pretorius
Chantelle Pretorius, Miss Deaf South Africa 2017/2018, spoke at the April graduation at the UFS Bloemfontein Campus. Spotlight photo: Rulanzen Martin
Chantelle Pretorius, Miss Deaf South Africa 2017-2018, delivered a speech filled with hope at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Faculty of Education April graduation ceremony.

“In the words of Tata Nelson Mandela, education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world,” said Chantelle.
 
A journey filled with triumph 
Chantelle’s journey to becoming a UFS graduate and foundation-phase teacher at Barkly East Primary School in the Eastern Cape is an inspirational one. When she became a UFS student in 2012, she showed promise on the football field and represented the university’s first football team from 2013 to 2015. She graduated with a BA in Education in 2015.
 
“Each person will experience the journey of life differently, but when we let our light shine, we unconsciously allow others to do the same,” said Chantelle. She encouraged the graduates by reminding them there is no obstacle too big to overcome.
 
No discrimination and people-centred university
“I am honoured to stand here today, before you all, as an ambassador for hope. I have never focused on my weaknesses but rather on my strengths. I pushed myself to be a better person in life and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to obtain a degree from the UFS, even though I am a deaf person. The university does not discriminate against anybody with a disability. So I salute this institution for allowing me to make my dream of becoming a graduate come true,” said Chantelle.

Pillars of strength and inspiration
She reminded the graduates that teaching was about being a pillar of strength and inspiration to the children they will teach. Chantelle said success did not happen overnight and that the graduates would need to live life with the right approach. She encouraged them to be enthusiastic, positive and motivated teachers. “Be the teacher that touches the lives and hearts of the children you teach because in the end, it is not what you say that matters but rather how you made the child feel, that will be remembered,” she said. 

News Archive

Graduation ceremony awaited with great excitement
2011-06-22

Everything is running according to plan on the Bloemfontein Campus of our university for the graduation ceremony of Ms Oprah Winfrey, which is taking place in the Callie Human Centre today, 24 June 2011. 

The graduation ceremony, during which an Honorary Doctorate in Education will be conferred upon Ms Winfrey, promises to be something special. Measured against the smooth course of the preparations, the speed at which the tickets were obtained and the continuous interest amongst UFS staff and students, as well as members of the public, this promises to be a real 2011 highlight for all who are going to attend the event. 

Strict safety and security measures shall be enforced and therefore, ticket holders are requested to make sure that they arrive early on the Bloemfontein Campus. 

The UFS is aware of the fact that tickets are sold illegally at shopping centres in Bloemfontein. Computicket equipment shall be used on the premises tomorrow to ensure that only persons who have original tickets in their possession are admitted. People found to be in possession of forged tickets tomorrow shall be prosecuted. 

The doors of the Callie Human Centre shall open at 13:00 on Friday for ticket holders and shall be closed strictly at 14:00. For safety and security reasons, nobody shall be allowed to enter or leave the building after the doors were closed. 

Although the entrance gates to the Bloemfontein Campus shall not be closed, certain streets on the campus will be closed for some time today (23 June 2011) and the whole of Friday (24 June 2011). More information about this is available at www.ufs.ac.za 

Clear signs, as well as voluntary staff, shall guide parking visitors to their parking spaces. The volunteers were selected after staff of all three campuses offered their assistance for the day. 

Amongst the 4 500 guests attending the graduation ceremony are various well-known personalities and dignitaries, alumni, learners and other stakeholders of the university. Good reaction has also been received from the local, national and international media. 

The programme in the Callie Human Centre is as follows: 

13:00 Doors open
14:00 Doors close
14:30 Opening performances
15:30 Graduation ceremony
16:00 Ms. Winfrey’s speech and question and answer session with students
18:00 Programme ends.
 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept