Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
18 April 2018 Photo Facebook
Bright future for Two Oceans winner and former Kovsie Gerda Steyn
Gerda Steyn, former Kovsie student and winner of the Two Oceans ultramarathon this year, with her trophy.

Gerda Steyn, female winner of this year’s Two Oceans ultramarathon, says her life has changed for the better in a very short time.

The former Kovsie received an invitation to a world-renowned marathon at the end of the year. She may not reveal the details yet.

Steyn, who studied Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the University of the Free State (UFS) between 2009 and 2012, was just the third South African to win the Two Oceans since 1994. Her time of 3:39:31 was the second-best in the past seven years. For many she was a surprise winner because she didn’t compete last year and only managed a 14th place in 2016. 

“Things really took off since the race (in Cape Town at the end of March). I received a lot of exposure. People say you must try and win the race, but they don’t tell you what will happen after that with all the media attention.

“My next goal is the Comrades for which I started training in the third week of April. I will only decide on my specific goals for the race two weeks beforehand.” She obtained a fourth place last year.

According to Steyn, who is a full-time athlete, she only did a couple of cross country races while she was studying. 

“I played a bit of soccer and hockey for my hostel (Soetdoring). I have very fond memories from my university days. A couple of our hostel friends had a reunion after the race in Cape Town and had reason to have a big party.”

News Archive

Nominations for Kovsie Alumni Awards
2010-07-08

It is once again time to nominate candidates for the three Kovsie Alumni Awards annually presented by the University of the Free State (UFS).
Nominations are awaited for the Kovsie Alumnus of the Year Award, Cum Laude Award and the Alumni Award for Exceptional Service to the UFS.
The Kovsie Alumnus of the Year Award honours the outstanding achievements of a Kovsie alumnus on national or international level. The Cum Laude Award is occasionally bestowed on an alumnus for outstanding service or achievement at regional, national or international level in his/her field of work. The Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to the UFS is occasionally made to any person (not necessarily an alumnus) who has rendered exceptional service to the university.
Any alumnus can submit a written nomination for the above-mentioned awards. At least five other alumni must second the nomination. A comprehensive motivation and brief Curriculum Vitae of the candidate must accompany the nomination. The candidate’s full address and telephone number must also be provided.

Nominations can be submitted to Annanda Calitz, Alumni Awards, PO Box 2319 Bloemfontein 9300 or 086 629 6820 or ficka@ufs.ac.za . The closing date for submission of nominations is 23 July 2010.

Last year the winner of the 2008/09 Kovsie Alumnus of the Year award was Mr Gert Grobler. Dr Gert Marincowitz and Sekoati Tsubane (Kabelo in 7de Laan) received the Kovsie Alumni Cum Laude Award. Prof. Johan Grobbelaar, Senior Professor at the Department of Plant Sciences and Prof. André Venter, Chief Specialist at Paediatrics and Child Health, both received the Kovsie Alumni National Executive Award.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za  
8 July 2010
 

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