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

Alumni are invited to the Distinguished Alumni Award ceremony and Chancellor’s luncheon
2015-07-28

Outstanding alumni to be celebrated at the Chancellor’s luncheon on 29 August 2015.

The University of the Free State (UFS) is excited to be hosting its alumni on the Bloemfontein Campus from 28 to 29 August during Reunion Weekend 2015. In addition to semi-structured social events designed to bring together classmates from similar eras, an anchor event for the weekend will be the Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Award Luncheon.
 
The Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Award begins a tradition that honours excellent alumni who exemplify superior academic and/or human achievement. Recipients will embody the spirit of a transformed, inclusive society, and the modernised intent of the UFS.

A maximum of three (3) awards will be designated annually. This inaugural slate of recipients will set the tone for future entrants into this community of accomplished alumni. Nominations were accepted until 24 July 2015 from the university and alumni constituencies.

The Rectorate-endorsed awardees will be announced and celebrated at the Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Award Luncheon, which will be held on Saturday 29 August 2015 at 12:00 in the Centenary Complex. Click here to purchase your tickets, the proceeds of which will go to the No Student Hungry Bursary Programme.

Please visit the alumni website for additional information about the weekend’s activities.


More articles about the #UFSReunion15:

UFS to host alumni from across the globe during Reunion Weekend 2015 – 28 to 29 August 2015

 

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