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11 February 2019 | Story Mamosa Makaya | Photo Francois van Vuuren
Star of stars
Thabang Sithela from L.a Wesi Secondary School is the 2019 Star of Stars here with Nomonde Mbadi, Director of Student Recruitment Services.

The Star of Stars Awards is a spectacular annual event that recognises and celebrates excellence among Grade 12 learners from Quintile 1-3 schools in the Xhariep, Motheo and Lejweleputswa regions of the Free State province. The office of Student Recruitment Services held the award ceremony on 2 February 2019, at the University of the Free State’s (UFS), Bloemfontein Campus. In attendance were Grade 12 finalists and their parents, senior leadership of the UFS and sponsors of the event.

Awards programme drives excellence

Participants in the Star of Stars award programme are cultivated from schools located in some of the poorest communities in the province, where they are faced with difficult social circumstances. The top 20 are selected using their June and September matric results, and from these the top 10 are selected using the criteria of academics, leadership, and community engagement. This year’s top award was presented to Thabang Sithela from La Wesi Secondary school in Nyakallong, Allanridge. He is registered to study for a degree in Geochemistry in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences on the Bloemfontein Campus.

Accepting the top award Thabang encouraged other learners to remain steadfast “to be successful in life you have to remain positive, even in negative situations, so as not to find yourself remaining in that negativity”. The panel of judges comprised seven officials from various Bloemfontein-based organisations including the UFS, OFM and Kovsie Alumni Trust. The panel was chaired by Mar’c Scholtz of Brand Boss Creative, who praised the students for their unrelenting willpower in emerging top of their class. He further commended the office of UFS Student Recruitment Services led by Nomonde Mbadi, director of Student Recruitment Services, who conceptualised the programme in 2016, which has grown in leaps and bounds.

Fostering diversity and inclusion

The UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, said one of the remaining challenges facing universities in South Africa is inequality, which permeates the circumstances of disadvantaged students when they join higher education institutions. He said the UFS aims to ensure that its student body is representative of society, with one of its goals being diversity and inclusivity. However, elements such as social class still hold students back. But despite this the students being awarded are a shining example of what it takes to beat the odds. “This is the most exciting time of your life, enjoy it,” Prof Petersen said.

The Star of Stars awards programme is holistic, empowering finalists with career counselling, mentorship, and guidance to campus life. The programme is key in incentivising students in the Free State to be high achievers, but most importantly to overcome their difficult circumstances, opening them up to greater opportunities in their student life and future careers.

2019 Free State Star of Star finalist
2019 Free State Star of Star finalist
Star of Stars Event
Star of Stars Event
More guest arriving for the 2019 Star of Stars event on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus
More guest arriving for the 2019 Star of Stars event on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus
Guest arriving for the 2019 Star of Stars event on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus
Guest arriving for the 2019 Star of Stars event on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus
Glamours evening for the 2019 Star of Stars
Glamours evening for the 2019 Star of Stars
Star of Stars on the stage.
Star of Stars on the stage.
Nomonde Mbadi with the Star of Stars, Thabang Sithela.
Nomonde Mbadi with the Star of Stars, Thabang Sithela.
Helen Namponya, Master of Ceremonies.
Helen Namponya, Master of Ceremonies.
Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor
Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor
Ilze Bakkes from UFS Student Recruitment Services hands over gift bags to the students.
Ilze Bakkes from UFS Student Recruitment Services hands over gift bags to the students.
Star of Stars 2
Star of Stars 2
Star of Stars
Star of Stars

News Archive

SRC elections: A first for UFS main campus
2005-08-14

Students on the main campus of the of the University of the Free State (UFS) will this week for the first time vote for the Student Representative Council (SRC) using two voting systems: proportional representation (PR) and first-past-the-post. 

According to the Vice-Rector, Student Affairs, Dr Ezekiel Moraka, this year’s elections are a milestone for the UFS as it will be the first time that the main campus SRC will be elected according to the amended SRC constitution, which was approved by the UFS Council in June 2005.

“It is also a major breakthrough for student governance and transformation of the UFS main campus and constitutes a legitimate basis for the democratic participation of all students at the UFS main campus in the governance of the university,” said Dr Moraka.

The amended constitution of the main campus SRC determines that nine of the 18 SRC members must be elected by means of proportional representation and nine on the basis of an individual, first-past-the-post election.
 
According to Dr Moraka, the introduction of the proportional representation system follows earlier calls by some student formations, notably Sasco and the ANC Youth League, for such a system to be introduced at the UFS main campus in Bloemfontein.

The new main campus SRC constitution is the result of consensus reached during a lengthy negotiation process involving diverse student formations such as Sasco, the ANC Youth League, the Young Communist League, the ACDP, HEREXVII, KovsieAlliance, as well as the democratically elected SRC members of the main campus.

“Independent persons such as Mr Jack Klaas and Mr Kobus van Loggerenberg, a former SRC President, facilitated the negotiation process,” said Dr Moraka.

Students on the main campus in Bloemfontein will vote for a new SRC on Monday 15 August 2005.

SRC elections will also take place on the other two campuses of the UFS, which have their own SRC structures.

Students on the UFS-Vista campus in Bloemfontein will vote for a new SRC on Monday 15 August 2005 and Tuesday 16 August 2005.

At the Qwaqwa campus of the UFS, students will vote for a new SRC on Friday 26 August 2005.

The election processes on all three campuses will be closely monitored by independent electoral bodies. 

After the three campuses have elected their respective SRCs a central SRC will be constituted.  The central SRC will have 12 members made up of delegates of the three campus SRCs, including the presidents of these three SRCs. The main campus will have five representatives, the Qwaqwa campus will have four representatives and the Vista campus will have three representatives.

Main campus voting schedule:
Monday 15 August 2005 from 07:00-21:00.  Ten voting stations will be set up across the campus.  The results will be announced on Tuesday 16 August 2005.

Vista campus voting schedule:
Monday 15 August 2005 and Tuesday 16 August 2005 from 09:00-18:00 in the administration building.  The results will be announced on Wednesday 17 August 2005.
 
Qwaqwa campus voting schedule:
Friday 26 August 2005 from 09:00-18:00 in the Senate Hall.  If there is no objection to the final results, it will be announced on the same day.


Media release

Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel:  (051) 401-2584
   Cell:  083 645 2454
   E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

14 August 2005
 

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