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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

UFS honours many during Autumn Diploma and Graduation Ceremony
2006-04-06

The University of the Free State (UFS) will award 857 diplomas and 2 579 degrees on 21 April 2006 and from 24-26 April 2006 during this year’s autumn diploma and graduation ceremony.  Students from the Main Campus and Vista Campus will take part in the ceremony.   

Altogether 35 doctorates and two honorary doctorates will be awarded.  The honorary doctorandi are Mr Pieter Cox (Ph D (hc)) and Mr Terry Moss (Ph D (hc)).  Mr Cox is the non-executive chairperson of Sasol Limited and Mr Moss is General Manager:  Generation Business Enhancement at Eskom.

On 21 April 2006 at 08:30 altogether 347 diplomas in all the faculties (except the upgrading programmes in the School of Education) will be awarded.  On the same day at 14:30 altogether 361 degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (excluding B Acc, B Admin, B Pub and related honours, master’s and doctor’s degrees) will be awarded.

On 24 April 2006 at 08:30 altogether 510 diplomas will be awarded in the School of Education (ACE, NPDE and CE).  That same day at 14:30 altogether 314 degrees, one doctorate and one honorary doctorate will be awarded in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (i.e. B Acc, B Admin, B Pub and related honours, master’s and doctor’s degrees).  The honorary doctorate will be awarded to Mr Pieter Cox during this ceremony. 

Mr Cox will be honoured for being the driving force behind Sasol’s global expansion and the subsequent listing of Sasol on the New York Stock Exchange.  His passion and focus ensure that Sasol as a national asset is constantly making history, despite the sometimes hostile economic and environmental influences.

On 25 April at 08:30 altogether 325 degrees and 9 doctorates will be awarded in the faculties of Health Sciences, Law and Theology.  That same day at 14:30 altogether 554 degrees, 13 doctorates and one honorary doctorate will be awarded in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.  The honorary doctorate will be awarded to Mr Terry Moss during this ceremony.

Mr Moss is regarded as a modern-day South African industrialist.  He will be honoured for his dedication to the provision of sustainable renewable energy to the citizens of South Africa and Southern Africa through the development and promotion of the hydroelectric power industry and other sources of renewable electrical energy.

On 26 April at 08:30 altogether 427 degrees and 5 doctorates will be awarded in the Faculty of the Humanities and that same afternoon at 14:30 altogether 598 degrees and 7 doctorates will be awarded in the School of Education.

Both the diploma and degree ceremonies will be held in the Callie Human Centre on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za 
5 April 2006

 

 

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