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03 October 2019 | Story Eugene Seegers | Photo Charl Devenish
Pieter Hoogenboezem
Pieter Hoogenboezem with his proud parents, dad Hans and mom Eldi, and Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.


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At a gala event held on the University of the Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus, on 28 September 2019, the top 14 entrants in the 39th UFS-Volksblad Matriculant of the Year competition were given an opportunity to share their vision with invited guests.

In his introductory speech, Pieter Hoogenboezem, deputy head boy of Pietersburg High School in Polokwane, Limpopo, said: “I think the Matriculant of the Year should strive to do their best in everything they attempt, and they should be good at communicating with others.” Pieter will be studying medicine at the UFS next year. He was crowned the winner of the 2019 Matriculant of the Year competition and also received the Sparkling Personality award, as decided by his fellow finalists. 

Pieter says of this achievement: “I am humbled and so blessed with the talents my heavenly Father has given me. I believe that the training and knowledge that I will receive at the UFS will empower me to make a worthwhile contribution to the medical field and society at large. It is going to be a great privilege for me to make Kovsies proud and to move others to become part of this university that promotes transformation, diversity, and inclusivity!”

Several other prizes were also awarded during the evening. Mandie de Wet from the Hoër Meisieskool Oranje in Bloemfontein walked away with the prize for best achievement in sport for her prowess on the hockey field, and Runé Edeling (Eunice High School) was rewarded for her accomplishments in dressage on a national level, as well as her extensive scientific knowledge and ability shown at the Eskom Expo, the Eskom Science Fair, and an international science expo in Arizona, USA. Each of these winners received R5 000 from the Kovsie Alumni Trust.

Dr Pieter Rademan, Matriculant of the Year 2009, had this to say to the finalists — many of whom will start studying next year to become doctors: “I’m delighted to see that so many here are interested in medicine; there is a desperate need for more doctors and good doctors in the country.” Using an example from the Norsemen, he told the matriculants: “Despite being shipbuilders and seafarers, the Vikings would set fire to their ships when they reached their destination.” He said this ensured that they would be motivated to overcome difficulties before rebuilding their vessels to continue the voyage. He exhorted: “Burn your ships! Calm seas do not make for good sailors. Get out of your comfort zone and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”


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The new entrance to the Qwaqwa Campus is now open
2014-02-03


The greatly-anticipated entrance proudly welcomes everyone onto the Qwaqwa campus.

The new entrance to the Qwaqwa Campus gleams and shimmers in the morning sun after almost a year of construction.

Meanwhile, construction of the new 150-bed student residence and Geography/Physics Building has just commenced.

 “The new residence comprises four double-storey and two triple-storey sections, one caretaker's house and a service room,” said Makere Mofokeng from Physical Resources. “The Geography/Physics Building, situated just opposite the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, is a double-storey and it comprises a boardroom, nine offices, 20-seater chemical physics lab, 20-seater postgraduate physics lab, 20-seater physics instrument research lab, 20-seater dry physics lab, darkroom, 180-seater lecture hall, two storage facilities and ablution facilities on the ground level.

 “The following facilities are on the first floor: boardroom, 10 offices, 360-seater lecture theatre, 102-seater geography lab, 198-seater geography lab, 20-seater postgraduate geography lab, three storage facilities and ablutions,” Mofokeng said.

 The Geography/Physics building is expected to be completed in December 2014 and the new residence in February 2015. 

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