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08 October 2019 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Charl Devenish
Gradstar UFS
The 2019 GradStar programme is all about producing well-rounded students and providing them with opportunities in the world of work, explained Head of UFS Career Services, Belinda Janeke.

Congratulations to the Kovsies top-11 students who made it into the GradStar top-100 programme for 2019!

Each year, 100 South African students are selected through a rigorous four-phase judging process to become part of the GradStar programme. The programme is designed to offer opportunities for employment to previously unrecognised students.

What makes the top 11? 

According to the UFS Head of Career Services, Belinda Janeke, the GradStar programme is all about producing a well-rounded student. Approximately 6 000 applications were received from Kovsies, of which 500 were selected based on a personality test. Another test was given to the 500 students who passed the personality test, after which interviews were conducted to determine the top 100 from the UFS.  

The students who were selected to represent the UFS exhibited the most potential as future leaders in their respective fields. Apart from academic achievement, contestants were evaluated according to their individual soft skills such as motivation, discipline, altruism, and attitude. This combination promised to deliver top candidates for future employers. 

2019 GradStar programme experiences

Throughout the competition, Kovsie contestants were exposed to new people and opportunities to network with various companies in their preferred career fields, where they had the opportunity to share their CVs with potential employers. Contestants were also afforded the opportunity to develop critical problem-solving skills in the world of work. The GradStar top-100 students also have a WhatsApp group where jobs are advertised.

The programme was valuable for the Kovsies; not only did it prepare them for employment, but also provided them with an opportunity for learning and recognising their own strengths and weaknesses as individuals in the working world. 

Congratulations to the Kovsies who made it into the GradStar top 100: 

Mariné du Toit: Bachelor of Social Work
Nyiko Maluleka: Bachelor of Arts, Corporate and Marketing Communication
Bianca Malan: Bachelor of Accounting, Financial Accounting
Boitumelo Mancoe: Master of Business Administration
Kabelo Mashego: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB)
Kananelo Moletsane: Bachelor of Agriculture
Mudzunga Mukwevho: Bachelor of Accounting, Financial Accounting
Neo Roberts: Bachelor of Science, Information Technology 
Refilwe Maimane: Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting 
Themba Makhoba: Bachelor of Public Administration
Mpolokeng Mmutle: Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting

News Archive

UFS honours its sport stars
2008-10-24

 

The UFS's sport stars are, from the left: Robert Ebersohn, junior mens sport star, Boy Soke, Sportsman of the Year, and Mari-Lise Linde, junior women sport star. Adéle Niemand, Sportswoman of the Year, was absent.

 The University of the Free State (UFS) this week honoured its sport stars during the annual Kovsie Sports Dinner, held in Bloemfontein.

Boy Soke, long distance runner who has obtained national colours in all three disciplines of athletics was named Sportsman of the Year. Protea netball player Adéle Niemand was named Sportswoman of the Year for the second consecutive year.

The Cheetah and Springbok sevens rugby player, Robert Ebersohn and netball player Mari-Lise Linde were named junior sport stars.

“The inclusion of five of our students in the South African team that took part in the Beijing Olympic Games is an indication of the standard of sport at the university. We are proud of all our sportsmen and women and salute them for the effort they put in to achieving their goals,” said Mr James Letuka, Director of KovsieSport.

The UFS this year had several other achievements, namely: The inclusion of eight Free State cricket players in the amateur team, the hockey team winning the University Sport South Africa (USSA) B section, the inclusion of three soccer players in the USSA team, rugby winning the USSA competition for the second time, netball winning gold on the USSA tournament for the fourth consecutive year, and the ladies tennis winning the USSA tournament.

The following awards were also made in the university’s different sporting codes during the Kovsie Sports Dinner:

Roné Reyneke: Athletics
Boy Soke: Athletics
Murray Capon: Hockey
Cherie Smith: Hockey
Doretha Joubert: Netball
Riaan Jordaan: Cricket
Wayne Stevens: Rugby
Karin Coetzee: Tennis
Willem Steenkamp: Tennis
Gabisele Hlumbane: Soccer
Lehlohonolo Mofokeng: Soccer
Prof. Martin Dednam: Devoted service to badminton
Sarah Shannon: Special merit award for participating in the Paralympics Games in Beijing

The guest speaker was Dr Derik Coetzee who was the head of Springbok Rugby Team’s conditioning during last year’s Rugby World Cup.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za  
23 October 2008
 

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