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04 February 2020 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Charl Devenish
Kovsie Eco vehicle parade
A highlight for first-year and senior students is the ACT eco-vehicle building and parade through the streets of Bloemfontein.

Sunny skies, cheerful faces, and an overall great atmosphere surfed the University of the Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus on Saturday, 1 February 2020 for the final series of events in the Kovsie ACT 2020 line-up.

The eco-vehicle parade kick-started the activities for the day and saw various student teams displaying their personalised pit-stop ‘sculptures’ along the streets of Bloemfontein.  UFS residence teams Sonverlief (Houses Sonnedou, Veritas, Madelief); Soetmarmentum (Houses Soetdoring, Marjolein, Armentum); and Beykasium (Houses Beyers Naudé, Akasia, Imperium) came in first, second, and third respectively, obtaining the highest scores out of nine teams for their pit-stop sculpture constructions. 
 
Following the parade, there were a number of fun but competitive eco-vehicle races between the teams. This included the Drag Race, Obstacle Course Race, Formula E Race, Endurance Race, and the Slalom Course Race that took place on the Mokete Square. 

In the evening, students were serenaded by artists such as Early B and Spoegwolf. They danced to performances from the latest Amapiano music sensation, Kabza de Small, and legendary deep-house music duo, Black Motion, at the Rag Farm. 

Assistant Director of UFS Student Life and Director of the Kovsie ACT office, Karen Scheepers, earlier urged students to get more involved in student-life programmes such as Kovsie ACT, in order to equip themselves with a variety of skills and a fulfilling university experience.

A number of senior and first-year students who were part of the action on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus this past Saturday, can attest to Scheepers’ advice.
“I’ve been looking forward to starting university for the longest time, and I am glad that I ended up at the UFS. I don’t feel alone, I feel like I can actually do this,” said first-year Psychology student, Thulisa Shezi.

“University isn’t as bad as everyone thinks it is, it’s just a matter of staying motivated, doing your work, and surrounding yourself with the right people in the process.” – Fourth-year Business Management student, Earl van der Westhuisen.

News Archive

UFS Rector participates in National Arbour Day
2011-09-02

 

Gerard Hoogendoorn from Physical Resources at the hole for the jacket plum tree that was planted on our Bloemfontein Campus on National Arbour Day.
Photo: Anja Aucamp

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, planted the jacket plum tree (Pappea capensis) on our Bloemfontein Campus during an event.

According to Mr Gerard Hoogendoorn from our Department of Physical Resources this hardy, evergreen tree, which reaches a height of between two and eight metres, is a worthy addition to any garden; for bird life as well as fauna. “Planting a tree has a positive influence on our green heritage,” he said.

Prof. Jansen, who started his study career as a botanist, said that he loves anything green. “Trees with their roots remind me of our university rooted in a rich past. Trees, with their new leaves once a year, also reminds me of the transformation of our campus and our country. Young people compare with the trunks of the trees that link the past (roots) with the future (leaves). South Africa’s future depends on you young leaders,” he said.

The tree-planting initiative is one of the universities sustainability initiatives to make staff as well as students aware of protecting their environment, amongst others.

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