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2020 Kovsie ACT programme rounds off on an electrifying note!

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

From Architecture graduate to fashion sensation

2016-11-14

Description:Paul Whitehead Tags: Paul Whitehead longdesc=

Paul Whitehead, owner and founder of
Major John.
Photo: Supplied

Paul Whitehead never thought the small business he started in his hostel room at the University of the Free State (UFS) in Huis Abraham Fischer on the Bloemfontein Campus would develop into something of magnitude.

Paul, who completed his Honours degree in Architecture in 2015 at the UFS, is currently taking a gap year due to the rapid growth of his business. Major John started back in December 2012, with Love Warrior becoming Paul’s first outlet. In 2014 Paul started manufacturing his first series of timber bow ties and after that, sales started booming.

Supplier to 16 outlets in South Africa

“We currently supply 16 outlets throughout South Africa with a range of products such as timber bow ties, genuine leather suspenders and concrete and timber desk lamps, as well as other leather products,” Paul says.

He says that a new range of nine timber bow ties is launched every four months. “The timber is recycled and the fabric is handpicked from around the country to ensure quality, thus the bow ties are hand-crafted and unique,” Paul says.

Trust your gut feeling and believe in yourself

His main goal with the timber bow ties is to expand while the unique quality of the product is not compromised. “We are also in a process of expanding the range of our products in the exclusive market.”

Paul attributes his success to delivering excellent service to people who appreciate his pride and joy, his Major John collection. He encourages future entrepreneurs to listen to others’ advice, but to trust their own gut feeling and always believe in themselves.

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