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Mathematics students bag top graduation awards

21 April 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Leonie Bolleurs

Walena and Elize — Walena Marambakuyana and Elize Swartz.

Her love of numbers and analysing data – to such an extent that she, just for the fun of it, did university Mathematics in her spare time in Grade 10. This not only resulted in an A for Maths in matric, but also contributed to Walena Anesu Marambakuyana’s success during her postgraduate studies, as she was announced the best honours student in her year group in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

Solutions to Africa’s challenges

For this prestigious achievement, she was presented the Dean’s Medal, which she collected during the faculty’s graduation ceremony on 21 April 2022. “I can't begin to say how much this means to me. I think of the struggles that I've faced, and it just proves to me that anything is possible if you set your mind to it,” says Walena, who believes this achievement will also motivate her little sisters to aim higher in life.

Walena, who completed her undergraduate studies in Actuarial and Financial Mathematics at the University of Pretoria, continued with her honour’s degree in Risk Analysis at the UFS.

“Thinking back, it was always clear that I would take this route. Throughout primary school and high school, the Math teachers particularly liked me. I think it was because they saw that I really enjoyed Mathematics. I also remember that at the tender age of seven, my dad's colleagues would call me a mathematician,” recounts Walena.

She, like her aunt and role model, Dr C Gandidzanwa, is working towards obtaining a PhD. Currently, Walena is enrolled for the master’s degree in Risk Analysis at the UFS. “In my view, a PhD would enable me to contribute to innovative ideas that will provide solutions to the various challenges we are facing in Africa and the world at large. I specifically would like to inspire younger generations coming after us to safeguard against risks by anticipating, assessing, and taking the necessary steps to mitigate against risks,” she says.

“I believe risk assessment and mitigation not only contribute to my day-to-day activities; it also affects bigger global challenges such as climate change. Through my studies, I have a clear picture of what can be done to mitigate these risks. However, the challenge is always to ensure that this filters to practical action,” says Walena.

This is where I belong

Receiving the Dean’s Medal for the best marks in the group of master’s students in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), was another mathematician, Elize Swartz. “Receiving the Dean's Medal is a great honour for me. It reminds me that hard work pays off and it encourages me to continue with my studies.”

She completed her honours degree, majoring in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, in 2019 and her master’s degree in Mathematics in 2021. For both, her mini thesis was in the field of graph theory.

Currently a lecturer in the UFS Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, she is looking forward to starting with her PhD later this year. Elize, who already knew in primary school that she wanted to be a teacher, is hoping to one day be a full-time lecturer at the UFS. “My passion is to work with young people. I hope to make a difference in their lives by teaching, sharing my knowledge, and helping them in such a way that they experience the love of Jesus Christ,” she says.

She continues: “I cherish the instances when my lecturers gave me advice, encouraged me, and recognised my hard work. I want to share and continue that positive experience with other people and students by teaching them to work hard and be responsible, while treating them with kindness, patience, and love.”

Her favourite part of studying was the moment when she did homework and assignment problems and everything just started to fall into place. “For me, Maths problems are almost like a little game or puzzle. I also enjoyed receiving my marks after each assignment, test, or exam, knowing that this was the result of all my hard work,” says Elize, who also enjoys campus life, especially after the lockdown, “walking on campus – feeling safe, at home, and the sense of knowing this is where I belong”.

News Archive

UFS policies want to help all students

2005-03-09

The death of Hannes van Rensburg, a first-year student from the JBM Hertzog residence, this past weekend, placed various aspects of student life in the spotlight. Dr Natie Luyt, Dean: Student Affairs at the University of the Free State (UFS), and the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the UFS explain which policies are in place to counter these practices.

At all tertiary institutions there are rules and policies to guide students and provide direction for certain behaviour and practices. The same applies to the University of the Free State (UFS).

“At the beginning of the year the UFS provides every residence committee with a manual to establish a framework for meaningful and orderly relations within and among residences on the campus,” said Dr Natie Luyt.

However, it is one thing to set rules, but it is an impossible task to enforce all aspects thereof. Policies currently in place include an alcohol policy, a policy on the induction of first years and a policy on banned practices in residence orientation.

“The alcohol policy was compiled in cooperation with students and their input was constantly asked,” said Dr Luyt. We also liaise on a continuous basis with residences and senior students to encourage the responsible use of alcohol, especially around activities like intervarsities and Rag.

In the policy, recognition is given to the right and voluntary and informed choice of every individual to use alcohol on the UFS campus in a responsible way.

Guidelines for the use of alcohol on campus include among others the following:

Only authorised points of sale will be permitted on campus. In this case it is the various league halls in most of the male residences on campus.

Alcohol will only be made available during fixed times and is not permitted in residence rooms.

All alcohol-related functions are regulated and an application for a temporary alcohol license must be obtained from the Dean: Student Affairs.

The UFS obtained a liquor license in March 2004 which must be administered by senior leagues in various residences on campus. Normal liquor license conditions and the county’s liquor laws apply. Liquor can only be sold to members of the senior league (or special guests) and also to persons over the age of 18 years. Liquor may not be used in public (outside the senior league) or on campus.

The senior leagues may only be open three nights per week and within prescribed times. No liquor could be used in any other place than the senior league halls. Senior leagues could buy liquor from club monies generated by themselves.

The right of senior leagues to serve liquor was suspended by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor the UFS, Prof Frederick Fourie, on Monday 7 March 2005 – pending an investigation of the recent events on campus.

The policy on banned practices include among others that no swearing and shouting at first-years may take place, no first-year student may be targeted individually, no senior may enter the room of a first-year student without an invitation or permission from that first-year student and no senior under the influence of alcohol may have contact with first-year students.

The induction of first-year students takes place by means of three functions, namely an information function (the introduction to the various facets and possibilities of the university system), an induction function (the first-year student becomes involved in various campus and residence activities) and a development function (the first-year student is motivated to take charge of his development potential).

No first-year induction activity may commence before the residence committee’s contracting with the senior students is not completed. This meeting is attended by the residence head and all senior students. The induction policy, residence induction policy of first-year students and first-year rules are discussed.

The senior students sign an attendance list to show that he/she was informed about the policies. A senior who does not sign, may not be involved with any induction session with first-year students.

No physical contact is allowed during the conclusion of the first-year students’ official induction period. The induction of first-year students as full members of the residence is a prestige event, presented by the residence committee. No physical or degrading activities may take place.

The Dean: Student Affairs also has a daily meeting with the primarii of all the residences during the induction period. This helps to monitor the situation and counter any problem behaviour or tendencies.

“Enforced behaviour – where a senior student forces a first-year student to do something against his/her own free wil – is not allowed. Where there is any sign of this, it is met wortel en tak uitgeroei,” said Dr Luyt.

“In any group of people – whether it is a group of students or people at a workplace – there will always be those who will break the rules or those who would like to see how far they could push it.

The SRC, the UFS management and myself are and will stay committed to make each student’s life on this campus a school of learning and an experience which would be remembered for ever,” said Dr Luyt.

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