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The Inaugural Dream Walk Puts First-Years in High Spirits

25 February 2022 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Victor Ramphore Mahlohla (baddapictures)

The inaugural dream walk at the University of the Free State took place on the Bloemfontein Campus on 19 February 2022. The dream walk, also referred to as ‘Leeto la ditoro’, will become an annual event where first-year students come together to express and celebrate their dreams and aspirations.

The event was well attended by Bloemfontein Campus first-year students, who believe that the event is a great way to set the tone for the rest of the year. The students first gathered at a station on campus, where they were issued with a faculty T-shirt, key chain, a dream card, and a mask. The official walk then began from the Visitor Centre Gate on the northwest side of the Bloemfontein Campus to the Main Building, where members of the senior leadership are based.

During the walk, first-year students had to write down their dreams and aspirations on the dream card, which they ultimately placed in a box at the Main Building. “I found it amazing to be able to put my dreams on paper; it makes them more realistic,” highlighted Marise Prinsloo, a first-year student from the Outeniqua residence. Although some of the aspirations were too personal for some first-year students to speak about, others’ aspirations varied from academic success, spiritual wellness, and mental and physical health. In fact, Malcolm Willemse, who is also a first-year student from Outeniqua, hopes to secure a number of leadership positions. “I have dreams of being in the first-year committee and of being in the sub-committees, and I managed to write these down,” he shared.

In addition, the atmosphere at the event was vibrant, as the students were excited to engage with one another. “It was amazing to walk with other residences such as Villa Bravado, Abraham Fischer, and Conlaurês, as they have great spirit,’’ expressed Willemse. The walk included songs from the various residences, and the first-year students were dancing and singing along. However, the fun did not end there. Once the students arrived at the Main Building, they were treated to a DJ who had them dancing and singing even more.

As the dream walk event will also take place on the Qwaqwa and South Campuses, the students on these campuses can expect to take part in a lot of singing, dancing, and other cultural activities. Precious Modiba, who is also a first-year student, argues that besides having a good time, one of the best things about the dream walk is the friends that one gets to make.

News Archive

A magnificent Winter Graduation Ceremony

2013-06-27

28 June 2013
Photo: Johan Roux

Winter Graduation video (YouTube)

The way to immortalise a person, is to live by his example. PhD and master's graduates were imbued by the following message from Dr Khotso Mokhele, Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), during the UFS Winter Graduation Ceremony: to follow Nelson Mandela's majestic example is to guarantee that his life was not in vain.

Dr Mokhele honoured the graduates for their achievements "that clearly did not come easy", referring to the sacrifices on their part and the role of their support structures.

He also praised members of the UFS' leadership team who contributed academically to the excellent standards. Prof Teuns Verschoor, former Vice-Rector: Institutional Affairs, and Prof Driekie Hay, Vice-Rector: Academic, were especially mentioned for their role as respectively co-promoter and promoter of two PhD graduates.

A total of 63 doctorates and 414 master's degrees were awarded to graduates from South Africa, Nigeria, Lesotho, Uganda and Zimbabwe on Thursday 27 June 2013.

On the previous day, the School of Open Learning kicked off the graduation event by conferring 320 qualifications.

The graduates, most of them full-time educators, received qualifications ranging from certificates to diplomas.

"I hope that you will plough back what you have learned and that this qualification will make you a better educator, an inspired one, one that will relentlessly put your efforts into increasing a better future for our children," Prof Hay said, highlighting challenges in South Africa's education system.

"Become enthused, obsessed and passionate to change the education system. Be the change agent in your schools to contribute in giving the quality education our children so desperately need," she said.

An exceptional moment at this year's graduation ceremony was when the two daughters of an academic, Prof Dave Lubbe of the Centre for Accounting, obtained their master's degrees. "It is indeed a highlight in my career that my daughters received their master's degrees cum laude at the same graduation ceremony, under my supervision!"

Prof Lubbe's two daughters, Nandi Lubbe and Leandi Steenkamp, both received their MCom with distinctions in Accounting. They completed their degrees under the supervision of Prof Lubbe and Nandi also won the Dean's medal as the best M student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

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