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29 March 2022
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Story Teli Mothabeng
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Photo Supplied
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Philmon Bitso, Student Recruitment Officer, with the top-10 cohort of the class of 2021 Free State Star of Stars.
The Department of Student Recruitment Services at the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted its annual Free State Star of Stars competition at the Amanzi Private Game Reserve during the first week of March. The event saw some of the brightest young minds in the Free State inducted as UFS first-year students into this year’s top-10 cohort for the competition. This marks the first Star of Stars event since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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This new cohort consists of a dynamic group of academically gifted students from Quintile 1-3 schools in the Free State who are currently enrolled for different UFS academic programmes, ranging from Medicine, Law, Education, and various Bachelor of Science courses. Many of these students had to overcome insurmountable challenges to perform as well as they did in their Grade 12 academic year and to become part of the top-10 cohort for the class of 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Student Recruitment Services was forced to take a different approach to celebrate these deserving students; consequently, a weekend-long induction camp was the substitute for the annual gala dinner.
Apply for the 2022 Free State Star of Stars competition
The UFS realised the need to establish a platform that recognises and celebrates the diverse and, in most instances, difficult circumstances that disadvantaged schools (Quintile 1-3) are facing. Consequently, the Star of Stars competition was developed and established in 2016. This competition provides disadvantaged Grade 12 learners from all districts in the Free State an opportunity to showcase their excellence, while motivating them to aspire to achieve more.
A Kovsie crowned Miss Free State 2016
2016-05-27
Mienke van Rooyen, a student at Kovsies and the new Miss Free State at the crowning. Photo: Wiaan Coffee Photography
A third-year BCom Marketing student, Mienke van Rooyen, continued the legacy of beauties from the University of the Free State. She was crowned Miss Free State on Saturday 21 May 2016 at the Sand Du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein.
In 2015, Van Rooyen took the Miss Intercontinental title at the annual Model SA International competition. She was overwhelmed by the support received throughout her journey. “I'm still searching for words to describe my appreciation to every single person who supported me up until now. “Thank you” will never be enough. I am proud to be a part of the Miss Free State family. Thank you for believing in me and my dream,” she wrote on her Facebook fan page.
Earlier this year, another Kovsie made us proud. Elizabeth Molapo walked away with the Miss SA First Princess title.
Rolene Strauss also flew the Kovsie flag at Miss World competition in 2015 when she became the reigning queen. Strauss was crowned Miss SA the year before.