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18 May 2023 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Sonia Small
North College announced as the overall winner of 2023 Eco-Vehicle Race
Kovsie ACT hosted the sixth Eco-Vehicle Race, with North College announced as the overall winner for 2023.

Kovsie ACT at the University of the Free State (UFS) successfully presented the sixth Kovsie Eco-Vehicle Race on the university's Bloemfontein Campus on Saturday 13 May 2023, despite rainy and overcast weather. Students attending the affair – cheering on their favourite teams – added to the excitement and electrifying atmosphere of the event, which was streamed live across South African borders.

First-place finishers

The five colleges made up of the different residences on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus (North College, South College, East College, West College, and Central College) competed in this year's event, along with teams from the South and Qwaqwa campuses (with the Qwaqwa Campus entering two teams) and a newcomer, the Central University of Technology, which also entered two teams.

According to Dr WP Wahl, Director: Student Life, who welcomed everyone and also announced the winners of the different events, the university would like to expand the race in 2024 to include more tertiary institutions.

Temba Hlasho, Executive Director: Student Affairs, presented the trophies to the winning students.

Of the ten teams that competed this year, North College – comprising Madelief, Tswelopele, Vergeet-My-Nie, Veritas, and Welwitschia residences – was named the overall winner of the Kovsie Eco-Vehicle Race for 2023. Central College (Akasia, Kagiso, Karee, Soetdoring, and Wag-’n-Bietjie) won the Spirit Cup, while Qwaqwa Campus won the Smart Lap, using the least energy in a timed lap in which the drivers took the main track for the first time.

Besides being announced as the overall winner of the race, North College also took home the trophy in the Endurance Race, which was extended this year to cover 1 000 m and not 500 m as with last year’s event. In this leg of the race, the teams had 45 minutes to complete as many laps as possible while using the least amount of energy.

In addition, North College tied with Central College for first place in the Pitstop challenge, a competition that evaluated teams based on various criteria such as the tidiness of the pitstop area, team spirit, and safety measures.

Captivating artist performances organised by the Arts and Culture Office at the UFS added an extra layer of excitement to the race event.

Preparing for the world of work

Karen Scheepers, Assistant Director in Kovsie Support Services, who heads the Kovsie ACT initiative, reported that 520 undergraduate students have entered the Kovsie Eco-Vehicle Skills Programme over the past three years.

The race represents the last phase of a nine-month co-curricular skills programme. By participating, students acquire valuable skills that prepare them for the challenges of the world of work.

The programme also helps students understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment. It equips them with the knowledge to address complex environmental issues, which will help to preserve it for the future.

News Archive

Qwaqwa Campus honours academic excellence
2014-05-21


Photo: Sonia Small (Kaleidoscope Studios)

  • Photo Gallery

      Our Qwaqwa Campus was this past weekend a hive of activity when graduates, their parents and well-wishers descended on the campus to honour outstanding academic excellence during the Winter Graduation ceremonies.

      On Friday graduates from the Faculty of Humanities, as well as the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, were addressed by Tommy Makhatho, Managing Director of the Qwaqwa-based Bibi Cash and Carry.

      Makhatho urged graduates to continue working hard way beyond their graduation day and to dream big.

      “Dream big and don’t let your poor background hold you back,” Makhatho said.

      “Don’t let people say you can’t or that you will fail. Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life, think of it, dream of it, live on that idea, let your brain, muscle, nerves and every part of your body be full of that idea and leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success. If you don’t build your dream, someone else will hire you to help them build theirs,” said Makhatho, the winner of the 2013 Sanlam/Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year and Job Creator of the Year awards.

      On Saturday, graduates were treated to yet another moving message by eNCA’s news anchor, Mabale Moloi, herself a graduate in Biological sciences.

      “If there is one ability that we should all practice on a daily basis, it is work ethics. This is a value based on hard work and diligence,” Moloi said.

      Moloi further shared her views on what makes excellent work ethics.

      “There are five very important factors of work ethics that we all need to be aware of. One of them is reliability. This means how committed you are to completing a task that is given to you within a particular period of time,” said Moloi.

      “The second one is dedication. This means how prepared you are to go the extra mile in completing a job or your studies. Thirdly, one’s level of productivity is very important in having an excellent work ethic. This refers to giving the best of yourself, even to the extent of surpassing what is expected of you.”

      “Fourthly, there is co-operation. We all must understand the value of team work and how it leads to success. And this, when paired with character, self-discipline and strong personality, will distinguish you from anyone else,” Moloi added.

      Among the more than 800 degrees, diplomas and certificates conferred, were three PhDs in Physics, Polymer Science and Zoology, respectively. Four Masters of Science degrees were conferred cum laude.

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