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Allan Gray Achievement Awards recognise outstanding UFS EMS Faculty students

07 November 2023 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo SUPPLIED

Katherine Swartland, a representative from Allan Gray addressing the delegation at the Allan Gray Achievement Awards, hosted on the UFS’s Bloemfontein Campus.

The Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences (EMS) at the University of the Free State (UFS), in collaboration with Allan Gray, proudly hosted the annual Allan Gray Achievement Awards on 11 October 2023. This special event, held at the Awela Restaurant on the UFS’s Bloemfontein campus, was designed to celebrate the academic achievements of top-performing students within the faculty, recognising their excellence based on their year of study.

The award ceremony was attended by distinguished members of the EMS Faculty, the Commercio Students Association, and a delegation from Allan Gray, including Katherine Swartland, Managing Business Analyst, Yonela Makalima, Business Analyst, and Steven Motloung, Manager. The evening's guest speaker was Liz Letsoalo, a renowned entrepreneur and TEDx speaker. Notably, this ceremony marked a significant return to in-person events since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Katherine Swartland, who served as the programme director, described this resurgence as truly exciting.

The award winners

The Allan Gray Achievement Awards highlighted outstanding students from various year levels. In the second-year category, Modisaotsile Seekoei received a prestigious award of R5 000 along with a Thule backpack, while Melissa Mlotshwa was granted a prize of R3 000. Among the third-year students, Anthea Ralane was recognised with an award of R8 000 and a Thule backpack, and Modiehi Mpakathe was the recipient of a R5 000 prize. In the fourth-year category, Kelebogile Motlhanke earned a remarkable R12 000 reward and a Thule backpack, and Rykers Lues was presented with a prize worth R8 000.

Although not all students attending the ceremony received awards, Prof Brownhilder Neneh, the Vice Dean for Research Engagement and Internationalisation, aptly reminded the audience, ’It is important to recognise that each of you here is already a winner, as your presence signifies that you are among the top achievers in your field. You have demonstrated that with passion, perseverance, and a commitment to your goals, there are no limits to what you can accomplish.’’

A longstanding relationship

The Allan Gray Achievement Awards holds deep roots in a special relationship between the UFS and Allan Gray. Swartland noted that this initiative was founded by Faizil Jakoet, an executive at Allan Gray, and the awards ceremony, in part, celebrates the continued partnership between the UFS and Allan Gray. This enduring relationship has thrived for over a decade, despite changes in leadership, creating opportunities for meaningful engagement between Allan Gray and UFS students. Swartland further emphasised the importance of this bond, saying, ‘’Another special relationship is formed every time we visit the UFS, between us and you, a lot of exceptional students.”

As the event approached its conclusion, the audience had the privilege of hearing from guest speaker Liz Letsoalo, Founder of Masodi Organics, a prominent beauty and wellness brand. Letsoalo’s address centered on the ‘practicality of creating’, encouraging students to view themselves as creators, allowing them to pivot and adapt as their aspirations evolve. She urged students to stay dedicated to their dreams, emphasising that taking necessary actions and persevering is essential to turning their dreams into reality.

The Allan Gray Achievement Awards signify the remarkable achievements and potential of the UFS EMS Faculty students. This event not only celebrates academic excellence, but also reinforces the enduring partnership between the University of the Free State and Allan Gray, paving the way for further opportunities and engagement.

Prof Brownhilder Neneh and Anthea Ralane

Prof Brownhilder Neneh and Melissa Mlotshwa

Prof Brownhilder Neneh and Modisaotsile Seekoei

Prof Brownhilder Neneh and Kelebogile Motlhanke

News Archive

Expansion to Physics building officially opened on Bloemfontein Campus

2016-05-06

The newly-opened addition to the Physics Building on the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Charl Devenish

An extension to the Department of Physics at the University of the Free State (UFS) was officially opened on the Bloemfontein Campus on 20 April 2016.

“This started off about five years ago when we were talking about not having enough room for large classes. Prof Matie Hoffman suggested that we build a large lecture room on our parking space,” said Prof Hendrik Swart, Professor in the Department of Physics as he addressed guests at the official opening ceremony.

“A year later, we received a Sarchi Research Chair [South African Research Chairs Initiative] on Advanced and Luminescent Materials. We needed more office and laboratory space. The two ideas were combined and presented to the university’s senior management,” he added.

When the university was founded in 1904, Prof James Lyle was appointed to head up the Physics and Chemistry departments. Five years later, a single room was allocated for the Physics laboratory in the main building upon its completion. In 1947, the old Physics building was designed and constructed. Fast forward 69 years, the department has reached another milestone. Facilities accommodated by the expansion include a new telescope for astrophysics experiments, a basement for storing old equipment, as well as a sliding trap door which allows heavy goods to be elevated into the building from the ground floor. The telescope is one of the many unique features of the building given its capacity to expose graduate students to the basic techniques of radio astronomy, especially in light of the fact that the SKA (Square Kilometre Array) project which is in progress.

“Our department is extremely strong at this stage, and a bright future lies ahead,” said Prof Koos Terblans, the Head of Department. The opening also served to celebrate the 103 publications achieved by the department last year.

Dr Lis Lange, Vice-Rector: Academic is proud of the heights reached by the department to date. “The Department of Physics is undoubtedly one of the jewels in the crown of our university, and we are very proud of its developments. Universities are built on legacies, and they are also about change, which is what this department has been demonstrating.”

The expansions to the building with its top-class facilities, was constructed at a cost of R25 million – an infrastructure grant courtesy of the Department of Higher Education and Training.

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