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Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences awards four Dean’s medals

18 April 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Stephen Collett and Leonie Bolleurs

Medalists final — Left: Wikus Vorster is the Dean’s Medal winner in the final-year third-year curriculum. He completed his BSc Actuarial Science degree. Pictured with him is the Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Prof Paul Oberholster. Right: Mienke Botha completed the BScAgric Animal Science programme. She received the Dean’s Medal for the best grades in the final-year fourth-year curriculum.

A total of 1 582 students graduated in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the April graduation ceremonies of the University of the Free State (UFS). The faculty honoured four students for achieving the best results in respectively the third-year curriculum, the fourth-year curriculum, final-year honours, and final-year master’s.

Dr Snowy Khoza, a seasoned non-executive, senior adviser, acknowledged strategist, and development activist in the infrastructure development space, addressed the graduates in the first two sessions of the day.

She urged graduates to remember that graduation is not just an end, but a new beginning – a launching pad for future endeavours and aspirations. “Whether you choose to pursue further studies, embark on a career in research, industry, or entrepreneurship, or devote yourself to making a difference in your community, know that the world is ripe with possibilities waiting to be explored.”

Dr Khoza sponsored R50 000 to each Dean’s Medal recipient from the first two graduation ceremonies of the day.

Actuarial Science right up my alley

Wikus Vorster, who completed his BSc Actuarial Science degree, received the Dean’s Medal in the final-year third-year curriculum in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. He was also awarded the Senate Medal for achieving the highest weighted average across all undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in all faculties of the UFS. Vorster, who has always had a love for numbers and programming, says it is truly an honour to see his hard work recognised in this way.

“Actuarial Science always seemed to be right up my alley since it combines all my favourite academic interests,” he says. According to him, every module had something to offer.

His strategy for academic success was to put in an enormous amount of hard work and sacrifice. The support from family and friends also helped him to perform at his best.

Vorster aspires to become the best-qualified actuary he can by continuing to develop his understanding of risk, programming, and statistics.

Give your best at all times

Mienke Botha, who grew up on a farm in an agriculturally driven community, surrounded by truly passionate farmers, completed the BScAgric Animal Science programme. She received the Dean’s Medal for the best grades in the final-year fourth-year curriculum. About receiving this honour, Botha says, “I never really worked that hard just for the recognition; on the contrary, I truly enjoyed it.”

She continues, “I find my Animal Nutrition, Animal Physiology, and Animal Breeding subjects rewarding in my third and fourth year. I love how they all integrate into each other and how they can be applied together in the practical industry. It also helps to fully understand the science and to base farming decisions on this.”

Her approach to success is to give her best at all times. She believes that discipline is one aspect of life that will carry over to all others. Moreover, she states, “I always strived to use the abilities and talents I have received from the Lord to the fullest.”

Having experienced the satisfaction and happiness that work in this field can bring, Botha comments that she would like to quality as a ruminant nutritionist, focusing on the dietary needs and feeding management of animals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats.

The little we know about the small things in life

Rinus Behrens completed his BSc Honours in Food Science and was awarded the Dean’s Medal for achieving the best results in the final-year honours class. He says that with the talents that God gave him, he aimed from the beginning to do only his best.

He believes that if one truly has an interest in the work you are doing, you should be excited to talk about it. “You will not only gain more knowledge; studying will also become easier.” During his studies, the subjects of Food Microbiology and Meat Science specifically stood out for Behrens. “My research on crocodile meat – regarding the microbial and physio-chemical aspects thereof – required me to use the knowledge obtained from those subjects as a whole to fully understand what may have led to the results I obtained. Both of these subjects opened my eyes in terms of how little we really know about the small things in life. Something as small as the smallest bacteria can have such a major influence on our lives. As scary as it seems, it excites me!”

Behrens is of the opinion that Food Science influences everyone, even if you don’t know it. “We all eat food, and getting behind the science of it all is what truly excites me. This is where I feel I can have the greatest impact on many people's lives while enjoying every moment of what I am doing.”

Future steps for him after completing his PhD are to pursue a career in research microbiology, food auditing, or further research based on the microbiology of crocodile meat.

Theory of Architecture – changing the way I see and think about architecture

The Dean’s Medal for the final-year master’s class went to an Architecture student, Arran Wood. It is the role his lecturers played in his success that stood out to him. “I am grateful for the amazing support and encouragement I’ve received over the years from my lecturers, who spent so much of their own effort into teaching me what I know about architecture,” he comments.

Both of his parents are in the building industry; his father worked in construction and design and his mother as a civil engineer. “Even though it was always my decision, growing up I gained a passion to work in these fields and that is why I chose architecture,” he says.

During his studies, it was especially Theory of Architecture that fascinated him. “It changed the way I see and think about architecture and even about life,” he remarks.

Just like the other medal winners, Wood also believes that hard work played a key role in his success. Hard work, late nights, and never giving up was his strategy when studying.

For the future, he hopes to make a difference and bring meaning to the work he does. “I care deeply about South Africa and the people in it,” he concludes.

NAS Medalists 2024

Left to right: Rinus Behrens completed his BSc Honours in Food Science and was awarded the Dean’s Medal for achieving the best results in the final-year honours class, while an Architecture student, Arran Wood, received the Dean’s Medal for the final-year master’s class.

News Archive

UFS Winter Graduation Ceremony

2012-06-18

UFS awards record number of master’s degrees and doctorates

The University of the Free State (UFS) celebrated an increase in postgraduate successes with a record number of master’s degrees and doctorates that were awarded during the winter graduation ceremony at the Bloemfontein campus on Thursday 14 June 2012.

A total of 481 master’s degrees and 82 doctorates were awarded in two ceremonies in the Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus. This is the most postgraduate qualifications to be awarded at a single graduation ceremony.

DiMTEC has reason to celebrate

Dr Andries Jordaan (second from right) with some of the people who received their master's degrees. From the left are Kehinde Balogun, the couple Olive Chisola-Darris en Clement West Darris, and the couple Everson Ndlovu en Patience Sibongile Ndlovu.
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar
18 June 2012

DiMTEC had reason to celebrate at the winter graduation ceremony. The Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa delivered a healthy crop of 32 master’s degrees and one doctorate.

This was the most master’s degrees that the centre has been awarded at one opportunity. The doctorate, however, was not at DiMTEC – Andries Jordaan, the director of the centre, obtained his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economy.

It was also the first time that two couples received their master’s degrees at the centre at the same time.

Speaking at the event, Dr Jordaan said former students of the centre were using their expertise worldwide. Some of them are in senior positions at the United Nations, in African countries, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. DiMTEC’s students hail from 17 African countries, including French-speaking countries.

“I am proud that we have a footprint right across Africa,” he said.

Three travel all the way from Europe for their MBAs

Smiles on an important day. From the left are: Kasina Baker, Friederike Hackelberg, and Johanna Kössler and her parents and sister.
Photo: Stephen Collett
18 June 2012

No distance, time or money could prevent three MBA graduates from Europe from attending the winter graduation ceremony in Bloemfontein. Two of them were exchange students who were so captivated by the university and the country that they undertook their MBA studies at the Business School.

Friederike Hackelberg of Bremen, Germany, was an exchange student in 2008 and extended her stay to do an MBA. Johanna Kössler of Bolzano, Italy, was also an exchange student who succumbed to the charms of the UFS and South Africa. She brought her parents, George and Nannie, and her sister, Magdalena, with her to attend the graduation ceremony.

Kasina Baker of Warsaw, Poland, began her studies while her husband was working in Kenya. She wanted to study at a quality institution and thus chose the UFS's Business School.

Jessica gets three prestigious medals

Jessica Potgieter (right) was the first student in almost three decades to receive three prestigious medals at the Winter Graduation Ceremony. She received the Dean's medal as best Master's student in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, the Senate Medal as best Master's student at the university and the Award for Scientific Achievement by the South African Association for the Advancement of Science. She is seen here with her mother, Mrs Ilse van Rhyn, and Dr Khotso Mokhele, Chancellor.
Photo: Johan Roux
18 June 2012

Three daughters, three degrees for proud Kovsie mom

Liezel Alsemgeest and Adri Kotzé.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
18 June 2012

Adri Kotzé, Faculty Manager in the Faculty of Law, is a very proud parent. In the course of one year, all three her daughters will receive degrees from the University of the Free State (UFS). First in line is the eldest, who received her Ph.D. in Business Management at the Winter Graduation Ceremony.

Liezel is a lecturer in the Department of Business Management at the UFS, where she lectures, publishes and hopes to further her research in finance. “I enjoy working at the university because you have the freedom to do your own thing and focus on whatever you like,” she says.

The title of Liezel’s thesis is Customers’ perception of business units within an agricultural business in South Africa. Her focus is on the subjects of customer satisfaction and financial management, with a specific focus on the management of agricultural businesses.

Middle sister Corné will be graduating with a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy in December, while the youngest, Adéle, will receive her B.A. in Media Studies and Journalism at the Autumn Graduation Ceremony in 2013.

“I am very proud of all three my daughters,” says Adri.

Sasolburg minister receives Dean's Medal for best master's degree in Theology

Rev. Frans Redelinghuys.
18 June 2012

Rev. Frans Redelinghuys of the Reformed Church in Sasolburg received his master’s degree in Theology at the University of the Free State’s Winter Graduation Ceremony. Rev. Redelinghuys was also awarded the Dean’s Medal as the best master’s degree student in the Faculty of Theology.

The focus of his dissertation is Spirituality. “My lecturers are all people who practice what they preach and they have shared their knowledge with me.,” he says.

“My studies also contributed to my personal development,” says Rev. Redelinghuys.

Student from the Netherlands receives degree at UFS Winter Graduation Ceremony

Deborah Van den Bosch-Heij.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
18 June 2012

Deborah Van den Bosch-Heij from the Netherlands was awarded a Ph.D. at the Winter Graduation Ceremony by the Faculty of Theology of the University of the Free State (UFS). Her thesis, Spirit and healing in Africa: A reformed pneumatological perspective, is an interdisciplinary investigation of the relationship between the Holy Spirit and healing in Southern Africa. The research addresses the need for a reviewed and contextually reformed approached to healing.

Deborah started her career as a minister at the Valkenburg Congregation of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands in 2001. She was appointed by the missionary department of her church to lecture at the Justo Mwale Theological University College in Lusaka, Zambia in 2005. It was here that she decided on the topic of her thesis. Prof. Rian Venter from the Department of Systematic Theology at the UFS, who is also involved at the Justo Mwale College, is Deborah’s promoter and assisted her in her studies whilst she was in the Netherlands. It was also Prof. Venter who made Deborah aware of the importance of interdisciplinary research.

Well-known judge's granddaughter receives degree

Judge Joos Hefer and Annelie de Man.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

Annelie de Man, a law researcher at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein received her master’s degree at the Winter Graduation Ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS). She is Judge Joos Hefer’s granddaughter. Annelie was also awarded the Dean’s Medal as the best master’s degree student in the Faculty of Law.

“Today is one of the biggest highlights in my career,” says Annelie, who received exposure to the field of law from a young age.

In September, she will be leaving for Italy to study for a master’s degree in European Human Rights at the European Inter University.

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