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13 December 2024
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Story Anthony Mthembu
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Photo Charl Devenish
Lieutenant Colonel Dr Rifa Tshivhase, Head of the Department of Surgery at 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein, addressed graduates within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State on 10 December 2024.
Momentous and joyous – these are some of the words used to describe the December 2024 graduations at the University of the Free State (UFS). In celebration of the academic achievements of its students, the UFS hosted graduation ceremonies at the Callie Human Centre on its Bloemfontein Campus from 9 to 10 December 2024.
Prof Anthea Rhoda, acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, encouraged the graduates to always acknowledge and recognise the significance of this achievement as they transition from being UFS students to being UFS graduates.
Undergraduate and postgraduate achievements
At least 2000 undergraduate qualifications and postgraduate qualifications were conferred. As such, there were some standout academic achievements across the sessions. For instance, Itumeleng Pooe received his Advanced Diploma in Theology cum laude, making him the only graduate in the Faculty of Theology and Religion to receive his qualification with distinction during these graduations. In addition, Dr Bobuin Jr Valey Gemandze Oben – at just 28 years old – was the youngest PhD graduate from the Faculty of Law at the graduation ceremony, which took place on the morning of 9 December 2024.
Conferring Honorary Doctorates
Some highlights from these graduations were the recipients of honorary doctorates, as well as the keynote speakers. The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at the UFS conferred an honorary degree on Prof Murray Leibbrandt, Research Chair in Poverty and Inequality Research in the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). In addition, the Faculty of The Humanities at the UFS conferred an honorary degree on HE Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace, and Security.
On the final day of the graduations, graduates within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the UFS were addressed by Lieutenant Colonel Dr Rifa Tshivhase, Head of the Department of Surgery at 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein. In her address, Lieutenant Colonel Dr Tshivhase encouraged and challenged the graduates to actively seek out good in the world.
As the December 2024 graduations concluded, several of the graduates within the Faculty of Health Sciences indicated that the most memorable moments in the session were the cheers and applause they received as they walked across the stage.
2017 Matriculant of the Year wants to make the world a better place
2017-10-09
The group of 14 finalists for this year’s Matriculant of the Year
competition.
Photo: Charl Devenish
To help others in need is what the University of the Free State (UFS) and Volksblad’s 2017 Matriculant of the Year winner, Elizabeth de Vries, strives for. De Vries, who will be studying medicine from 2018, wants to work for Doctors Without Borders one day.
All South Africans should unite
in mutual respect and
embrace one another.
Also named Sparkling Personality
At a recent gala dinner on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus, De Vries was not only named winner of this prestigious competition, but was also elected Sparkling Personality by all 13 of her fellow finalists. She is currently a pupil at St. Dominic’s College in Welkom, where she is head girl.
This year, 96 matriculants participated in the competition, from which 14 finalists were selected.
Mutual respect important
In addition to achieving well academically, De Vries also performs well in sports and culture. She plays the violin and piano, and does ballet, plays hockey, and swims to ‘clear her head’.
De Vries will be very welcome at Kovsies, where we strive for inclusivity. She believes that all South Africans should unite in mutual respect and embrace one another.