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05 December 2024 | Story Dr Cindé Greyling | Photo Kaleidoscope
MACE Winners 2024
From left to right: Burneline Kaars (Head: Employee Wellness and Organisational Development), Dr WP Wahl (Student Life Director), Linda Greyling (Senior Officer: Special Projects, Student Recruitment Services), Gerben Van Niekerk (Senior Officer: Kovsie Support Services), Malia Maranyane (Senior Officer: Undergraduate Marketing, Student Recruitment Services), Nomonde Mbadi (Student Recruitment Services Director), and Susan Van Jaarsveld (Senior Director: Human Resources).

On 28 November 2024, the University of the Free State (UFS) did it again – reigned as champions at the annual Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) Excellence Awards and walking away with two of the top awards: the MACE Award for Outstanding Research and the Severus Cerff Award for Consistent Excellence.

KovsieX was named the overall winner of the MACE Award for Outstanding Research. This award is made to the entry with the highest score in research, clearly demonstrating how research has supported the strategic objectives of the institution and the project. KovsieX is a multiplatform approach designed to leverage the strengths of diverse media channels. This digitalisation aligns with Vision 130, leveraging emerging technologies to enhance teaching and learning quality and efficiency of non-academic support structures and systems.

The UFS’ entries were of such high quality that the university won the sought-after Severus Cerff Award for Consistent Excellence. This award is based on the number of entries entered by an institution and the number and level of those entries winning awards. The award is therefore made to the institution with the highest success ratio.

Furthermore, the UFS Matriculant of the Year event received a Silver Award – entries scoring 5.75 or higher earn a Silver Award, placing this event among some of the top achievers in the events category. Three UFS entries received Gold Awards and were the winners in their respective categories: KovsieChat (Digital Channels), 2024 Women’s Day Breakfast (Events), and KovsieX (Stakeholder Engagement Campaigns). This is a magnificent achievement for the UFS.

"Winning a MACE award at this early stage is proof that KovsieX is not just meeting national standards – it’s setting them. If we can achieve this level of excellence now, imagine how we’ll compete on the global stage when the project is fully realised,” says Gerben van Niekerk, Student Media Manager.

Lacea Loader, Senior Director: Communication and Marketing and Coordinator of the MACE Excellence Awards, explained that a record number of entries were received for the Excellence Awards this year. “We are ecstatic about the direction of communication at the UFS and that the university has been able to maintain the quality of its entries in recent years,” says Loader.

The MACE Excellence Awards takes place annually as part of the MACE National Conference, recognising and celebrating excellence and the achievements of specialists and practitioners in marketing, advancement, and communication in the higher-education sector. This year, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) hosted the conference from 27 to 28 November 2024.

In 2023, the UFS won 11 awards, including the Chairperson’s Award of Excellence. 

News Archive

Rag 2005
2005-01-20

20 January
Thursday

08:00-12:00 Rag Workshop - Westblock 202

Workshops are held to introduce the First Year
students to the work that is done by Rag & Kovsco
and the importance of their social responsibility towards their community.

10:30-11:30 Lettie Fouchè

The Central Rag committee visits and treats the children of Lettie Fouchè School.

Evening Collections - Mochacos, Waterfront

First years work hard to raise money via door
to door collections in the neighbourhoods of
Bloemfontein for charity. First years dress-up as
chickens and prizes can be won every night.


21 January
Friday

08:00-12:00 Rag Workshop - Westblock 202

Workshops are held to introduce the First Year
students to the work that is done by Rag & Kovsco
and the importance of their social responsibility towards their community.


22 January
Saturday

08:30 for 09:00 Ladies Tea
in conjunction with Sarie
co-sponsored by Audi & Pick’nPay Hypermarket

An enjoyable morning where the ladies of Bloemfontein and surrounding areas are treated with beautiful
layed tea tables and guest artists. The host of every table participate in a competition and prize winners for the most beautiful tables are announced. The guest artist for Ladies Tea 2005 is Nataniel.


24 January
Monday Evening Collections - Mochachos, Waterfront

First years work hard to raise money via door to door collections in the neighbourhoods of Bloemfontein for charity. First years dress-up as chickens and prizes can be won every night.

25 January
Tuesday
08:30-16:00 MGD Coronation Ball tickets for sale
29 January 2005
Sand du Plessis Theatre
R260 per couple

The prestige evening of Kovsie Rag filled with
great music, sound and a vibrant show. The MGD
Rag Queen and her princesses are crowned and Rag
also makes use of this opportunity thank its
sponsors.

16:00 Vote for Rag Finalists at men’s hostels float-
building areas

Students have the opportunity to vote for their
favourite Rag finalists at the float building areas.

17:00-22:00 Evening Collections - Mochachos, Waterfront

First years work hard to raise money via door
to door collections in the neighbourhoods of
Bloemfontein for charity. First years dress-up as
chickens and prizes can be won every night.


26 January
Wednesday

22:00 MGD Rag Finalist Mass - Scholtz Hall

An exciting mass is held for the students to introduce
the 10 beautiful Rag finalists.

27 January
Thursday

08:00 Ritsim Launch - City Lodge

Ritsim 2005 is launched and introduced to the
UFS Top Management and the sponsors.

09:00-16:00 Campus vote for MGD Rag Finalists at various
voting stations.

Various voting stations are placed on campus for the students to vote for their favourite MGD Rag finalists.

Voting stations: Callie Human; Soetdoring Cafeteria; Library; Medical Cafeteria and at the Thakaneng Bridge.

17:00-22:00 Evening Collections - Mochachos, Waterfront

First years collect money for charity


28 January
Friday Ritsim Bloemfontein City Sales

6:30 Brace your self for the students around every corner
on the streets of Bloemfontein. Support Kovsie RAG
and buy a Ritsim 2005 magazine.
R10 per copy

16:00-22:00 Potjiekos - Vodacom & Tiger Brands
(Unite for Hunger)
Coca Cola Fortune & ABSA

Students enjoy a great evening of potjiekos and try their best to persuade the judges that their potjiekos is the best. Music and entertainment is organized.

29 January
Saturday

05:00 Ritsim Rural Town Sales

The students drive off into the country to sell the Ritsim magazines in various towns. R10 per copy.


18:00 for 18:30 MGD Coronation Ball
Sand du Plessis Theatre
R260 per couple

The crowning of the RAG Queen is a spectacular
evening not to be missed. It is an evening filled with
vibrant music and colour and you will also be treated
with a great show. Kovsie Rag also thanks its
sponsors on this prestige evening.


30 January
Monday

13:00-14:00 Sent placing - Thakaneng Bridge

Come and donate your change and it place it on a letter of a hostel of your choice.


5 February
Saturday

08:00-10:00 ENGEN RAG Procession

Proud Kovsie students have worked very hard on their floats and can’t wait for this day. Please come and enjoy a great day with Kovsie RAG and your family.

Procession Route: The Procession starts at the Kovsie Church. The procession proceeds in Nelson Mandela Drive and turn right into Markgraaff street. We then turn right into Kingsway and stop in front of the stage at the Art Market. Prof. Fourie introduces a toast on Rag 2005 and enjoys a glass of champagne with our
beautiful Rag Queen and her princesses.

Please support the first years in put your change into their collection tins.

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