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07 March 2024
Photo Lunga Luthuli
Prof Francois Strydom, Senior Director at the Centre for Teaching and Learning and Simphiwe Kunene, the first African DREAM scholar and a master’s student from the Faculty of Education.
The University of the Free State (UFS) received recognition for its commitment to student success at the 2024 Achieving the Dream (ATD) conference which celebrated its 20-year anniversary. Simphiwe Kunene, an Education master's student originally from the Qwaqwa campus, was selected to represent South Africa as the first DREAM scholar from Africa as part of the conference.
The Achieving the Dream network of over 300 institutions, which is one of the largest movements in US higher education aims to transform colleges and universities so that students of colour and a lower socio-economic status are supported to earn a degree. The UFS is a leading partner in the Siyaphumelela Network, which has been working for 10 years with ATD to enhance the success of students in South Africa. Prof Francois Strydom, Senior Director at the Centre of Teaching and Learning (CTL), accepted the award on behalf of the institution.
Prof Strydom said that collaboration with the ATD and Siyaphumelela institutions has helped the UFS to develop cutting-edge approaches to “level the playing field” and support Kovsies to earn their undergraduate degrees.
The first African DREAM scholar
Kunene was selected as the first African DREAM scholar from the Siyaphumelela network. To select the DREAM scholar, each Siyaphumelela partner institution nominated one student as a preferred candidate. From the proposed candidates, the DREAM scholar was selected by the South African Institute for Distance Education (Saide) based on the following: demonstrating resilience, academic excellence, and a deep commitment to making a positive difference in universities and personal communities.
He addressed the conference of over 2 000 delegates and shared with them his hopes and dreams. Many members of the South African delegation said Simphiwe did his country proud. He had the following to say about his opportunity to be a DREAM scholar: “Being a DREAM scholar was life changing for me, exposing me to an array of opportunities I never knew were possible and available for me. It was as if, for a moment, the world had stopped to just listen to what I had to say."
The way forward
The UFS will continue its work as a partner of the Siyaphumelela network for the 2024-2026 cycle. The multi-stakeholder project team is focused on enhancing undergraduate students’ time, and to position the UFS as a thought and research leader in the area of student success as part of Vision 130.
A Kovsie crowned Miss Free State 2016
2016-05-27
Mienke van Rooyen, a student at Kovsies and the new Miss Free State at the crowning. Photo: Wiaan Coffee Photography
A third-year BCom Marketing student, Mienke van Rooyen, continued the legacy of beauties from the University of the Free State. She was crowned Miss Free State on Saturday 21 May 2016 at the Sand Du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein.
In 2015, Van Rooyen took the Miss Intercontinental title at the annual Model SA International competition. She was overwhelmed by the support received throughout her journey. “I'm still searching for words to describe my appreciation to every single person who supported me up until now. “Thank you” will never be enough. I am proud to be a part of the Miss Free State family. Thank you for believing in me and my dream,” she wrote on her Facebook fan page.
Earlier this year, another Kovsie made us proud. Elizabeth Molapo walked away with the Miss SA First Princess title.
Rolene Strauss also flew the Kovsie flag at Miss World competition in 2015 when she became the reigning queen. Strauss was crowned Miss SA the year before.