Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
21 October 2024 | Story Litha Banjatwa | Photo Supplied
Matriculant of the year 2024
This year’s winner, Jayden Leech (centre), deputy head boy and hockey captain at Grey College.

For more than four decades, the University of the Free State (UFS) has used its annual Matriculant of the Year competition to attract the country’s top matriculants. This prestigious award recognises and celebrates the exceptional achievements of South African high school students who excel in academics, sports, culture, and leadership.

This year’s winner, Jayden Leech, deputy head boy and hockey captain at Grey College, stands out not only for his academic average of 90% but also for his sporting achievements. He has represented South Africa in karate and has been a member of the Free State Hockey and Waterpolo teams for the past three years. Jayden has been selected to pursue a medical degree.

The competition is closely aligned with the UFS’s Vision 130, which envisions a future where academic excellence, innovation, and societal impact are prioritised. “By recognising academic success, creativity, resilience, and leadership potential, the university aims to attract the brightest minds to join its community. This competition serves as a platform to identify and nurture future leaders who will help address South Africa's pressing challenges,” says Nomonde Mbadi, Director of Student Recruitment Services.

This year, the competition attracted 60 applicants, with a strong representation of women - 43 women and 17 men. The Free State province led with 28 entries, followed by North West, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng. Popular fields of study among applicants included Medicine (MBChB), Accounting, Engineering, and Law. While the overall academic average of all entries was an impressive 81%, the top 14 finalists achieved an outstanding average of 85%.

Through a series of interviews and group activities, candidates were assessed on their critical thinking, communication skills, and ability to collaborate effectively. The Matriculant of the Year is ultimately selected for their overall balance, leadership potential, and capacity to serve as an ambassador for the UFS.

The Matriculant of the Year competition reflects the UFS’s commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable learning environment, aligned with the university’s values of social justice and sustainability. “By aligning this competition with Vision 130, we reaffirm the UFS’s dedication to transforming lives, creating opportunities, and shaping the next generation of leaders who will drive societal and economic progress,’’ adds Mbadi. 

News Archive

UFS cattle auction facilities made available to CMW
2005-10-28

The University of the Free State (UFS) made the cattle auction facilities of its Lengau Agricultural Development Centre at the Sydenham experimental farm available to CMW.  The agreement is a collaboration between the UFS, the Mangaung Local Municipality and the National Farmers Union (NAFU) and will commence in November 2005. CMW is a minority shareholder of Sinethemba Mafana, a black economic empowerment company concentrating on the upcoming agricultural sector.  The cattle auctions will be held at the centre on the last Thursday of the month.

 

 

From the left:
Dr Léan van der Westhuizen (head of the UFS Lengau Agricultural Development Centre), Mr Willie Meyer (manager of CMW's central region), Prof Johan Greyling (head of the UFS Department of Animal- and Wildlife- and Grassland Sciences), Mr Thabo Pietersen (president of  NAFU in the Free State) and Mr Koos Kruger (auctioneer from CAW).
 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept