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Vincent Mahapa takes home the Dux Award

20 September 2024 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Ian Van Straaten

Vincent Mahapa 2024 — The Campus Principal, Prof Prince Ngobeni and the Dux award Winner Vincent Mahapa.

The University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus recently celebrated academic and holistic excellence at its annual Student Excellence Awards. The event honoured high-achieving students from various disciplines, as well as those who have made significant contributions to the campus community.

The air was electric with anticipation as the campus community gathered to honour its brightest stars. The annual Student Excellence Awards showcased the exceptional talents and achievements of students across academic and extracurricular realms. This event took place in the iconic Mandela Hall.

Vincent Mahapa, a dedicated 21-year-old from Bronkhorstspruit east of Pretoria, was recognised for his exceptional academic achievements by being awarded the prestigious Dux prize at the event.

Mahapa is on the verge of completing his Bachelor of Administration and Management degree in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) and has consistently demonstrated academic excellence. In his second year, he achieved an impressive average of 82%, securing a remarkable seven distinctions in 2023. These outstanding results were further acknowledged through his induction into the prestigious Golden Key International Honour Society, Class of 2023.

Driven by a passion for public administration and management, Mahapa has a strong interest in black empowerment, organisational leadership, and community development. He aspires to leverage his skills and knowledge to drive positive change within these fields.

Overcoming challenges, achieving success

Mahapa's journey to academic excellence was not without its hurdles. He openly acknowledges the challenges he has faced in effectively managing time, balancing academic and personal life, staying motivated, and overcoming social anxiety. However, his determination to succeed shone through as he strategically tackled these obstacles.

Commenting on this laudable recognition, he said, “By creating a well-balanced schedule, setting realistic goals, and seeking support from peers and lecturers, I developed effective coping mechanisms.” He emphasised the importance of creating a study plan and adhering to it, along with techniques such as breaking down complex topics into manageable sections and employing the Pomodoro technique to optimise study sessions.

Words of wisdom for fellow students

As a Dux awardee, Mahapa offered valuable advice to his fellow students who aspire for academic excellence. He encourages them to:

seek help and support when needed;
remain consistent and persistent in their efforts;
set clear goals and work diligently towards achieving them;
develop strong organisational skills and manage time effectively; and
surround themselves with positive influences that will motivate and support their endeavours.
Finding balance for academic and personal well-being

Being an introverted individual, Mahapa acknowledges the importance of striking a healthy balance between academic commitments and personal life. He achieves this by meticulously planning his schedule, allocating specific time slots for studying, relaxation, and personal activities. Setting realistic goals and further prioritising tasks allows him to manage his time effectively.

Additionally, he stresses the importance of creating a designated study space that is comfortable, organised, and minimises distractions, thus boosting productivity. Distinguishing the importance of self-care, Mahapa highlights activities that bring him joy and relaxation. He does not hesitate to seek support from loved ones and lecturers when needed, and regularly reviews and adjusts his approach to ensure a healthy balance that meets his individual needs.

The university congratulates him on this well-deserved achievement and commends him for his commitment to using his knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on society.

And a big congratulations to all the winners. Indeed, we are inspiring excellence!

News Archive

UFS takes 70 first-year students to the USA

2010-08-20

Mr Rudi Buys (middle, with tie) with some of the students selected for the F1 Programme
Photo: Gerhard Louw

The University of the Free State (UFS) has announced the names of the first ever group of 70 first-year students that will travel to the United States of America (USA) as part of the university’s Student Leadership Development Programme.

This group of students will spend two weeks at universities in the USA to experience student life and learn about leadership and diversity at these universities.

“This is a first for not only the UFS, but also for South Africa and we are incredibly proud. The programme is unique to any other student leadership development programme in the country. We are leading the way and are taking students to live and learn amongst students at various universities across the USA,” said Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs at the UFS.

The programme was one of the goals of Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, which he aimed to realise when he was appointed by the UFS in 2009.

“With the programme we want to develop participants’ thinking and capacity to lead in the contexts of diversity and change and we hope to direct them to programmes leading change in student life in general upon their return,” Mr Buys said.

The 70 students will leave for the USA on 22 September 2010. After spending some time there and learning more about their American peers’ lives and culture, they will return to the UFS on 7 October 2010.

“We took great care in selecting the 70 participants. They are representative of all our students, as well as students from our Qwaqwa Campus,” said Mr Buys.

A rigorous selection process was followed, which focused on the students’ academic excellence, their participation in student- and residence-life programmes and their interest in growing in the areas of, amongst others, leadership, diversity and citizenship. Each candidate had to undergo a pre-selection process, followed by a panel interview consisting of staff from various faculties and divisions at the UFS.

The students will stay in groups of about ten at the various universities, which include universities such as Cornell University, New York University, the University of Massachusetts, the Appalachian State University and Virginia Polytechnic University. “These universities will provide our students with accommodation and will present various academic and cultural programmes which our students will participate in and learn from,” said Mr Buys.

“We have also put a programme in place to prepare our students thoroughly for the trip. Because some of them have never travelled on an aeroplane, let alone travelled to a foreign country, we have made arrangements with the Department of Home Affairs for assistance with travel documentation, as well as special arrangements with the USA Embassy for assistance with visas. They will also be attending workshops focusing on, amongst others, research, leadership and diversity before their departure on 22 September 2010.

“Upon their arrival in the USA the group of students will firstly be taken to Washington DC where they will be briefed about American customs, etc. From there they will be placed at the various universities,” said Mr Buys.

Upon their return the students must be involved in student-life programmes on campus, establish volunteer programmes and initiate and establish mentoring programmes for their fellow students. “We want them to give back what they have learnt and experienced,” said Mr Buys.

“We are planning on implementing the Student Leadership Development Programme as an annual programme and are looking forward to this incredible programme through which this group of first-year students will have the opportunity of a lifetime to be true ambassadors of South Africa and, in particular, the UFS, as they leave for the USA,” he said.

Media Release:
Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za
20 August 2010

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