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29 October 2025 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi | Photo Kaleidoscope Studios
EDSA Prestige Awards
From left: Dr Temba Hlasho, Executive Director: Student Affairs; Jane Mpholo, 2025 Student of the Year; and Prof Noluxolo Gcasa, Guest Speaker, at the 2025 EDSA Prestige Awards.

The Division of Student Affairs at the University of the Free State (UFS) brought together students, staff, and senior management on Friday 24 October 2025 for the fourth edition of the Executive Director: Student Affairs (EDSA) Prestige Awards – an evening dedicated to recognising students whose leadership, creativity, and commitment are shaping a more inclusive university.

Held at the Bloemfontein Campus, the ceremony honoured outstanding students across all three campuses who have excelled through academic performance, community engagement, and innovation. From sport and residence life to student governance, counselling, health and wellness, social support, and the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support, each award reflected the depth of student impact within the university community.

 

A night that belonged to students

Dr Temba Hlasho, Executive Director of Student Affairs, said the awards serve as a reminder of the values that underpin the UFS journey toward Vision 130. “By recognising and rewarding excellence,” he said, “we reinforce the culture of achievement and innovation that drives our students.”

He congratulated the winners for their perseverance, describing them as “dreamers who never give up” – borrowing the words of Nelson Mandela – and encouraged them to remain ambassadors of the university’s spirit of excellence.

Guest speaker Prof Noluxolo Gcaza, Associate Professor from Nelson Mandela University, reflected on the meaning of excellence in her keynote address. “Excellence is a way of being,” she said. “It’s not about recognition at the end – it’s the fruit of your quiet perseverance. Whether your name is called or not, your contribution adds to the living story of this university.”

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the EDSA Student of the Year, celebrating students who embody global citizenship, academic distinction, leadership, and community engagement.

Jane Mpholo-Mehlape, an Honours in Drama and Theatre Arts student specialising in Theatre for Young Audiences and Directing, earned the top honour. A multi-award-winning theatre-maker, filmmaker, and social entrepreneur, she uses the performing arts to confront social issues, create employment, and mentor young people.

“It feels surreal,” she said after receiving her award. “For years I’ve poured everything into my work, so this recognition affirms that what I’m doing matters… that we are seen.”

Coming from the performing arts, she added, the recognition carries special weight. “People often see performance as just entertainment,” she said. “But art can give people voices and opportunities. This award recognises leadership, transformation, and community – and those are everything that I am.”

Joining her were Thabang Mahlangu, a Human Resource Management student and member of the Shimlas rugby team, who received the first runner-up honours for his contributions to sport, leadership, and community engagement, and Mbalenhle Thungo, a Bachelor of Administration student from the Qwaqwa Campus, who was named second runner-up. Thungo is an entrepreneurial student leader serving as the Deputy Chairperson of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences Student Council.

Together, the winners represent the diverse ways in which UFS students continue to demonstrate excellence: not as a goal, but as a way of being that reflects the heart of the institution.

News Archive

Twee broers lewer intreerede
2004-06-10

‘n Unieke geleentheid sal homself môre, 9 Junie 2004, voordoen wanneer twee broers - proff Francois en Janse Tolmie - tydens dieselfde geleentheid hul intreeredes aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) sal lewer.

Prof Francois Tolmie is verbonde aan die UV se Departement Nuwe Testament en die onderwerp van sy lesing is Die impak van die metodologie op die verstaan van die Nuwe Testament. Prof Janse Tolmie, sy jonger broer, is verbonde aan die UV se Departement Rekenaarwetenskap en Informatika en die onderwerp van sy lesing is Die rol van inligtingstegnologie in kennisbestuur.

Hoewel die studievelde vér verwyderd staan, klop die twee broers se missies wat betref die terugploeg van die verworwe vakkennis ten bate van die gemeenskap. Prof Francois Tolmie is nóú betrokke by dowes en Prof Janse Tolmie tap weer kunsmatige intelligensie ten bate van die mediese wetenskap en geestesgesondheid.

Prof Francois Tolmie verwerf die grade BA, BA Honneurs (Grieks), MA (Grieks), B Th en M Th almal cum laude aan die UV. In 1992 verwerf hy 'n D Th (Nuwe Testament) en in 2004 'n Ph D (Grieks) aan dieselfde universiteit. Na sy militêre diens as kapelaan in Walvisbaai aanvaar hy 'n beroep na die NG-gemeente Walvisbaai. Hy begin sy akademiese loopbaan op 1 April 1990 as senior lektor in die Departement Nuwe Testament en word in 1999 tot medeprofessor en in 2003 tot professor bevorder.

Sy navorsingspesialiteit is die Johannesevangelie en die Brief aan die Galasiërs. Hy is tesourier van die Nuwe Testamentiese Werksgemeenskap van Suid-Afrika, lid van die Society of Biblical Literature en die Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, redakteur van Acta Theologica en assistent-redakteur van Neotestamentica. Hy het reeds 34 artikels in geakkrediteerde tydskrifte gepubliseer, asook drie populêr-wetenskaplike boeke en talle bydraes in populêr-wetenskaplike boeke. Hy het twee akademiese boeke in die buiteland gepubliseer - onderskeidelik in Nederland en in die VSA. Later vanjaar verskyn 'n derde akademiese boek in Duitsland. Hy is ook een van die vertalers van die Afrikaanse Bybel vir Dowes.

Prof Janse Tolmie verwerf die grade B Sc, B Sc (Hons) en M Sc (Cum Laude) in Rekenaarwetenskap aan die UV.

Hy is vanaf 1989 betrokke by die UV en was ook ’n dosent aan die Militêre Akademie in Saldanhabaai in 1990/91 en het klas gegee by DePaul Universiteit in Chicago in 2002.

In 1992 is hy vir ses maande gesekondeer na ’n patologiese firma, Van Drimmelen en Vennote, in Johannesburg vir die ontwikkeling van kennisgebaseerde sagteware. Met hierdie projek word hy een van slegs ’n handjievol navorsers in die wêreld wat daarin kon slaag om ’n mediese kundigheidstelsel te ontwikkel wat werklik gebruik word.

Hy verwerf sy Ph D in 1994 en in 1994/95 doen hy navorsing aan die Besigheidskool van Carleton Universiteit in Ottawa, Kanada. Hy word in 1997 bevorder tot mede-professor en in 2003 tot volprofessor. Vanaf 2003 tree hy op as departementele voorsitter van die UV se Departement Rekenaarwetenskap en Informatika.

Hy het meer as 30 publikasies al die lig laat sien, insluitend verskeie internasionale kongresbydraes en artikels in geakkrediteerde joernale. Hy was ook vir 2 siklusse geëvalueer by die NRF. Sy portfolio sluit in die ontwikkeling van sagteware of prototipes vir groot maatskappye soos Van Drimmelen en Vennote en Bayer Diagnostics (VSA). Sy privaatbesigheid fokus op die ontwikkeling van nismarksagteware vir tersiêre instellings. Die sagteware word tans gebruik deur afdelings aan verskeie universiteite in Suid-Afrika.

Die geleentheid vind om 19:00 in die CR Swart-ouditorium op die kampus plaas.

MEDIAVERKLARING

Uitgereik deur: Lacea Loader
Mediaverteenwoordiger
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Sel: 083 645 2454
E-pos: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
 

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