Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa, congratulated students and staff on receiving a total of 67 awards for their excellence at contributing Higher Education. Staff and students are interdependent on each other, and it was inspiring for both to share their celebrations and reasons for excellence.
Prof Muthwa also thanked the key stakeholders and support networks in success, the parents, employers, colleagues and peers, and reminded staff and students about the importance of the University values.
Four VC awards
From left Ruan Gallant, Tayla Futcher, Cassandra Tregoning and Thandekile Ncongwane.
The four Vice-Chancellor Awards were presented to the top achievers in their categories:
Ruan Gallant: Best First Diploma - Diploma in Law Enforcement: Faculty of Law
Tayla Futcher: B degree (Information Technology)
Cassandra Tregoning: Best postgraduate award in Social Sciences and Humanities – Honours in English (Humanities)
Thandekile Ncongwane : Best postgraduate award in Science, Engineering and Technology – MTech in Forestry (Science)
From left, Eleesha Annear, Nadeema Musthan, Madri Kruger, Thandekile Ncongwane, Melody Peters and Luzuko Funda
Southern Africa Association for the Advancement of Science Award (S2A3)
Eleesha Annear: Master’s Degree by Dissertation: Science, Engineering and Technology. MSc in Zoology. The preference of prey for cheetah and lion. Cheetahs shift their diet seasonally in line with the breeding season.
Master’s awards
Nadeema Musthan: Master’s degree by dissertation in Social Sciences and Humanities – Master’s in Education. Nadeema’s research with community literacy workers shows that people, with no formal qualifications (and therefore no knowledge), can and do build knowledge about how best to support literacy development in their community’s children.
Madri Kruger: Master’s Degree by Dissertation: Science, Engineering and Technology. Madri’s research analysed job postings on LinkedIn to identify various IT roles, and the necessary tasks, skills, knowledge, and abilities for each. This information was then compiled into a “Cybersecurity Skills Framework for South Africa,”
Thandekile Ncongwane: Master’s Degree by Dissertation: Science, Engineering and Technology. MTech in Forestry. The recovery and growth of Patula pine trees after fully and partially mechanised harvesting, as well as the quantity of collectable tree material after harvesting.
Melody Peters: Masters by coursework in Social Sciences and Humanities – Master’s in counselling psychology. Melody wants to obtain her doctorate researching NSFAS-funded students, who make up most of the student body at Mandela University, and how to work towards developing University, and to develop interventions to improve their financial and overall well-being.
Luzuko Funda: Master’s degree by Coursework in Science, Engineering and Technology - MA in Architecture. With an average of 83% for his master’s in architecture (professional), Luzuko also won the National Corobrik Award in 2022 and several other awards during his studies.
From left, Cassandra Tregoning, Erich du Plessis, Nadeane Maritz, Kayleigh McRae, Tayla Futcher, Abdalla Mohamed, James van der Merwe, Salma Lukie and Keegan Perry
Honours degree awards
Cassandra Tregoning: BA Honours in English. Category: Social Sciences and Humanities
Erich du Plessis: BSc honours in Applied Mathematics. Category: Science, Engineering and Technology
First degree awards
Nadeane Maritz: BCom Logistics and Transport Economics. Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences
Kayleigh McRae: BEd (Foundation Phase Teaching). Faculty of Education
Tayla Futcher: Bachelor of Information Technology. Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology
Abdalla Mohamed: BCur Nursince Sciences. Faculty of Health Sciences
James van der Merwe: BMus. Faculty of Humanities
Salma Lukie: LLB. Faculty of Law
Keegan Perry: BSc. Faculty of Science
From left, Justin Prince, Beandre Streso, Sindisiwe Tsabalala, Debrah Coeries, Ruan Gallant, Eloise Krisch, Keanu Kapank and Hayley Britz
First diploma awards
Justin Prince: Diploma in Management. Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences
Biandre Streso: Diploma in Information Technology (Software Development). Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology
Sindisiwe Tshabalala: Diploma in Sport Management. Faculty of Health Sciences
Debrah Coeries: Diploma in Music. Faculty of Humanities
Ruan Gallant: Diploma in Law Enforcement: Faculty of Law
Eloise Krisch: Diploma in Game Ranch Management. Faculty of Science
First year undergraduate awards
Keanu Kapank: Diploma in Information Technology. Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology
Hayley Britz: BSc. Faculty of Science