The NMMU George graduation saw diplomas and degrees being awarded to students in three faculties – Business and Economic Sciences; Education, and the Faculty of Science. The latter accounted for about two-thirds of the graduates with National Diplomas and Bachelor of Technology degrees in Agricultural Management, Forestry, Game Ranch Management, Nature Conservation and Wood Technology being awarded, in addition to Master of Technology degrees in the research spheres of Agriculture and Nature Conservation.
This year, the second group of aspirant teachers – twenty in total – successfully qualified with the teaching degree – Bachelor of Education (Further Education and Training) from NMMU George Campus. More than two dozen potential accountants, chartered accountants or business managers also graduated with a variety of Bachelor of Commerce degrees.
All in all more than 6 000 certificates, diplomas and degrees will be awarded during NMMU’s 2014 graduation period. This includes 427 masters degrees and 72 doctorates, with 23 of the doctoral recipients being NMMU staff members across the university’s six campuses.
Celebrating excellence… The George Civic Centre was filled to capacity with graduates, their friends, families and NMMU staff who shared this proud occasion.
Proud NMMU Madiba… Duma Nombuyiselo, rejoices in completing her qualification - the National Diploma: Nature Conservation from NMMU George Campus.
Town and Gown applaud NMMU students… Ald Charles Standers (2nd from left), Executive Mayor of George and Dr Willie Cilliers (right), President of the George Business Chamber, congratulated the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, Prof Piet Naudé (left), Vice Chancellor, Prof Derrick Swartz, and the George Campus Principal, Prof Quinton Johnson, on the campus’ graduation successes.
Thumbs-up to future career prospects… Equipped with their qualifications in the field of Natural Resource Management, this group of new graduates, joined by the NMMU George Campus Principal, Prof Quinton Johnson, express their confidence in a bright future.
Postgraduate achievements… Wynand Loftus (centre left) and Ryno Pienaar (centre right) each received a Master’s degree in Nature Conservation at Friday’s George Campus graduation ceremony held at the George Civic Centre.
Pienaar received his qualification Cum Laude for his dissertation titled THE FEEDING ECOLOGY OF EXTRALIMITAL NYALA (TRAGELAPHUS ANGASII) IN THE ARID MOSAIC THICKET OF THE SOUTHERN CAPE under the supervision of Prof Laurence Watson (far right) and Anton Schmidt (second to right).
Loftus’ studies with Prof Christo Fabricius (far left) as supervisor looked at STRATEGIC ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT AND THE EFFICIENCY OF INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS.
Master of Technology: Agriculture… Stefan Terblanche (centre) received a Master’s degree in Agriculture Cum Laude at Friday’s NMMU George Campus graduation ceremony for his studies on AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF AN INTENSIVE SHEEP PRODUCTION SYSTEM ON CULTIVATED PASTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA, INCORPORATING CREEP FEEDING – AND ACCELERATED BREEDING PRACTICES.
Terblanche’s studies were conducted under the supervision of Johan Jordaan (left), a senior lecturer in Agricultural Management at NMMU George Campus and Prof Tertius Brand (right), a Specialist Scientist: Animal Nutrition at the Elsenburg Research Centre.
Forestry’s top student… Thomas Volontiya (centre) will not easily forget the recent NMMU George Campus graduation ceremony as he was the recipient of both a National Diploma in Forestry Cum Laude; as well as a Schlich medal in gold.
This award is made annually out of the proceeds of a grant to South Africa, to commemorate Sir William Schlich’s valuable services to Forestry.
One medal is awarded each year to a final year forestry student who has had the best performance in the class over the full three year study period, provided the average mark is not below 75%, provided further that a minimum mark of 70% has been obtained in each subject and with consideration of the candidate’s general performance.
Furthermore, the student must have earned the marks concerned throughout his three year study period at the first examination; that means that marks obtained through re-examinations do not count for this award.
A silver medal is awarded if the student concerned has attained an average of 75% to 79% and a gold-plated medal is awarded if an average of 80% or more is obtained.
On hand to congratulate Volontiya was (from left) Tiaan Pool (Forestry lecturer at NMMU George Campus), Prof Andrew Leitch (Dean of the Faculty of Science), Prof Jos Louw (Director of the School of Natural Resource Management), Volontiya, Prof Quinton Johnson (Campus Principal – NMMU George Campus), Andrew McEwan (Forestry lecturer at NMMU George Campus) and Dr Jaap Steenkamp (Forestry lecturer at NMMU George Campus).
Top of the class… A delighted Kelly-Jane Peo (left) and Leigh-Ann Kant can’t stop smiling after both students received the BTech degree in Game Ranch Management Cum Laude at Friday’s George Campus graduation ceremony.
Nature Conservation’s best… Elzaan van Loggerenberg (centre left) and Kei Heyns (centre right) received a National Diploma Nature Conservation Cum Laude at Friday’s George Campus graduation ceremony. On hand to congratulate them was Prof Jos Louw, Director of the School of Natural Resource Management (far left) and Anton Schmidt (Programme Coordinator for Game Ranch Management and Nature Conservation programmes).
Proud NMMU George Staff members, lecturer Etienne Bruwer (left) and Librarian, Hilde Bruwer, with her daughter, Monique van Wyk who graduated Cum Laude with a National Diploma: Management from NMMU George on 4 April.
Keeping it in the family… Debbie Derry, Deputy Director: Communication at NMMU’s main campus in Port Elizabeth, congratulates her son, Matthew, after he received his National Diploma in Game Ranch Management at Friday’s George Campus graduation ceremony.
Proud parents… Senior lecturer in Agricultural Management at NMMU George Campus, Johan Jordaan with his wife Elsabé and their son Charles, who graduated with a National Diploma in Marketing at Friday’s George Campus graduation ceremony held at the George Civic Centre.