Awards were made in the categories of Student Governance and Development, Arts and Culture, Student Residences, Sport and overall student leadership - a highlight being the Campus Principal Leadership Excellence Award.
The keynote speaker, Mr Shanold Marillac, representing the Executive Mayor of George, inspired students with his motivational address. He congratulated the students on their excellent achievements, and encouraged them to constantly challenge themselves.
Campus Principal Leadership Excellence Award
The recipients in the female and male category of the prestigious Campus Principal Leadership Excellence Award, were Rochelle van Rooyen, a 3nd year BEd (FET) student and Thomas Mthethwa, a BTech Forestry student. They were two of five very deserving nominees – two male and three female – all of whom complied with the criteria for the award.
This award acknowledges the students for their proven leadership in various spheres and significant contributions to student life. In addition to the Campus Principal Leadership Excellence Award, both received a book prize, very aptly titled, Nelson Mandela: Conversations with myself.
More on Rochelle van Rooyen
Rochelle van Rooyen, a budding educator, and chairperson of the thriving SuperEd student society, which she founded, has organized various vibrancy and engagement events, both on and off campus – including Shoe Donation Week and “Die Bult Talent Showcase”. She has an excellent academic track record, having qualified for a Merit Award for outstanding academic performance annually during the past two years. Her leadership qualities and are also demonstrated through her participation in the Student Parliament, where she holds the position of Deputy Speaker, as well the fact that she was selected as the Class Representative of her peer group - the third year Education students.
More on Thomas Mthethwa
Thomas Mthethwa scooped the Campus Principal Leadership Excellence Award in the male category. He also demonstrated his leadership qualities in a number of areas, notably in the area of sport. He was vice-captain of the Madibaz Soccer Team Committee last year, plays for the Madibaz Soccer Team since 2012, where he showed his mettle as one of the good strikers in the team. He has worked productively as a Residence Student Assistant. He has also gained international exposure, amongst others as a George Campus representative (Vice Chairperson of SFA) for the International Forestry Student Association’s congress held in Spain in 2013. At this occasion he made a presentation on Wetlands Management in South Africa to a diverse group of international students. He is also held in high esteem by his peers, having received the Society Administrator of the Year Award last year.
Sport
Cricket was the shining star amongst all the sporting codes that vied for attention at this year’s NMMU (George Campus) Achievers Awards.
The Sport Club of the Year Award went to NMMU George Cricket Club, while the accolade for Sport Team of the Year went to the NMMU George Cricket team.
The Sport Administrator of the Year Award went to Awonke Kampie.
It should come as no surprise that the NMMU George Sportsman of the Year 2014 was scooped by a seasoned cricket player – Lyndon Volkwyn. He is an outstanding member of the SWD Senior Cricket Team; represented the USSA national cricket team at the Cricket SA Triangular Tournament. Volkwyn captained the Madibaz George Cricket Team that won the C-section at the USSA Cricket tournament, as well as the Sedgars SWD Cricket Board Premier League for the 2013/2014 season.
The number one-ranked lady in student surfing in South Africa, Roxanne Giles, took the honours as the NMMU George Sportswoman of the Year 2014. This is the second consecutive year that she has scooped this award. Giles, the individual winner: Women’s category, USSA Surfing 2014 was also selected for the USSA surf team at national level.
Sport Merit Awards
All in all seventeen students received Sport Merit Awards for excelling in sport codes recognised by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). They have all achieved at least senior provincial colours in the respective codes. The recipients were:
Badminton: Karl-Johannes Ewert
Body Boarding: Tiaan Hoeben
Cricket: Glen Addicott, Hendrik Kotze, Lyndon Volkwyn, Ross McMillan, Willem Scholtz
Deep Sea Angling: Kyle Mitchell
Football: Simamkele Thobi
Hockey: Ben Buys, Craig Clowes, Christopher Elliot, Gershwin Sparks
Show Jumping: Ivan van der Sijde
Surfing: Roxanne Giles
Tennis: Christian Koch, Jacobus Terblanche
Student Housing Awards
The award for the House Committee Member of the Year was scooped by Thomas Mart, while Zuko Dambuza was named the Mentor of the Year. Umdoni was named the Residence of the Year, while the award of Residence all-rounder of the Year went to Angus Mclennan.
Arts and Culture
The awards recipients in this category were Nandipha September - Arts and Culture Member of the Year with the NMMU George Campus Choir being named the Arts and Culture Society of the Year. Odwa Ngeni was named the Arts and Culture Choir Member of the Year, while talented dancer, Nosipho Mthalane was named the Arts and Culture Performer of the Year.
Student Governance and Development
Rochelle van Rooyen of SuperEd was named the Society Administrator of the Year, with the society itself scooping awards in two categories – Academic Society and Developmental Society of the Year. Awonke Kampie was selected as the Student Council Member of the Year, and also took the honours as George Campus All Rounder of the Year. SASCO was again named the Political Society of the Year, while the One Life Christian Centre also retained its status as the Religious Society of the Year.
Two of the top awards at the recent George Campus Achievers’ Awards evening, the Campus Principal’s Leadership Excellence Award for both male and female students, were awarded to Education student Rochelle van Rooyen and Forestry student, Thomas Mthethwa respectively.
Congratulating them on their fantastic achievement was from left: Dr Bridget and Prof Quinton Johnson (Campus Principal), Sarah and Shanold Marillac (representing the Executive Mayor of George), Van Rooyen, Mthethwa and Dr Willie Cilliers (President of the George Business Chamber) and his wife, Nelia.
At the recent George Campus Achievers’ Awards to recognise excellence in student activities, the two MC’s for the evening were Akhona Vazi (left), a BCom student and Erin Slattery, a Nature Conservation student.
The George Campus choir with well-known music ‘maestro’ Jan-Erik Swart enthralled the guests with their range of songs at the recent George Campus Achievers’ Awards.
The Madibaz George Cricket club received the most accolades in the sport category at the recent George Campus Achievers’ Awards with trophies for Club of the Year; as well as Team of the Year. Celebrating the players’ success was (from left) the Campus Principal, Prof Quinton Johnson, cricket player, Kobus Scholtz, Madibaz George Sport Manager, Hugo Loubser, cricket club captain, Lyndon Volkwyn, SWD Cricket CEO, Albertus Kennedy and cricket player, Hanno Scholtz.
Campus Principal, Prof Quinton Johnson (back left) and Madibaz George Sport Manager, Hugo Loubser (back right) congratulated members of the Madibaz George Sport Club who excelled on the sport fields when they were awarded with NMMU sport merit awards at the recent George Campus Achievers’ Awards evening. Proudly sporting their merit awards were (back, from left) Lyndon Volkwyn (cricket), Karl-Johannes Ewert (badminton), Roxanne Giles (surfing), Hanno Kotze (cricket) and Christopher Elliot (hockey); (front row, from left) Ben Buys (hockey), Kobus Scholtz (cricket) and Tiaan Hoeben (body boarding).
Campus Principal, Prof Quinton Johnson (left) congratulates NMMU George Campus Sportswoman of the Year, Roxanne Giles (middle) and Sportsman of the Year, Lyndon Volkwyn (right) at the recent George Campus Achievers’ Awards evening.
Giles successfully defended her University Sport of South Africa (USSA) surfing title when she won the ladies’ section at the annual USSA surfing championships at Victoria Bay earlier this year; while Volkwyn, captain of the Madibaz George Cricket Club, represented the USSA cricket team that participated in a Cricket South Africa triangular series in August in Pretoria.
One of the top awards at the recent George Campus Achievers’ Awards evening, the Campus Principal’s Leadership Excellence Award for female students went to third year Education student, Rochelle van Rooyen.
In celebrating her success, she was joined by: (from left) Campus Principal, Prof Quinton Johnson, Dr Bridget Johnson (George Campus Faculty of Education), Van Rooyen, Florence Rhoxo (Director: Eden & Central Karoo District, Department of Education) and Dr Keith Arnolds (George Campus Faculty of Education).
The members of the NMMU George Student Council who joined the Campus Principal, Prof Quinton Johnson (left) in celebrating their and the students achievements, were (f.l.t.r.) Lesego Moteane, Siviwe Sawuti, Nothando Dlozi, Nonkululeko Shelembe, Amy-Caie Simons, Awonke Kampie, Asafika Mzinjana, Anathi Masebeni, and Dean Langeveldt (front).
Sharing advice… Tatenda Mapeto (left), the 2013 recipient of the Campus Principal’s Leadership Excellence Award with this year’s recipient Rochelle van Rooyen (right) at the recent George Campus Achievers’ Awards evening.
NMMU George Campus Campus Principal’s Leadership Excellence Award recipient, Thomas Mthethwa (left), joined staff members Petunia Hlaka and Vuyiswa Mentile-Gozongo (Residence Manager) and other awards recipients - Chris-Marie Heath, Angus Mclennan, Viwe Bani, Nasiphi Nyathela, James Thobela; and (sitting, from left) Musa Masuku, Thomas Mart and Zuko Dambuza in celebrating their achievements.