29 February 2024 Volume :12 Issue :2
UKZN’s Award Ceremony Acknowledges Most Inspiring Students
Recipients of the 2023 Most Inspiring Student Awards.UKZN hosted its Spotlight on Greatness: Most Inspiring Student Awards, an event dedicated to honouring the exceptional achievements of students who have inspired greatness.
The ceremony, last held in 2019 due to the pandemic, saw 11 out of the 116 entrants being presented with the 2023 Most Inspiring Student Award.
Finalists in the four categories - academics, sport, clubs and societies - were selected based on nominations received from their peers, a testament to the inspiration they have provided to those around them.
Executive Director: Corporate Relations Ms Normah Zondo said: ‘We are here to celebrate your determination, resilience, commitment to excellence in academia, sports and in other areas - in line with UKZN’s Strategic Plan which emphasises excellent teaching and learning, excellent student experience, and excellent high impact research, innovation and entrepreneurship.’
Guest speaker, alumnus and founder and CEO of Wa Azania Aroma Mr Sethu Sidzamba said his time at UKZN had been a pivotal turning point in his life.
Referring to the award winners specifically, Sidzamba said ‘many are called, but few are chosen’, as he motivated them to continue inspiring greatness, and living up to their titles as UKZN ambassadors.
Enactus President Mr Lehumo Makgalo felt the award he received was an acknowledgement of his years of involvement in civil society movements; while founder of Tech Society UKZN and winner of the 2022 Women in Tech Global Award, Ms Nitasha Pillay, who is passionate about empowering and serving students in the tech space said ‘to whom much is given, much is due…there’s plenty of room at the top for individuals to collaborate and make a difference.’
Recently qualified Medical doctor Dr Athingahangwi Ramabulana, who owns Athinga’s Corner - a kitchen offering healthy home-cooked meals - commented on the importance of being a faithful steward with every talent one has been given which in her case involves student leadership, the arts, business and her career. Mr Morris Khumalo, a fourth-year Law student and founder of AloeGo, a business that farms and harvests aloe to be used in the production of soap, lotions and juices, said he lived in the footsteps of his grandmother’s goal of assisting people without any boundaries.
Masters of Education in Curriculum Studies student Mr Andile Gumede said the award was the result of his involvement in community engagement, academic excellence and student leadership; while Mr Ndumiso Gwala, a Masters in Social Justice Education student, credited his award to his work in the development of educational programmes for the vulnerable, as the founder of Vuka Uzithathe Africa, a project funded by the AIDS Foundation, and the United States President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Gwala, who was also part of the United States-South Africa Racial Justice Fellowship exchange programme which involved visiting Columbia University last year, said he was inspired by leaders like Professor Thabo Msibi to do more for his community.
Other recipients included, Ms Naledi Nguse, 2022 Central President of UKZN’s Golden Key International Honour Society; Master of Commerce in Leadership student, Mr Lungelo Gwala; BCom student, Ms Asande Sikhosana; Law student, Ms Lerisha Rooplall; and master’s candidate in Applied Sciences, Ms Aaliyah Shah.
Dr Sachin Suknunan of the Student Services Division encouraged the award winners to ‘plough back into the University’, while Programme Director Ms Thembalethu Shange implored the students to wear the UKZN badge with pride and fly the flag high.
In closing, Director of University Relations Ms Xoliswa Zulu said: ‘As UKZN Ambassadors continue impacting your fellow students and communities ... and inspiring greatness in all you do.’
Words: Hlengiwe Khwela
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini
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