Golden Key Award for Outstanding Medical Student

BY: .

Mr Kumeren Govender, a third-year Medical student at UKZN’s Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, is one of four recipients of the prestigious Golden Key Award.

Govender’s accomplishments were read out to an audience of more than 300 students and 500 parents at the awards ceremony held at the University’s Edgewood campus.

The young achiever boasts an accumulative academic percentage average of 83% while the research he completed during his studies was presented at last year’s international SA AIDS Conference in Durban.

Over and above the academic obligations placed upon him by his studies, Govender also completed several open courses offered online, including courses in Psychology, Economics and Astrophysics.

He was commended by the Dean for his academic achievements and also received the Vice- Chancellor’s Award for being ranked among the top five students of the MBChB programme every semester thus far.

Govender, who developed his leadership skills by attending several youth development camps, used that talent to tutor his fellow students for which he also received the UKZN Peer Mentor Wellness Award. His tutoring skills also extend to a website which he designed which focuses on providing assistance to high school students with their school work.

Govender is a member of the CAPRISA Research foundation, UKZN’s Debating Club, the Surgical Society and acts as the treasurer for his religious society. 

He contributes to community service outreach programmes through societies he belongs to, which include the SA Tamil Youth Forum, the RK Khan Mobile Clinics and the South African Inter Religious Youth Council that recently hosted a “Street Soccer Day”.

Govender is also a musician! He plays the violin and harmonium and teaches music to orphans through the ‘Making a Difference’ project.

And he’s not lacking in physical prowess either - he swims the Midmar Mile every year!

Govender said he was honoured to have received such an award that acknowledges his commitment and dedication towards excellence.

Govender said: ‘This award surmounts personal achievement and signifies recognition of those who may in the long term contribute to the development of society. I would like to extend my gratitude to my parents and grandparents who have unwaveringly supported me in my endeavours.’

* Golden Key is an internationally recognised, non-profit organisation affiliated to more than 400 universities throughout Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Africa, India, the Bahamas and the United States. Its mission is to enable members to realise their potential by connecting individual achievement with service and lifelong opportunity.

Lunga Memela and Nadaraj Govender.