Archbishop Denis E Hurley Scholarship for Honours Student

BY: .

Honours student Mr Sanele Hlela of the College of Law and Management Studies has been awarded the Archbishop Denis E Hurley Scholarship.

The scholarship - named after the late Archbishop Denis Hurley, a former UKZN Chancellor - allows disadvantaged but academically excellent candidates to study for honours degrees.

Currently studying for a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree in Management, Hlela says he wants to become an accomplished entrepreneur and sees the scholarship as essential for him to realise his career goal.

‘My qualification has granted me an opportunity to engage with companies like Bonlé so that I can have experience in the world of work,’ he said. 

Having faced financial constraints during his undergraduate pursuits, Hlela said the scholarship would provide him with the necessary financial backing to concentrate on his studies.

‘I want to thank UKZN for awarding me with this scholarship, I am so grateful. There are many challenging aspects I faced and overcame but funding my studies was the biggest. Fortunately, I was awarded an NSFAS grant to overcome financial obstacles for my first qualification,’ he said. ‘My family is so proud of my achievements - I’m the first graduate in my family. My mother is my pillar of support, always encouraging me when I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place!’

Words: Samukelisiwe Cele

Photograph: Albert Hirasen