The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has awarded more than R50 million in scholarships to 1 289 top-performing undergraduate and postgraduate students.
From these recipients, the top 82 students received their prestigious awards at the Annual Scholarships Award Ceremony held in uMhlanga recently.
Of the 82 scholarships awarded at the ceremony,10 awards were to students who have excelled in sports, while 72 were to students who have excelled in their studies.
The 10 students received the UKZN Prestige Sports Scholarship Award for outstanding achievement in sports at international, national or provincial levels in volleyball, cricket, netball, karate, table tennis, basketball and rugby.
Over the past five years, UKZN has awarded scholarships worth a combined R220 million to 6 000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Wednesday’s ceremony was attended by parents, guardians, family members, educators, school principals, donors, members of the UKZN Council, executive management, student leaders, and members of Convocation.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, UKZN Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Professor Thabo Msibi, said the awards reaffirmed the university’s commitment to excellence, adding that investing in its students contributed towards securing a brighter future for the university.
Chairperson of the UKZN council, Khomotso Mthimunye, said the university’s investment in education reflected its belief in the transformative power of education and the institution’s commitment to supporting the most deserving and outstanding scholars in their academic journeys.
“Each of these scholarship recipients has demonstrated exceptional potential and determination. They are the future leaders, innovators, and change-makers who will drive our society forward. Therefore, tonight, we also celebrate the promise they hold and the impact they will have on the world,” Ms Mthimunye said.
The scholarships are named after South African luminaries and benefactors who have significantly contributed to society.
Retired Judge of the Constitutional Court and the last Chancellor of the former University of Durban-Westville, Judge Zac Yacoob attended the event and personally presented the Zac Yacoob Scholarship award to Saarisha Govender, who is studying towards a Bachelor of Science Honours in Physics. This prestigious award goes to the single best Honours student in the university.
Past Scholarship recipient Humaaira Moosa, who is currently completing her MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford, said this year’s awardees have achieved something to be proud of.
“I am sure that like myself, all of you have experienced failure and challenges on your journey. Moments of uncertainty, confusion and loneliness… perhaps even despair. From my own journey, I have come to realise that it is not despite these failures that we achieve success, but sometimes because of them. Our achievements are all the more sweet when we realise what it has taken to get us here,” she said. She added that those awarded have a duty and responsibility to do more.
“Identify what needs to be done and let that spur you on. Reflect on your journey, and I am looking forward to see what you all go on to achieve.”
The UKZN Scholarships Committee oversees the allocation of university scholarships and merit awards. This committee is responsible for facilitating the fair and equitable selection, recognition and distribution of these prestigious awards across all four colleges.
