by Tebogo Tabane
It was excitement all round when the Faculty of Management Sciences recognised and awarded hard work and dedication at the annual Top Achievers event hosted on 2 August. A total of 72 students received certificates and awards for attaining a pass rate of 70% and above.
The highlight of the day was when three students: Edgar Radingwana, Best Diploma student in the Faculty (Diploma in Entrepreneurship), Ntokozo Mthethwa, Best Advanced Diploma student in the Faculty (Advanced Diploma in Operations Management) and Best Postgraduate Diploma student Ms Vanessa Pitsi (Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management), received the Special Deans’ awards.
Dr Rosa-Anne Naude-Potgieter, programme director, told recipients that despite facing challenges and obstacles, they continued to push forward knowing that the fruits of their labour will one day become evident.
“Today is your day. We are here to celebrate your success and as we honour you as top achievers, always remember that true success is not just about the visible results we can see, it is also the unseen efforts and unwavering determination that have paved your way to get here,” she said.
Dr Rosa-Anne Naude-Potgieter presenting the guest speaker, Herman Swart with a token of appreciation.
Your journey and achievements inspire us all – may you continue to reach new heights and may your stories encourage others to nurture their own dreams with the same dedication and perseverance,” she concluded.
Welcoming parents and recipients, Dr Edgar Nesamvuni, Executive Dean of the Faculty said: “as we appreciate the achievements and success of the students, we would like to encourage all post-diploma top achievers to apply for Tutoring positions within the Faculty to assist other students who struggle with their academic studies.”
He further urged students to apply for TUT scholarships, which will assist them in their journey to become future academics.
In his address, guest speaker Herman Swart, General Manager of Sun International, told students that the most important things in becoming a successful person in your career are your attitude and your soul. “To become a world changer and be successful in your career, you need the right attitude as well as being innovative,” he said.
- Herman Swart served as an officer in the military before establishing himself in the Hospitality, Leisure and Casino industries in 1989. During a career spanning 41 years, he held various leadership positions in businesses throughout Southern Africa, specialising in developing and executing commercial turn-around strategies whilst building winning teams . He is a trained experiential learning facilitator with a passion for solution finding. He is known by many as a “disruptor” with an unwavering belief in the creative essence of the people of South Africa. Over the years he helped various executive teams to rediscover and nurture their innovative core. Herman is the founder and owner of The Silence Factory, based on his farm in the Outeniqua mountain range of the Southern Cape. He now dedicates his life to teaching organic listening skills and helping organisations cultivate the lost art of seeking understanding.
Winners of the Special Deans Award:
Edgar Radingwana
Ntokozo Mthethwa
Ms Vanessa P Pitsi