This week, Stellenbosch University (SU) gave recognition to a cohort of staff members whose careers attest to sustained excellence in research, innovation, learning and teaching, social impact and professional services.These staff members were awarded the University's prestigious Chancellor's Awards during the December 2023 graduation series. The awards are one of many forms of recognition for excellent performance.The recipients for the 2023 Chancellor’s Awards include: Trevor CrowleyCrowley has been in SU’s employ since 1982. He has received a 12-year service award as well as a 25-year long-service award. He is also a three-time recipient of the former Rector’s Award for Service Delivery. Whether cleaning offices, preparing exam venues, assisting students and staff during the #FeesMustFall protests, or serving on a faculty committee, Crowley embodies the University’s values of compassion, excellence and respect in everything he does, displaying a friendly and distinctively positive attitude. Prof Anthony Jan Leysens Leysens joined the dean’s office at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in 2015 in the capacity of vice-dean. He assumed the responsibilities of acting dean of the Faculty in May 2016 and was officially appointed dean in January 2018. Since then, he has displayed competent and empathetic leadership, skilfully guiding the Faculty to navigate challenges and uncertainties, including that of the Covid-19 period. In large part thanks to his focus on strategic academic renewal, finances and crisis management, the Faculty is now on a sustained growth path and currently ranks among the top 300 of its kind globally.Prof Helmuth Reuter    Reuter’s leadership at SU and in the healthcare community for the past more than two decades attests to his selflessness, wisdom and dedication. His significant involvement in various committees and as chair of bodies such as the advisory board of the Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu (FAMCRU) reflects his deep commitment to healthcare improvement locally and nationally. His key role in teaching and curriculum development helps enhance healthcare education. In the rural health field, he strives to improve healthcare access for underserved communities. Having published over 120 articles, Reuter has significantly advanced medical knowledge for the benefit of society through his extensive research portfolio.Estie GeldenhuysGeldenhuys joined SU in 1987. In 2005, she was appointed in Student Administration on Tygerberg campus, where she established an office for liaising with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, as well as a service for facilitating intern placements in collaboration with the Department of Health. Having introduced a support model for integrating returning medical students trained in Cuba, she joined a national delegation to Cuba in 2014. Because of her expertise and in-depth knowledge of the health sciences landscape, she is a trusted source of information and advice to internal and external stakeholders alike. Her commitment to a positive student experience is exemplary.Dr Tania Brodovcky Prestigious awards such as a Fulbright scholarship and Fogarty fellowship attest to the international recognition that Brodovcky has gained in research and academia. As head of Research Capacity Development and Funding for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences for the past 15 years, she has vastly expanded the Faculty’s research programme, including through a pioneering course in clinical research protocol writing – a uniquely South African offering. Her active engagement in committees and boards fosters efficiency and quality, while her team’s involvement in research grants management ensures sustainability. Brodovcky’s leadership in this high-pressure environment contributes to the success of the University’s medical students and early-career researchers.Loumarie Kistner Kistner of the Division of Strategic Initiatives and Information Governance has made remarkable contributions to the development of data analytics as a strategic tool at SU, particularly the design, implementation and refinement of SUN-i, SU’s business intelligence system, which enables data-driven decision-making on a range of issues. Using her skills in analysis, technical specifications, innovation, testing, training, processes, reporting and communication, she continuously develops solutions to institutional challenges and plays a key part in enhancing SU’s performance and reputation. Her involvement in the implementation of SUNStudent, the University’s new student administration system, also helped ensure business continuity.Nicolette van den Eijkel Van den Eijkel, SU’s chief director of Facilities Management, joined the University in 2015. Together with her team, she manages 466 buildings and 787 000 m2 of bulk infrastructure across SU’s five campuses, and has done so with distinction through a pandemic, major fires, a drought and protests. The largest project of her tenure has been the multiyear Campus Renewal Project. By the end of 2022, 54 projects on this massive R6,2 billion programme had been completed. These include the state-of-the-art billion-rand Biomedical Research Institute at Tygerberg, which van den Eijkel and her team delivered on time and within budget and has exceeded SU’s expectations.Jan du Toit Having joined SU in 1990, du Toit was instrumental in the implementation of the University’s then Student Information System (SIS), which served SU well for over three decades. He also championed the first online application and registration functionalities in South African higher education and led the establishment of the University’s first call centre. When the SIS reached the end of its useful life, he again played a pivotal role in acquiring a new student administration solution to future proof SU’s systems and processes. His performance record and institutional knowledge have made du Toit a true asset to the University.Sonia Schoeman As a dedicated development officer in the Development and Alumni Relations Division at SU since 2010, Schoeman is an expert fundraiser in the corporate social investment arena. Over the past 13 years, she has helped attract R826 million in philanthropic funds to the University from this area of corporate South Africa alone. In addition, this SU 1982 BA honours alumna is passionate about the Stellenbosch community, about social justice and sustainable impact, about youth development and the environment, and about knowledge as a catalyst for change. This is evident from her engagement with the funders and changemakers who help move both the University and South Africa forward.Annali Maass Maass was appointed postgraduate coordinator in the Department of Business Management in 2016. Since then, she has managed all postgraduate programmes in the Department with dedication and efficiency. In addition to this responsibility, she took charge of the management of the PhD programme of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences – the University’s largest faculty – in 2019. This has seen her professionally manage 132 successful PhD oral defences of candidates from various corners of the world. Her performance has earned her six Rector’s awards in recognition of her work ethic, dedication, and loyalty to Stellenbosch University.Jeanne Kühn Kühn is known for her commitment to excellence and professionalism. These very traits saw her retain the position of personal assistant to successive directors of the Stellenbosch Business School, also serving as manager of the director’s office. In addition, she has managed the Business School’s successful management programme for non-profit organisations for the past 14 years. Over the years, she has been honoured with five Rector’s awards for general performance in recognition of her excellence and hard work.  Photo: Chancellor’s Award recipient, Trevor Crowley (middle) pictured with Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of SU, and Justice Edwin Cameron, SU Chancellor. Photo by: Stefan Els