​Stellenbosch University (SU) honoured those students who excelled in areas ranging from academics to leadership at the annual Rector's Awards for Excellent Achievement, held on Thursday (13 October).  

"This is one of the highlights of the University's calender," Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, said at the event. "You embody an important aspect of our vision, which is to strive for excellence. Congratulations to every recipient of a Rector's Award tonight. It is a pleasure to be here and you make me very proud."

The following students were named as the top master's student in their respective faculties: Tiaan Conradie (Arts and Social Sciences), Michelle Puren (Education), Francois Olivier (Agrisciences), Werner Smit (Economic and Management Sciences), Hilmar Luckhoff (Medicine and Health Sciences), Jacques Terblanche (Engineering), Matthew Maybe (Science), Sanmarie van Deventer (Law) and Calvin Ulrich (Theology).

Ricardo Smit was given the Rector's Award for Excellent Achievement in Community Interaction, whilst Farai Mubaiwa, Nonkululeko Radebe, Inge Barac and Nicholas Wayne were among those who received the Rector's Award for Excellent Achievement in Leadership.

Ms Nokwanda Malumbete, Director at Malumbete van Niekerk Inc and Stellenbosch University LLB graduate, was nominated by the Student Representative Council for the Exceptional Alumni award.

"I would like to address the women in the room, young and old," she said. "Please do not underestimate the weight that your presence as woman adds to this world. To establish your presence in the world and accept your excellence in South Africa is to lay claim to a dimension of power that will assist in cementing your agency and allow you to pave the way for other women who will come after you." 

Watch Malumbete's full speech here:

Photo: Ms Nokwanda Malumbete; Photographer: Anton Jordaan