SU celebrates outstanding student achievements at annual Rector’s Awards 

Stellenbosch University (SU) has honoured the outstanding achievements of a record 87 students at this year’s annual Rector’s Awards for Excellent Achievement. 

The red carpet was rolled out at the Stellenrust Wine Estate on Thursday (15 October) as members of the Rectorate, top management, faculty deans and student leaders gathered to recognise student excellence in its many forms – academic achievement, leadership, resilience, creativity and service. Musical group Siyaphambili set the tone for an evening of joyful celebration with lively renditions of popular songs that soon had guests dancing among the tables.

Before the awards were presented, Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Deresh Ramjugernath opened the evening by paying tribute to the late Prof Lis Lange, Acting Director: Teaching and Learning, calling her a “respected higher education leader, a fierce advocate for transformation, and a scholar deeply committed to advancing learning and teaching in South Africa”. 

He added that her legacy is a reminder of the “profound responsibility we hold as educators and learners”, and that each act of learning can “ripple outward to change lives, institutions and nations”.

This, he explained, is why the Rector’s Awards hold pride of place on the SU calendar. “Each award presented this evening represents a story of perseverance, courage and purpose. These stories remind us that excellence is not a single act, but a consistent way of being.”

Reflecting on SU’s identity as a “university that continues to evolve” while striving to balance tradition with innovation, excellence with empathy, and ambition with humanity, Ramjugernath urged students to continue to lead with purpose and compassion. “You give us great hope for the future,” he said.

Prof Richard Stevens, acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching, said there were 126 nominations and applications for awards this year. Among the successful 87 recipients were awards for academic excellence across all faculties, as well as outstanding achievement in leadership, culture and social impact and sport. Each faculty’s top Master’s student also received the prestigious SU Medal.

Medical student Musiiwa Salane received the Rector’s Award for Excellent Achievement in Academic Resilience, for overcoming personal and academic challenges to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Christa Koch, Acting Head: Academic Counselling and Development at the Centre for Student Counselling and Development, highlighted Salane’s “quiet strength” and described her as a “powerful example of what it means to persevere”. 

An emotional Salane said after the ceremony that she had flown from Upington to accept the award. “This means everything to me, and I would like to thank my siblings, my colleagues and the University for recognising me,” she said. “One of my biggest challenges was the loss of my mother earlier this year. I don’t think I am over it yet, but I hope that she is watching me and that she is very happy.”

Amber Nieuwenheyzen, former interim Student Representative Council (SRC) Vice-Chairperson 2024/25, presented Ayanda Mlatsha with the SRC Award for Exceptional Achievement. Mlatsha said she was “deeply humbled and profoundly honoured” to be recognised, and that the award served as a calling to continue leading. She described SU as a university that “shapes not only students, but also global leaders”. 

This year’s winners are:

Rector’s Award for Excellent Achievement in Academics

Medicine and Health Sciences

• Mila Guerrini
• Liza Eksteen
• Kia John Ontong
• Francis Konke Moran
• Anna Sinclair
• Megan Lambrecht

Science

• Georgia Rachel Pereira
• Reid Jody Harvey
• Jean Kerry Porrill
• Connor Ryan Christie
• Amaya Lakmeeharan

Arts and Social Sciences

• Vikisha Ranchod         
• Ariana Catia Cicognani
• Ashton Lee Symons   
• Lerie Tredoux             
• Maryn Emma Thom   
• Maria Wendy Jessica Retief
• Lynne-Francis Raper 
• Anna Van der Westhuizen    

AgriScience

• Johanna Slabber
• Marli Kotze
• Anja Visser

Engineering

• Christo Boshoff
• Daniël Alwyn Gouws
• Gerben Visser
• Jaron Weyermüller
• Steffan Alexander Brundyn
• Danica Tarryn Altenroxel

Economic and Management Sciences

• Jana Grobbelaar
• Ulrich le Roux
• Michaela Basson
• Abel Daniel Kotze
• William Alexander Horn
• Michaela Noelle van der Waag
• Simone Wessels
• Benjamin Roelofse
• Emma Martin
• Jenna Megan Turner
• Jenna Pentz
• Armand Cilliers

Education

• Luthando Mthembu

Law

• Chris Douglas Malherbe
• Mia van Zyl

Theology

• Deone Boer

Military Science

• Chad Flynn
• Tiaan Chris van Schalkwyk

SU Medal for Top Master’s Student

• AC Jansen van Rensburg           MMus
• Laura Meyer                                MCom (Logistics Management)
• Tiaan Muller                                 Master’s in Theology
• Stefanie Kotze                             LLM in Public Law
• Kira Lee Courtaillac                     MSc
• Kara Rain Janse van Rensburg   MScAgri (Plant Pathology)
• Naledi Shelter Tibane                 MMil in Technology (Thesis)
• Jessica Cormick                          MSc (Human Genetics)
• Felix Schmidt                               Meng (Engineering Management)

Rector’s Award for Excellent Achievement in Leadership, Culture and Social Impact 

Leadership:

• Simiso Langa
• Janice Kahumuza
• Ongezwa Tshazi
• Zeane Nel
• Abongile Quthu
• Risuna Risimati
• Julia Deacon Meyer
• Toluwani Adeboye
• Dylan Adams
• Daniel Terblanche
• Hakeemah Malaykah Matinka
• Jelena Jerling
• Natasha Diseko
• Olivia Smargiasso
• Lwandisile Mhlanga
• Jana Schreuder
• Thomas Ngwenya

Culture:

• Jakob Holm
• Gugulethu Kembo

Social Impact:

• Hamidah Rabiu
• Lize Venter
• Revando van Wyk
• Alexandra Dames
• Abigail Grace Larsen
• Perryn Heather Richardson
• Nothando Ndlovu

Rector’s Award for Excellent Achievement in Sport

• Daniella Mendes De Oliveira                        Maties Hockey
• Jason Andrew Fogle                                     Tennis
• Merwe Engelbrecht                                      Rowing
• Armand Johannes Samuel Combrinck        Rugby
• Ehros Smith                                                    Rowing

Rector’s Award for Excellent Achievement in Academic Resilience

• Musiiwa Salane

SRC Award for Exceptional Achievement

• Ayanda Mlatsha