​​Dr Jonas Bovijn, a former pupil of Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch who completed his medical studies with an average of an astonishing 86,21%, was named the recipient of Stellenbosch University's (SU) coveted Chancellor's Medal for 2013, on Tuesday (10 December 2013). Video

​The medal is awarded to a final-year or postgraduate student who excelled in their studies.

It is only the second time that the medal – since its inception in 1961 – has been awarded to a medical student. The medal was handed over at the graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences – the first ceremony of December 2013 – on Tuesday 10 December. A total of 693 students received their degrees at the ceremony.

Bovijn was one of seven students who received the degree MB, ChB cum laude.

The audience gasped and applauded loudly as Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice-rector: Research and Innovation, who officiated at the event, mentioned Bovijn's academic achievements.

He passed al 38 modules during his six study years with distinction and his average over this time was 86, 21%. His 'lowest' mark was 82,8% in his fifth year and his highest mark was 89,1% in his second year. He is only the second student to pass every subject of the MB, ChB programme with distinction. He was also named the best student in Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Urology and he received the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science's Gold Medal as the best student over the six study years of the programme.

Bovijn has also received the Rector's Award for academic excellence on numerous occasions, in 2009 as one of the top 30 students at Stellenbosch University. Since he enrolled in 2008 he has been the top performer in his class every year. Bovijn has received the Huis Hippokrates Award for exceptional academic performance and he is a member of the Golden Key Society. In 2010 he was one of 99 South African students who attended the Brightest Young Minds summit and one of only 6 who presented their project at the gala event.

Already during his undergraduate studies he was an active researcher who participated in various research projects, presentations and publications. He established the Society for Student Research on the Tygerberg campus and he also passionately promoted research among his fellow students.

Bovijn was one of 52 medical students from around the world who were invited to the New England Journal of Medicine's 200^th anniversary symposium in Boston, Massachusetts in the United States. The invitation resulted from the Journal's essay contest. The New England Journal of Medicine is the oldest medical journal in the world and is rated very highly in medical and academic circles.

What makes Bovijn's achievement even more impressive is that he doesn't just focus on his academic work. He received awards from the Rector as well as the Tygerberg Student Council for exceptional service, among other things for his role as chairperson of the Philosophy association and involvement with other committees in residence and on campus.

Bovijn didn't always know that he wanted to study medicine but during a campus tour in Grade 11 he was fascinated by the cadavers and decided that it was a good career to follow.

To be successful it is important to have a passion for what you do and to work hard, he said after the ceremony. He is going to do his internship at Tygerberg Hospital in 2014.

His parents, Eric and Marleen Bovijn, are very proud of their son. The family is originally from Belgium and moved to South Africa 15 years ago. "It's unbelievable," Mr Bovijn said about his son's achievement.

Other graduates

Also among the graduates was Elizma van Lill who obtained her BSc degree in Physiotherapy. Elizma is a 2012 (valid for 2013) recipient of the Rector's Award for Exceeding against the Odds which is awarded to students who have excelled academically despite difficult circumstances. Her father died when she was 11 years old and after her mother passed away in 2010, she, as the oldest of three daughters, had to work part-time in order to provide for her sisters.

"I wish my mother was here to see that I have found my place in the world," Elizma said yesterday.

"It was hard to get by on my own and the Rector's Award helped a lot," she added. She could enjoy her final year at university more because she had less financial pressure.

In 2014 she will be doing her practical year in Manguzi on the Kwazulu-Natal northcoast to make a difference in the lives of rural dwellers.

"We want to remain humble because it was all God's grace," said Ms Mary Hendrikse, an administrative officer at SU's Division of Career Counseling, Admission and Residence Placing, after her youngest daughter, Deidre Hendrikse, became a medical doctor. Deidre is the third child in the Hendrikse family to achieve this feat after brother Clint and sister Améé also obtained their medical degrees at SU.

"It is a great honour and privilege to have graduated. I have wonderful parents, and a brother and sister who supported me." Regarding her plans for the immediate future, Deidré says she will be doing her internship in East London in the Eastern Cape next year.

Another child of employees at SU also received her degree on Tuesday. Clara Kotze, daughter of Annemaré Kotze of the Department of Antique Studies and Mr Robert Kotze, Senior Director: Postgraduate and International Office, was awarded an Honours degree (BSc Hons) in Human Anatomy cum laude.

Students in the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences (Group B) receive their degrees later today at 17:30, while degrees in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences will be awarded on Wednesday (11 December) at 10:00 and 17:30 respectively.

Doctoral degrees in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Education, Theology, Law and Economics and Management Sciences will be awarded in the Endler Hall on Wednesday at 14:00

• Visit www.sun.ac.za/graduation for more information.
• The ceremonies are streamed live at www.sun.ac.za/streaming.
• Visit Stellenbosch University's Facebook page and tag yourself in photographs.
• Tweet using the hashtag #SUgraduation and mention @Matiesstudents and @StellenboschUni in your tweet. 

Heerden Herman, a Matie swimmer who represented South Africa at the Olympic Games and who was name Stellenbosch University's Sportsman of the Year three years in a row, received his BComm degree cum laude on Tuesday.

Joshua Bassingthwaighte, a Maties sevens rugbyplayer who was named Most Valuable Player at Varsity Sports' recent sevens tournament and who has represented WP and the SA Students 7's team, received his BComm degree.

They were among the 766 student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences who obtained their degrees on Tuesday (10 December 2013) at Stellenbosch University's second graduation ceremony.

The two sport stars agreed that time allocation is very important when you compete competitively and study at the same time.

"I didn't think this day would come," said Heerden. He studied part-time while he swam competitively – among other things training to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London – and 2013 was the first year in which he studied full-time to complete his degree.

He is a Rhodes Scholar elect for 2014 and will study at Oxford University for two years, with the aim of completing an MBA degree. He will still swim, but only for relaxation and exercise.

Joshua hopes to follow a tertiary qualification in Project Management at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) and to still play for Maties. "I absolutely love sevens rugby and it has brought so many opportunities, for example to travel," he added.

The degree Hons BComm (Statistics) cum laude was awarded in absentia to Loumarie Kistner from SU's Centre for Prospective Students. Already in 1981, she was the top student in Chemical Engineering. Apart from obtaining a degree in a different field, Loumarie will graduate in the same week as her son, Stephan, and daughter-in-law, Melissa, who will receive their Bachelors in Civil Engineering and Masters in Chemical Engineering respectively. Stephan and Melissa graduate on Friday (13 September).

Also among the graduates, was a former SciMathUS (Science and Mathematics at the University of Stellenbosch) student, Siphokazi Nongxa, who obtained her BComm degree.

The University's highly successful SciMathUS programme offers talented and motivated students, who are educationally disadvantaged and who did not qualify to be admitted to university programmes, a second chance to improve their marks in Mathematics and Physical Science.

• Visit www.sun.ac.za/graduation for more information.
• The ceremonies will also be streamed live at www.sun.ac.za/streaming.
• Visit Stellenbosch University's Facebook page and tag yourself in photographs.
• Tweet using the hashtag #SUgraduation and mention @Matiesstudents and @StellenboschUni in your tweet.

The sons of three professors at Stellenbosch University (SU) obtained their BA degrees at the third graduation ceremony of December 2013 on Wednesday (11 December)​.

They were among 858 students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences who were rewarded for their hard work.

Johannes Jonker, a former head pupil of Stellenbosch High School, obtained his BA degree cum laude. Johannes is the son of Prof Louis Jonker of the Faculty of Theology and Ms Anita Jonker, coordinator of the Extended Degree Programme in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

He is also a Mandela Rhodes Scholar elect for 2014. The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship is awarded to students based on their academic achievements, leadership qualities, entrepreneurship and commitment to reconciliation. Johannes plans to do a BA Honours in Socio-Informatics next year.

With regards to his recipe for success, Johannes said "you must be willing to learn. If you have the desire to learn, most other things will fall into place".

Another lecturer in the Faculty of Theology, Prof Johan Cilliers, looked on proudly as his son, Jacques Cilliers, received his degree. Jacques will start with his BA Honours in Ancient Studies in 2014.

It wasn't just professors in Theology whose sons graduated; a lecturer in Political Science, Prof Anthony Leysens' son Jean-Louis also obtained his BA degree in Socio-Informatics cum laude.

"First my degree was just an idea, but now it has become a reality," Jean-Louis said. "I want to thank my parents, and am especially grateful to my father," he added.

Jean-Louis plans to do a BA Honours in Socio-Informatics next year.

An Honours degree in General Linguistics cum laude was awarded in absentia to Robyn Berghoff who was also the top postgraduate student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences for 2013. She works as an assistant in SU's Department of General Linguistics.

Fourteenth degree over four generations

Isabel Steyl, who received her BDram degree (drama), is the 14th member over four generations of her family to complete a degree at Stellenbosch University. The first family member to receive a degree from SU was her great-grandfather on her mother's side, Mr Manie Strydom. Mr Strydom, a former resident of Wilgenhof, obtained a MSc degree and used to be a lecturer in Agriculture at Elsenburg.

Isabel's grandfather on her father's side, Adv Gert Steyl, was the first of four family members to graduate with a degree in law. Her parents, Marian and Johan, respectively obtained their Music and BComm degrees at SU and her brother Gerrie also has a BComm degree from SU. He works for Deloitte in Johannesburg.

"I'm very proud to follow in the footsteps of my family members," Isabel said.

On Thursday (12 December) at 10:00 students in the Faculties of Education, Theology and Military Science will receive their degrees in the DF Malan Hall.

Also on Thursday, doctoral degrees in Sciences, Engineering, AgriSciences, and Medicine and Health Sciences will be awarded. The ceremony starts at 14:00 in the Endler Hall of SU's Conservatoire in Victoria Street.

• Visit www.sun.ac.za/graduation for more information.
• The ceremonies are streamed live at www.sun.ac.za/streaming.
• Visit Stellenbosch University's Facebook page and tag yourself in photographs.
• Tweet using the hashtag #SUgraduation and mention @Matiesstudents and @StellenboschUni in your tweet. 

Photo: Jean-Louis Leysens, Johannes Jonker and Jacques Cilliers with their degrees.

Photographer: Anton Jordaan

​Stellenbosch University paid tribute to Mr Nelson Mandela at a special occasion held on Monday 9 December. Watch video here.

In writing to staff and students Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, said there is no better example for the young people of our country and our university's staff members and students than former President Mandela, and this is fitting that we honour this "influential leader, remarkable statesman, icon of liberation and reconciliation, and of course also a recipient of an honorary doctorate from Stellenbosch University" at a special occasion.

The foyer of the Conservatoire has been made into a place of tribute where staff members and students can reflect, commemorate and acknowledge Madiba daily during this period of mourning.

Prof Botman invites staff and students to place their own cards and flowers at a candle of remembrance. A book of remembrance is also ​available to staff and students to write a message. The book will placed in the State Archive along with all the others collected from across the country. This book will be there until Friday 13 December for those who still want to write a message.

Visit www.sun.ac.za/madiba for more information on Madiba's ties with Stellenbosch.

Photo: Prof Julian Smith, Vice-rector: Community Interaction and Personnel, writes in the book of remembrance in the foyer of the Endler to pay tribute to the late Mr Nelson Mandela.

More than 70 high school learners from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Tunisia participated in the South African Maths Foundation's learner development camp from 4 to 8 December.

Hosted by Stellenbosch University's Department of Mathematical Sciences, the aim of the camp was to prepare some of the brightest young minds in the country for the 55^th International Mathematics Olympiad that will take place from 3 to 13 July 2014 in Cape Town.

The IMO is described as the world championship in mathematics for high school learners. The first IMP was in Romania in 1959 and participation in the event has grown from seven to more than a hundred countries from five continents. This will be the first time for an African country to host the IMO.

According to Prof Stephan Wagner from SU's Department of Mathematical Sciences and host to this year's Learner Development Camp, the learners were selected following their participation in the South African Mathematical Talent Search, the South African Mathematics Olympiad and various other mathematical achievements.

"The learners are competing for only six places in the team to represent South Africa at two major international mathematical Olympiads: the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) and the Pan-African Mathematical Olympiad (PAMO)," he explains.

The intensive four-day program consisted of training sessions, lectures and daily tests.

The teams are usually announced in May. Until then the learners still have to participate in several selection tests.

For more information about these events, visit the official website for IMO 2014 at http://www.imo2014.org.za or the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad's website at http://www.pamo-official.org/en/​

​Maties were beaten by Tukkies (University of Pretoria) in two finals of Universities Sports South Africa (USSA) tournaments in the last couple of weeks.

​​A clinical psychologist, who sings in his free time, and a Chinese women from Hong Kong, whose husband received his doctoral degree last year, were among the 48 doctoral candidates who received their degrees at Stellenbosch University's first separate doctoral ceremony in the Endler Hall of the Conservatoire.

Among the 48 doctoral candidates who obtained their degrees on Wednesday afternoon was Jia Wang, only the second Chinese citizen to complete her doctoral studies in Law here at SU. She received her LLD in Mercantile Law with her thesis titled Copyright: rebalancing the public and private interest in the areas of education and research, under the supervision of Prof Owen Dean. Prof Dean is an expert in the field of Intellectual Property Law and his personal fields of specialisation include trade mark and copyright law.

In 2008, Wang's husband, Dr Lei Chen, was the first Chinese citizen to receive his LLD from SU. He travelled from Hong Kong, where he is currently working, to South Africa to attend his wife's graduation ceremony. Chen said he is very proud of his wife's achievement and that they are now the first Chinese couple to have completed their doctoral studies here at  Stellenbosch University. Wang said her husband told her what a great institution SU is and she therefore decided to follow in his footsteps. They will be returning home in the next few days, but added that they'll undoubtedly return to South Africa someday.

Dr Hanru Niemand, a clinical psychologist from Durbanville, received his doctorate in philosophy. Niemand, a former learner and head boy of Paarl Boys High who was the top student in the Western Cape in his matric year, is also 'n well-known singer who regularly performs at arts festivals.

Another recipient, Dr Berna Gerber from the Department of Speech therapy and Audiology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, was awarded a doctoral degree for her analysis of the problem of quality and successfulness of doctor's communication with their patients. Her research highlights reasons for failed communication and gives feedback on how it can be improved.

Students in the Faculty of Science, in turn, were rewarded for their hard work during the University's fourth graduation ceremony that was held as usual in the DF Malan Memorial Centre on Wednesday evening.

Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice Rector: Research & Innovation, told the students at Wednesday's ceremony that the best way to honour Nelson Mandela's legacy is to live his conviction - that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Prof Cloete urged the graduands to make a difference in society. "To those of you who will be leaving Stellenbosch now as budding scientists, it is my wish that you will help strengthen the science base of South Africa and Africa and in this way contribute to the development of our continent."

Among the students who received their degrees on Wednesday evening, were two former SciMathUS students, Bonny Hendrikse and Dale Abrahams. They both received their Bachelor of Science (BSc). Hendrikse said she will enter the world of work next year, but will definitely further her studies in the future, while Abrahams will be tackling his honours degree. "I feel fantastic. Hard work and SciMathUS brought me to where I am today," Abrahams said.

The University's SciMathUS programme offers talented and motivated students, who are educationally disadvantaged and who did not qualify to be admitted to university programmes, a second chance to improve their marks in Mathematics and Physical Science.

Visit www.sun.ac.za/graduation for more information.

The ceremonies are streamed live at www.sun.ac.za/streaming.

Visit Stellenbosch University's Facebook page and tag yourself in photographs.

Watch the video of the Faculty of Science's graduation.

Tweet using the hashtag #SUgraduation and mention @Matiesstudents and @StellenboschUni in your tweet.

Photo 2: Faiq Waghied, son of Prof Yusuf Waghied from the Faculty of Education, received his doctoral degree in Curriculum Studies yesterday. With them is Prof Russel Botman, SU Vice-Chancellor (left) and the Chancellor Dr Johann Rupert. Photo: Hennie Rudman.

Photo 3: Dale Abrahams and Bonny Hendrikse, former SciMathUS students, both received their BSc degrees. Photo: Anton Jordaan.

​Die Burger youth leaders visited Stellenbosch University's campus on Tuesday 10 December to get a taste of student life.

The Grade 11 learners from schools across the Western and Eastern Cape were addressed by Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Vice-rector: Teaching and Learning who informed them why Stellenbosch is a good university to consider if they want to study.

The group was also addressed by three young researchers and was taken on a campus tour.

Three engineers, who did research for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project in the Karoo, received their doctoral degrees from Stellenbosch University (SU) on Thursday afternoon.

Drs Mark Volkmann, Bob Ilgner and André Young were among the 55 doctoral graduates who received their degrees at a ceremony held in SU's Endler Hall. Doctoral degrees in the Faculties of Science, AgriSciences, Engineering, as well as Medicine and Health Sciences were awarded.

The SKA is an international project and will be the world's largest, most sensitive radio telescope which makes use technology that actually does not exist at the moment. The biggest part of the telescope will be built in the Karoo near Carnarvon.

Young received his doctoral degree in electronic engineering with a thesis titled "Improving the direction-dependent gain calibration of reflector antenna radio telescopes".

"Working on such a large scale international collaborative project as the SKA offers unique opportunities to meet the world's top experts in a particular field. This provides a stimulating environment for discussing open problems, exchanging ideas and forming partnerships, as well as doing research which has a significant impact," Young says.

But this is not the end of his work on the SKA project. "I am currently continuing with research on the SKA project as a postdoctoral fellow, and I hope to continue working in this field as the SKA and other related instruments are developed, constructed and used to do new science," he adds.

The title of Volkmann's doctorate in electronic engineering is "A superconducting software defined radio front-end with application to the SKA".

Ilgner investigated the deployment of a numerical technique widely used in electromagnetic engineering. He also obtained his doctoral degree in electronic engineering.

Prof David Davidson was Ilgner and Young's supervisor, as well as co-supervisor for Volkmann, who studied under Prof Coenrad Fourie and Prof Willem Perold as the other co-supervisor.

At Thursday's ceremony, the first joint doctoral degree between SU and the St Andrew's University in Scotland was awarded to Dr John Davis in absentia. He obtained his PhD in chemistry but could not attend the ceremony because he has accepted a job offer in the United Kingdom.

The joint degree model had many benefits, Davis says.  "Having had an experimentalist as supervisor and a theoretician as co-supervisor made my research appeal to a wide audience. I had access to the High-Resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer from SU, as well as the High-Performance Supercomputer at St Andrews. In essence, everything you need to conduct high quality research experimentally and build a theoretical basis for it computationally."

But, he quips, postage to South Africa is slow. "The delays in the postal service had resulted in a few missed deadlines."

Seven doctorates were awarded in the Faculty of AgriSciences. Read article here​.

CAPTION: Prof David Davidson with Drs André Young, Mark Volkmann and Bob Ilgner. Photo: ANTON JORDAAN

Millipedes, Malawi's Mujane cedars, vegetables indigenous to South Africa, pomegranates and citrus fruit are among the subjects studied by the most recent group of doctorale recipients capped in the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University.

Seven doctorates in forestry, horticulture (2), wine biotechnology, soil science, conservation ecology and entomology were awarded. In addition, 190 undergraduate students (including 53 Elsenburg students), 10 honours students and 29 Masters' degree students also obtained their degrees in various programmes within the Faculty of AgriSciences during the December 2013 graduation ceremony.

Dr Tembo Chanyenga obtained his doctorate in forestry under supervision of Prof Coert Geldenhuys and Dr Moctar Sacande with a study on the Mujane cedar trees that are indigenous to Malawi. He established among other things how fire influences the seed distribution and reproduction of this conifer.

Dr Olaniyi Fawole and Dr Lembe Magwaza both obtained their doctorates in horticultural science under the supervision of Prof Linus Opara, the SARChI Research Chair in Postharvest Technology. Dr Fawole developed an index which assists farmers in establishing when pomegranates are ready to be harvested. He also investigated the rich health benefits of these fruits. Dr Magwaza focused on citrus fruits, using near infrared spectroscopic methods to assist in sorting these fruits on the basis of external qualities like peel damage and colour, and internal qualities such as the Vitamin C content.

For his doctorate in wine biotechnology, Dr Daniel Jacobson developed computational biological methods to provide insights into and clarify the biotechnological processes involved in wine production. Prof Melané Viviers was his study leader.

For his doctoral studies in entomology, Dr James Lawrence made a thorough study of the factors which are required to allow the endangered Seychelles Giant Millipede to flourish again on this island. His study leaders were Prof Michael Samways and Dr Janine Kelly.

Different types of vegetables indigenous to South Africa were the subject of Dr Sydney Mavengahama's study in soil science, under supervision of Dr Willem de Clercq and Prof Milla McLachlan. His survey showed that such vegetables were important in the diets of most rural people, but were difficult to domesticize. Dr Mavengahama also found that in cases where poor soil was farmed, additional fertiliser and manure had to be used to ensure that people received all the necessary nutrition from these vegetables.

Riparian plants and how they are influenced by river flow was the subject of the study of Dr Michiel Reinecke, who completed his doctorate in conservation ecology under supervision of Prof Karen Esler and Prof Cate Brown.

The new doctors were all congratulated on their perseverance and hard work towards obtaining their degrees during a function at Lanzerac hosted by the Faculty of AgriSciences.

At the same event, faculty medals were also awarded to the top undergraduate students in different disciplines.

Martha Knoetze received the Prof AI Perold Medal as the best BScAgric student. A BScHons (Genetics) student, Kelly Breeds, received the Hofmeyr-Van Schaik Medal as the top student in Genetics, while Shepherd Mudavanhu was awarded the Farmers' Weekly/Kassier Medal as the best BAgricAdmin student. He also received an award from the German non-governmental "The Initiative South Africa" organisation, INISA.

The Prof PA van der Bijl Award went to Alexandra Phillips as the top undergraduate BScAgric student in Viticulture and Oenology. She is also the recipient of the South African Society for Enology and Viticulture cash prize. ​

Photograph: From left Drr Olaniyi Fawole, Daniel Jacobson, Miss Kelly Breeds, Dr Lembe Magwaza, Miss Alexandra Phillips, Dr Sydney Mavengahama, Mr Shepherd Mudavanhu, Dr Michiel Reinecke.

Please see the first edition of a revamped BibNews at http://tinyurl.com/bibnuus2013-1. With this electronic newsletter, the Library and Information Service would like to help you stay abreast with new services and resources available and keep clients up to date with news about upcoming events. This edition includes articles about two important events which took place recently: our Annual Library Symposium and the launch of our Digital Collections. We hope you enjoy the read.

​

​​Five years ago they were the first to participate in the Saturday Schools Initiative of the Faculty of Education at Stellenbosch University (SU). On Thursday (12 December), these 18 students obtained their BEd degrees at the sixth graduation ceremony of December 2013.

They were among the 739 students in the Faculties of Education, Theology and Military Science who graduated on Thursday. Watch video.

The Saturday Schools Initiative, launched in 2008, focuses specifically on the recruitment of future teachers, explains Ms Anneke Muller, Senior Administrative Officer of SU's Institute for Mathematics and Science Education (IMSTUS).

"I can hardly explain what I am feeling; I am so excited because my passion for education started at the Saturday schools," said Silindile Gatya.

Another student, Ghersolene Miles said the Saturday schools helped her to rise above her circumstances. She associates this initiative with "change, achievement, and a better life for yourself".

Ghersolene will be teaching at Saxon Sea Primary School in Atlantis next year.

Also among the graduates was one of the facilitators of SciMathUS (Science and Mathematics at the University of Stellenbosch), Elza Lourens who received her MEd degree cum laude.

Postgraduate Certificate in Education

On Thursday (12 December) Kimberlee Cloete would have also received her Postgraduate Certificate in Education and next year she would have started as a teacher at a school in the Northern Cape. Sadly, her life was cut short in November when she was hit by a car. Kimberlee's mother, Ms Andriane Cloete, accepted the certificate awarded to her posthumously.

She said her daughter was brilliant, focused and passionate about her studies. "Just like Madiba, Kimberlee believed that education holds the key to your freedom."

Kimberlee already obtained her BSc Honours degree in Botany and Zoology at SU in 2012. She did her internship at Cloetesville High School, and was described by the principal, Mr David Andrews, as "an excellent student and a great loss to the education profession".

A Postgraduate Certificate in Education was also awarded to Marelize Koopman, daughter of Prof Nico Koopman, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at SU. Marelize obtained her BA degree last year, and plans to do an Honours degree in Education in 2014.

Another student who also received a Postgraduate Certificate in Education was Leon Rooifontein who completed SU's highly successful SciMathUS programme in 2006.  This programme offers talented and motivated students, who are educationally disadvantaged and who did not qualify to be admitted to university programmes, a second chance to improve their marks in Mathematics and Physical Science.

Degrees in Theology

What others would consider obstacles, three theology students used to their advantage to complete their studies successfully. Samantha Terhart overcame difficult circumstances at home en route to her MDiv degree.

"I am grateful to everyone in my family from Cape Town to Pretoria who supported me, and also want to thank the Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa for the bursary awarded to me," Samantha said.

He always wanted to study theology, but was only able to do so much later in life, said Dawid Scheepers, a retired school principal, who also received his MDiv degree.

"Earlier only teachers got bursaries, and therefore I decided to become a teacher. However, I was driven by a higher calling and therefore I left the education profession after 36 years."

It was difficult to study and knowing you will not be earning a salary anymore, Scheepers added.

Even though his biggest challenge was to access information other students receive automatically, he is grateful to the Faculty of Theology for giving him the opportunity to do a MTh degree, said Erik de Waal, the first deaf student in South Africa to achieve such a feat.

On Friday (13 December), students in the Faculties of AgriSciences and Engineering will receive their degrees. Honorary doctorates will also be awarded at the same ceremony.

• Visit www.sun.ac.za/graduation for more information.
• The ceremonies are streamed live at www.sun.ac.za/streaming.
• Watch the video of this morning's graduation ceremony.
• Visit Stellenbosch University's Facebook page and tag yourself in photographs.
• Tweet using the hashtag #SUgraduation and mention @Matiesstudents and @StellenboschUni in your tweet.

Photo: Prof Russel Botman, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor, with some of the students after the graduation ceremony.

Photographer: Anton Jordaan

Photo 2: Erik de Waal, Samantha Terhart and Dawid Scheepers with their degrees.

Photographer: Martin Viljoen

​It is not often that seven children from one family have all completed their studies at Stellenbosch University (SU) – and to top it all their father is a Matie too. Well, the Murrays from Clanwilliam is indeed a family of eight Maties. 

Friday's graduation ceremony was extra special for Pieter and Stephanie Murray. Their youngest son, Danie Murray, received his BIng degree in Mechanical Engineering. It was awarded at SU's ninth December graduation ceremony where almost 640 students received their qualifications in AgriSciences and Engineering.

Danie is the last of the couple's seven children to have obtained a degree at SU over the past 14 years. The Murray children refused to let financial problems get in their way and completed their studies with the help of bursaries and study loans.

Mr Murray, a Matie alumnus who received a Bachelor of Theology degree (BTh) in 1976, said he could not finance his children's studies due to unforeseen circumstances. In a letter to SU he wrote: "It is with great gratitude to the University that we can look back on 14 years in which our seven children had the opportunity to study with the help of bursaries and loans awarded to them through the University. Today each one of them is an example of perseverance and pride in their work."

Murray writes that at one stage five of their children were studying at the same time, and over the years they often referred to "the angels" at the Bursaries and Loans division.

The seven children respectively obtained the following degrees: Jaco: MB, ChB, MMed (Paediatrics), FCPaed (SA); Riaan: MB, ChB, MMed (Anaesthesiology), FCA (SA); Pieter: BSc (Biochemistry) Honours (Chem), PhD (Chem); Stephanie: BSc (Dietetics); Marina: B-degree (Occupational Therapy), Christo: BIng (Electrical & Electronic) and Danie: BIng (Mechanical).

Honorary degrees

At this graduation ceremony, SU also awarded honorary doctorates to Prof Reimund Neugebauer and the Minister of Home Affairs, Naledi Pandor.

The other four honorary doctorates for 2013 will be awarded at the March graduation week to David Kramer, Prof Andreas van Wyk, Dr Edwin Hertzog and Prof Wolfgang Huber.

On Friday, prof Reimund Neugebauer received his honorary doctorate for his establishment of links between Germany and South Africa in the crucial field of resource- and energy-efficient production engineering, specifically geared to people's needs, and his significant contribution to the creation of knowledge on resource efficiency and the international transfer thereof, especially to developing economies.

He has been an extraordinary professor in industrial engineering at SU since 2007.

Minister Naledi Pandor was rewarded for her impressive contribution to public office, among others as chair of the National Council of Provinces and as cabinet minister responsible for three different portfolios, as well as for serving as a driving force in the transformation of education and the promotion of science and technology in South Africa.

Pandor was deputy chief whip in the National Assembly, chaired the National Council of Provinces and has held three cabinet appointments, as minister of Education from 2002 to 2009, of Science and Technology till 2012 and, since then, of Home Affairs.

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Main photo: Prof Reimund Neugebauer and the Minister of Home Affairs, Naledi Pandor, were awarded honorary doctorates from SU. Photo: ANTON JORDAAN

Photo 1: Stephanie and Pieter Murray with their youngest son, Danie. 

Photo 2: Daniël Schoonwinkel, son of Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Vice-Rector (Teaching and Learning), received the degree BIng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering cum laude. 

Photographer: Anton Jordaan

​​​The improvement of quality of life, the saving of lives and energy, and the conservation of water, livestock and rhinos. These were the main themes of the projects of six final-year Matie engineering students who participated in the Jac van der Merwe Competition for Innovation on 11 December 2013.

This was the 19^th consecutive year that the Jac van der Merwe Competition for Innovation has been held in the Faculty of Engineering. The Competition was named after Jac van der Merwe, an alumnus of the Faculty, who was known for his creativity and innovativeness. He was a founder member of M-Net and was tragically killed in an aeroplane crash in 1994. In order to commemorate his creativity M-Net launched this competition in 1995 to select the final-year Matie engineering student with the most innovative project.

From this year MultiChoice sponsors the prize, which has also been increased to R30 000.

Six candidates, one from each of the engineering disciplines at Stellenbosch, competed for the prize. Each had to deliver a 15-minute presentation on their final-year project in front of a panel of judges.

SP le Roux of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering was the winner. He received R17 000. The title of his project was Stock position tracking and theft prevention system and his project leader was dr Riaan Wolhuter. Mieke Lareman of the Department of Process Engineering was the runner-up. Her project covered the Investigation on the biosorption of lead, copper and nickel using Ecklonia Maxima as potential biomass. Her project leader was Tosca Heunis.

The remaining four participants received R1 500 each. They are:

Regardt Müller, Mechatronic (Household water and electricity monitor and control with cellular communications and web interface.) Project leader Dr Thinus Booysen.

Dominique ter Huurne, Civil (The appropriate deployment of variable speed limit systems on Western Cape freeways.) Project leader Dr Johann Andersen.

Alex Schurer, Industrial (Study and evaluation of currently existing manufacturing technologies leading to improved affordability of prostheses.) Project leader Prof Dimitri Dimitrov.

Tiaan Homann, Mechanical (Jonkershoek small-scale hydro turbine design and resource assessment.) Project leaders Josh Reinecke en prof Theo von Backström.

On the photograph in the front are from the left Bernardt Louw (MultiChoice), Mieke Lareman (runner-up), Tiaan Homann, Dominique ter Huurne, SP le Roux (winner), Alex Schurer and Regardt Müller. At the back is Liesel Koch, Engineering's marketer who has been the organiser and presenter of the Competition for the past 12 years. 

From left to right:  Jane Chiroma, Krystle Ontong, Prof Lesley le Grange, Prof Maureen Roberts, Peter Beets.​

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It has been decades since the water-lily ponds of the Botanical Garden housed tropical water-lilies, including the giant Victoria water-lilies. The historic water-lily ponds in the Botanical Garden was recently renovated and with the utilization of green technology the water is once again heated to bring these exceptional plants back to the Garden’s collections. These recent changes to the Botanical Garden’s infrastructure are the first phase of a plan to get the Botanical Garden more sustainable with regard to energy use. The same solar panels currently used to heat the pond water will also be used to heat two greenhouses in winter.

For a few years after the construction of the ponds in the 1960s it was heated every summer to grow these impressive tropical water-lilies.  These plants proved so popular that special extended opening hours used to be arranged for the public to view the Victoria flowers which opens only at night. The first evening the Victoria flowers are white and have an extremely sweet smell, the second evening the flowers turn pink before it disappears underneath the water, only to reappear when the seeds are ripe. The latest batch of Victoria water-lilies were grown from seed send from Longwood Gardens in the USA and the University of Helsinki Botanical Garden in Finland. At the end of this season the Garden staff will collect the seed of these giant annuals to avoid the hassle of importing seed annually.

Although the plants are still relatively small they are already getting the attention of many visitors and they should only become more impressive and will start flowering as summer progresses.  The Botanical Garden is open seven days a week from 8:00 to 17:00 and admission is free.

Prof Len Barbour (49), an experimental chemist and research professor in the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, received a Doctor of Science degree (DSc) at one of Stellenbosch University's graduation ceremonies for doctoral candidates last week.

The DSc, Mass transport phenomena in the crystalline solid state, was awarded based on twenty years of research focused on unravelling unusual phenomena in crystals.

But although writing-up 20 years of research provided him with a valuable opportunity to put his work and research into context, Prof Barbour reckons it is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg and that there might be another twenty years of research ahead of him in the same field.

The study of crystals, or crystallography, involves the study of the atomic architecture of any material than can form a solid – from diamonds to viruses. Once the relationship between the structure and properties is understood, it is often possible to design new materials with specific properties.

According to Prof Barbour his work began with the serendipitous discovery of transient porosity – that is, the diffusion of small molecules through a seemingly nonporous solid material: "The research then expanded to include a rational design strategy for the preparation of further porous molecular solids, which in turn led to various additional discoveries."

During this time he developed several new research tools that are now implemented internationally. One of these tools is the ability to visualise, at atomic scale, the structures of materials under gas pressure. He explains: "I have developed a method of pressurising samples during analysis so that we can actually 'see' how absorbed gas molecules interact with the atoms of a solid porous material."

He plans to continue doing research in this field: "It is actually quite a vast field with many phenomena that still need to be explored. In fact, we are developing new tools with which to explore molecular space and the field is therefore still very ripe for new insights and discoveries."

Does he have any advice for young-and-upcoming scientists?

"Yes, leave the country for a couple of years to gain international experience and new expertise, broaden your mind, and expand your network of contacts. Then come back to South Africa and share your knowledge!"

And maybe in another twenty years' time he will look back and attempt another DSc, he adds.

Next year, 2014, is the UNESCO International Year of Crystallography when the pioneering work of Nobel-prize winning scientists like William Bragg and his son, Lawrence Bragg, will be celebrated. This father-and-son team laid the foundations for the science of x-ray crystallography, thereby "opening a new world that can be explored with marvellous exactitude".

During the Faculty of Science's December 2013 graduation ceremony, 455 BSc degrees and another 25 Phd degrees were awarded.

Photo: Prof Len Barbour and his supervisor Prof Catherine Esterhuysen. Photographer: Anton Jordaan

The excellence of two projects by researchers and students of the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Stellenbosch University were recognised during the recent Postharvest Innovation Programme Symposium held at Spier outside Stellenbosch. 

Top honours went to a project focusing on the modelling of enhanced airflow within fruit packaging, and a project that uses non-destructive ways to detect mealiness in Forelle pears received the third spot.

The symposium brought together representatives of the 26 projects currently being funded through the Postharvest Innovation Programme (PHI). Of these, 13 are projects being driven by researchers of SU's Department of Horticultural Science.

The PHI programme strives to enhance the global competiveness of the South African fresh fruit export industry by developing innovative technology in the postharvest leg of the value chain and to grow a culture of innovation. The PHI is jointly funded by the South African Department of Science and Technology and various fruit industries, and managed through the Fresh Producers Exporters Forum.

The first prize poster is the product of the fruits of labour of Dr Mulugeta Delele, a former postdoctoral fellow in the SU Department of Horticultural Science, Mr Tarl Berry, a recent MSc graduate student, Dr Mduduzi Ncobo, a recent PhD student, and Prof Linus Opara, South African Research Chair (SARChI) in Postharvest Technology at Stellenbosch University. Their poster was titled "3-D CFD model of airflow patterns, heat and mass transfer inside ventilated horticultural packaging: effects of vent design".

Third prize went to PhD student Mr Tavagwisa Muziri and his supervisors Prof Karen Theron and Dr Elke Crouch of the Department of Horticultural Science. Their poster was titled "'Forelle' pear mealiness development as influenced by cell size and number and the use of non-destructive exploration techniques, near infrared spectroscopy and X-ray computed tomography, during ripening and mealiness development."

The awards acknowledge the high level of research being done on the postharvest handling of produce by members of the SU Department of Horticultural Science, in collaboration with colleagues in plant pathology, process engineering, conservation ecology and entomology, viticulture and oenology.

"We have been honoured to be to be part of the past two rounds of the postharvest innovation programmes, and are committed to  any future efforts supporting postharvest research and training," said Dr Crouch.

Photo from left to right:

Prof Linus Opara (South African Research Chair in Postharvest Technologies at SU), Mr Tarl Berry (a former SU MSc student in horticultural science), Prof Lisa Korsten (University of Pretoria), Dr Mduduzi Ncobo (past student of the SU Department of Horticultural Sciences), Dr Joseph Sebola (Director: Policy Research Support of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), Mr Tavagwisa Muziri (PhD student of the SU Department of Horticultural Sciences), Dr Elke Crouch (SU Department of Horticultural Science) and Mr Quinton Volschenk (University of Pretoria).​

The Military Academy ended its year on a high note with its annual Awards Evening and Passing out Parade recently. Prizes were awarded to the top students in the army, navy and air force. 

The Commandant of the Military Academy, Brigadier General Lawrence Mbatha and the Dean of Faculty Military Science at Stellenbosch University (SU), Prof Samuel Tshehla, hosted the Awards Evening at the Military Academy Combined Club in Saldanha on 10 December 2013.

SU is the custodian of the Faculty through a contractual agreement with the South African Department of Defence (DoD).​   

The students and members of the Faculty of Military Science who excelled in their academic and professional development were announced and received certificates, gifts and trophies as a token of recognition of their hard work during the academic year. 

The event was attended by 220 guests with Professor Julian Smith, Vice-rector: Community Interaction and Personnel at SU, as the guest speaker. Among the important guests were Major General Norman Yengeni, Chief Director: Human Resource Management, Mr Angel Ramphele, Chairman of the South African Army Foundation and main sponsor of the evening, and Prof Edna van Harte, Chairman of the Defence Force Service Commission. 

At the event, Lieutenant Anna Manono Banda received the PJG de Vos Medal as the final-year undergraduate student who obtained the best results over three years of studies at the Military Academy. Major Gustav Bentz received an award for completing his Masters degree in Military History Cum Laude. 

The successful Awards Evening was followed by the Passing out Parade for the third year group MA13 on 11 December. 

Students who had completed their three years of academic learning and military professional development were rewarded for their achievements in the presence of their peers, families, lecturers, community and political leaders as well as the senior staff members of the South African National Defence Force. The Military Academy had the privilege of the presence of the Major General Norman Yengeni as the functionary for the parade.

The best candidates in the various Services were awarded with Service Trophies and the overall best candidate, combining both military prowess and academic work, was presented with the Sword of Honour. This year it was awarded to Ensign Cornelius Frederik Roets.

Photographs:

Ms Sindi Lingela, an educator by heart, was re-appointed by the Minister of Higher Education of Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, to the Council of Stellenbosch University. Ms Lingela, who served on the Council from 2009 – 2012, will serve for the term January 2014 until December 2018. 

Ms Lingela is a former Chief Director: Implementation Monitoring and Support in the Department of Basic Education; Deputy Director-General: Gauteng City Region Academy for the Gauteng Department of Education; Deputy Director- General: Special Projects at the MEC’s Office in the Gauteng Department of Education and the Deputy Director-General: Institution Development and Coordination of the Western Cape Education Department.

Ms Lingela obtained degrees from the University of Fort Hare, Rhodes University and the University of Durban-Westville in conjunction with University of South Carolina in the USA.

She is also a former board member of MOT, a Norwegian-based organisation formed to combat youth violence and drug abuse, and former board member of the Western Cape Education Foundation. She is a member of the Institute of Administrative Management (a UK-based organisation) and a member of the Read Education Trust, among others.

The Minister appoints three members to the Stellenbosch University Council. Current Ministerial appointees are Professors Andre Keet and Gerhard Maré.