A total of 1167 students in the Faculties of Economic and Management Sciences (Group A), Medicine and Health Sciences, Law, Education and Military Sciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) were on Tuesday (15 March 2016) rewarded for their hard work at SU's second graduation ceremony of March 2016.
In the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences alone 818 qualifications were awarded.
Among the graduates were members of three families graduating during the week. Johannes Schoonwinkel, son of SU Vice-Rector for Learning and Teaching Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, obtained his MBA degree cum laude. His brother Daniël received his Master's degree in Electronic Engineering at the first graduation ceremony on Monday (14 March).
For Herman Klopper, his son Emile and daughter Christina Sophia, graduation week has been a truly family affair. Herman was awarded his MBA degree on Tuesday while his son Emile received his Master's in Engineering on Monday. And on Wednesday, Christina graduates with a BCom degree.
Herman says it's a good day for his family. "It took a while to get to this point but we all made it." He jokingly adds that he could have easily finished a year earlier, but decided to wait for his children. "I wanted to do this with them."
The 56-year-old dad says he remembers his first day in class. "While I took out my Crossley notepad and my BIC pen, my younger classmates took out their laptops!"
So what next for this hardworking family? It seems the studies are far from over for Emile and Christina who will both be tackling further degrees. "Who knows, maybe next time our younger sibling can also join us," Emile adds. Their younger brother is currently a first-year in SU's Faculty of Engineering. And, says mom "it's also time for me to pick up the books!"
At the same ceremony, Honours degrees in Public Administration we awarded to the Sithole couple, Sibusiso en Gwendoline, from Daveyton. They are currently working in Parliament and say they have been studying together for some time now and encouraged each other to obtain their degrees.
"We are very proud to have received degrees from Stellenbosch University," the couple said.
A Postgraduate Certificate in Education was awarded to Paralympic athlete Dyan Buis who is also a teacher at Wes-Eind Primary in Franschhoek. He is currently registered for an honours degree in educational development and democracy and preparing for possible participation in the 2016 Paralympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro later this year. Buis won two silver medals at the IPC World Athletics Champs in Doha last year.
Photo 1: The Schoonwinkels, Kloppers and Sitholes after the graduation ceremony.
Photo 2: Paralympic athlete Dyan Buis with his Postgraduate Certificate in Education.
Photographer: Stefan Els
