Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers celebrated

CPUT celebrated the recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Awards during a recent ceremony held at the Bellville Campus.

The purpose of the awards is to provide financial support to CPUT students on their journey to completing their Master’s or Doctoral studies. It is aimed at student who have achieved excellent results throughout their academic studies and who show a potential to contribute to society.

The 2023 recipients each received a certificate during the ceremony and were given the opportunity to present their research topics. Graduates of the programme were also given an opportunity to share their stories.

They 2023 recipients are:

Oritonda Muribwathoho (Doctor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering) - Research title: Development of metal matrix composites suitable for hulls and ship decks

Murendeni Nethengwe (Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences) - Research title: Evaluation of antioxidant potential and mechanism of action of phenolic compounds from South African indigenous plants used in the management of diabetes-related male infertility

Shaun Mgoma (Doctor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering) - Research title: Recovery of valuable compounds from agricultural food using green technologies: Process design and Techno-economic analysis

Bongisiwe Zozo (Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry) - Research title: Purification and characterisation of the native black soldier fly larva Protein

Mzoxolo Ntabeni (Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering) - Research title: The influence of academic and industry-specific project management qualifications on the effectiveness of project managers in the construction industry

Nontle Mbana (Doctor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering) - Research title: Development of an optimal fabrication procedure for producing aluminium based surface composites

Sindisiwe Ntsondwa (Doctor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering) - Research title: Development of catalysts for enhancement of H2 sorption kinetics for intermetallic hydride storage application

Mfundo Radebe (Master of PR & Communication Management) - Research title - An Assessment of the integration of social media in news production in selected community radio stations in Gqeberha

The awardees all thanked the donors and the committee for the investment in their education.

Murendeni said not only had the award helped her to focus on her studies without worrying about finances but it has also boosted her confidence.  

She said she would continue to strive to make a difference in her community.

Prof Joseph Kioko, chairperson of the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Awards Committee, said that since the programme started in 2018, a total of 21 students have been awarded and of these, 13 have completed their degrees, with 10 having graduated.

He thanked the programme’s donor, the Mauerberger Foundation Fund, under the leadership of Adv. Dianna Yach.

“The impact of the Foundation’s generosity and support for our students will ripple across many generations in many communities.”

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said the awards are bestowed annually to deserving students who have shown academic excellence and an embodiment of the CPUT graduate attributes.

“This afternoon, we are celebrating people who think they can, we are celebrating people who have demonstrated the power of choice.”

Yach said the awardees had already shown that nothing would deter them from reaching their dreams.

“I want to congratulate you all on your outstanding academic achievement. But I also want to stress.. it’s not so much the theories and the ideas that we gather through reading and knowledge seeking, it’s the human factor that makes the difference.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: Frederickskennediji@cput.ac.za