Following the Official Opening of the 2018 Academic Year was the Vice- Chancellor’s Student Academic Excellence Awards. The Vice-Chancellor’s Student Academic Excellence Awards took place on Thursday, 25 January 2017 at the University Auditorium. 
Rendani Sitholimela displaying his certificates and trophies he received for his hard work
Rendani Sitholimela (21), a Computer Science and Information Systems third year student who hails from Tshedza, Nzhelele was awarded the best overall student in academic excellence for the year 2017.
Sitholimela said he always wanted to be the best student and make his family proud. He further stated that the thought of not disappointing his family kept him motivated. He advised other students to never give up. “Put all your mind to everything you do, then you will achieve the best results.” Sitholimela added that students should start believing in themselves and put efforts to what they do, then they will achieve their objectives. He said his dream is to become a software engineer.
Dr Robert Martin (Left) congratulating Rendani Sitholimela (middle) with Prof Jan Crafford (right)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Operations who is also the Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal, Dr Robert Martin said that the award recipients deserve to be praised for having devoted most of their time in their studies. He added that it has become a Univen tradition to make the commencement of the academic year an event of celebrating student academic excellence. Dr Martin congratulated all the award recipients and encouraged those who could not make it this year to work harder in order for them to become recipients of these awards the following academic year.
More than 50 students with outstanding performance received excellence awards as part of the Vice-Chancellor’s Student Academic Excellence Awards.
Prof Nancy Mutshaeni giving the background of the awards and congratulating the awards recipients
Prof Nancy Mutshaeni, Director Centre for Higher Education Teaching and Learning gave the background of the Vice-Chancellor’s Student Academic Excellence Awards and congratulated all the award recipients. The Vice- Chancellor’s Student Academic Excellence Awards is intended to celebrate top academic student achievers to whom certificates, cash awards and trophies were presented. The Vice-Chancellor’s Student Academic Excellence Awards also aimed at promoting a culture of teaching and learning in the Schools through competition for the awards.
Best Performers per Category displaying their certificates and trophies awarded during the ceremony
Students who received the Vice-Chancellor ‘s Academic Excellence Awards
Issued by:
Department of Communications & Marketing
University of Venda
Tel: (015) 962 8525
Date: 26 January 2018
