Research offering real solutions to real problems in South Africa and beyond has landed two Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) students top bursaries to further pursue their studies.
Amina Brey, who is completing her PhD in mindfulness training against the backdrop of South Africa’s deplorable level of mathematics at school level, and Xandri Schoultz, who is working the medicinal applicability of chemistry for cancer suffers, both received R60 000 each from the Rupert Family Trust.
The top award was presented during NMMU’s annual Academic Awards at which the university’s top academic students are recognised for their outstanding achievements.
This year’s event honouring 29 top students was held at the Feather Market Centre with all the executive deans, deputy vice-chancellors and members of the NMMU Council in attendance.
The Rupert Family Trust is only awarded to students who have obtained their Master’s qualifications cum laude and whose research will significantly contribute to the knowledge base.
Mature student Amina Brey’s research on mindfulness in improving the memory capacity of learners is being completed with the knowledge that only 14 percent of South African grade 9 pupils passed maths in their Annual National Assessments late last year. Her promoter is Prof Paul Webb.
The other recipient, Xandri Schoultz, is working with her promoter Prof Tommy Gerber on rhenium thiazoles as anti-cancer agents since 1 in 7 people get cancer, 80% of which might have be prevented.
The other overriding achievers of the evening were the Vice Chancellor’s Scholars who attained the top marks for any diploma and degree and those whose postgraduate qualifications within the fields of Science, Engineering and Technology and Social Sciences and Humanities were viewed as the best overall.
These winners are:
- Ross Charnock – best first diploma, NDip: Photography with an overall average of 90%.
- Lana Strydom – best first degree, BPharm, who won countless other awards throughout her four-year degree as a Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar.
- Greg Ducie – best postgraduate degree with the Social Sciences and Humanities for his MCom which used NMMU as a case study regarding the financial viability of sustainable infrastructure development.
- Xandri Schoultz – best postgraduate degree with the field of Science, Engineering and Technology. Xandri attained 86% for her master’s dissertation.
For a full list of NMMU’s academic achievers see the Life@NMMU blog on the NMMU website.
BRAINIACS … The top achievers at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Academic Awards held at the Feather Market Centre included the Vice-Chancellor Award’s winners (from left) Xandri Schoultz, Ross Charnock, Greg Ducie and Lana Strydom.
Article issued by NMMU. To view their profile on SAstudy, click here.