Two students from the Faculty of Education recently attended Stellenbosch University's annual Prestige Dinner for first-years.
Cari Fourie, a former Outeniqua High School learner, and Liné Els who matriculated at Overberg High School, were part of a group of 32 students who were honoured at this function. The group comprised of students who were first-years in 2015 and achieved the best results in their respective faculties' year-end exams, as well as two Extended Degree Programme (EDP) students.
Each of the students were asked to invite the lecturer who contributed the most to their academic success in their first year to the dinner.
Cari was very grateful to have been invited to this event and said it is a great privilege to study education at Stellenbosch University. She added that students' success goes hand in hand with the successful facilitation of lecturers who train them as teachers and that she has also learned a great deal from her fellow students
Cari chose Tarina Nel as the lecturer who had the greatest impact on her success.
"I was pleasantly surprised by this award," said Nel. "I started lecturing last year and didn't know about this award. It has been a privilege to invest in these students, to help them and to create extra learning opportunities. I can't deny that am I pleased to have been recognised in this way, but this recognition, as far as I am concerned, should only be as a result of hard work.
"I walked away from the prestige evening with one goal in mind, a question: how can I improve to contribute to the academic success of even more students? I have a passion for education and the faculty and believe that being happy in my career accompanies the skill to be able to do it well."
Liné was very surprised when she heard that she was one of the top achievers in 2015.
"It is absolutely by the grace of God and, of course, hard work as well. I regard it as a great honour. Children have always been my passion and there was never any doubt in my mind when I had to apply for a course to study," she added.
Her message to Dr Bernard Rhodes was: "You made me believe that I can walk on water by helping me rediscover my passion for children and education. Where, as a green first year I felt like an inexperienced child myself, I now can not wait to become a teacher!"
Dr Rhodes regards it as a pleasant privilege to have been chosen as a role player who has had an influence on a student's success.
"Liné Els's words to me have been the most touching words that any student has said to me in my 35 years of teaching. I now have a better understanding of the influence that an inspired teacher can have on his students."
Photo: Dr Bernard Rhodes (lecturer), Liné Els, Dr Anthea Jacobs (Centre for Teaching and Learning), Cari Fourie, Tarina Nel (lecturer) and Prof Arend Carl (Vice-dean: Teaching).
Photo taken by Anton Jordaan, SCPS
