Two learners from agricultural schools in the Western Cape received an opportunity of a lifetime after being awarded bursaries from the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU). Matthys Basson from Boland Agricultural High School outside Paarl, and Nicolaas Basson from Oakdale Agricultural High School in Riversdale are the top matriculants from their respective schools who are going to study agriculture-related programmes at SU in 2017.
Matthys, who is also Boland Agricultural High School's top student in Agricultural Sciences, grew up in Vanrhynsdorp, while Nicolaas is from Villiersdorp.
The bursaries are each worth around R40 000 and will cover their tuition fees. Matthys plans to study BScAgric in Plant and Soil Sciences while Nicolaas will follow a BScAgric programme. A further incentive is that the bursaries will be renewed annually for the normal duration of their studies provided that they pass the required modules and complete the full programme as planned.
"We wish them all the best with their studies and we hope that they will one day make their mark within the South African agricultural community," says Prof Danie Brink, acting dean of the SU Faculty of AgriSciences.
This is the first year that the Faculty of AgriSciences has made bursaries available to top academic achievers from agricultural schools in the province. The initiative is made possible thanks to the faculty's Dean's Fund, which was launched seven years ago to provide additional financial support for current and prospective agricultural students. The Fund is supported by, amongst others, alumni of the Faculty, industry partners as well as an annual golf day.
According to Monika Basson, the SU Faculty of AgriSciences' coordinator for undergraduate recruitment and marketing, the bursaries are an incentive and a reward for the learners' hard work during their school careers. "It also acknowledges the valuable work that is done in our agricultural schools to develop expertise in the local industry."
Photo captions:
The acting dean of the Faculty of AgriScience at Stellenbosch University, Prof Danie Brink (right) congratulates Matthys Basson from Boland Agricultural High School with his bursary. With them is the school's principal, Mr Chris Fourie.
Nicolaas Basson from Oakdale Agricultural High School in Riversdale is congratulated on receiving the bursary from Stellenbosch University's Faculty of AgriSciences by the school's principal, Mr André Latsky.
