Stellenbosch University
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Mom and daughter graduate together at SU
Author: Rozanne Engel/Corporate Communication Division
Published: 20/03/2018

​​​Growing and moving forward together is not only the Centenary theme of Stellenbosch University (SU) but also the theme that has run through the lives of the Van Zyl family for years. In illustration of this, mother and daughter Benita and Tinneke van Zyl will be receiving their degrees at this year's series of graduation ceremonies in March.

Benita will be awarded her MEd (Curriculum Studies) degree cum laude during the fifth graduation ceremony on Thursday, 22 March, and her daughter, Tinneke,  received her BScHons (AgriSciences) degree during the third graduation ceremony on Tuesday, 20 March.

“I would never have thought that mom and daughter would graduate together in the same year during the same graduation week. Words cannot describe the emotions I'm feeling. It's exciting and something we'll cherish throughout our lives," says Benita.

The Van Zyls are a proud Maties family. Benita met her husband at SU while studying towards their undergraduate degrees. Their children Tiaan, who is studying Industrial Engineering, and Tinneke decided to follow their parents' example by studying at the same university.

While Benita was completing her postgraduate degree, she also had to juggle her day job as Res-Ed Manager at the Centre for Student Communities at SU.

“I'm extremely proud of my mom for finishing her master's while being a mom and a wife and working full time. What a superhero. It was also a comfort having three students in the same household. We were able to support each other throughout our years of study. Graduating with my mom at the same time makes it even more sentimental and special," says Tinneke.

Tinneke moved to Ceres at the beginning of January this year to work at Tru-Cape, where her role entails quality assurance at Ceres Fruit Growers and ensuring that all the different specifications are met for the company's local and its export markets.

“I miss my daughter very much. Our relationship has always been more than a mother-and-daughter one – we've always been best friends, too. I'm proud of Tinneke for wanting to achieve her goals, though, and starting her career in Ceres," says Benita.

Besides graduating together this year, Benita and Tinneke also share a passion for netball. Benita served as captain of the Protea netball team between 1996 and 1997, and she also served as the Maties netball captain in 1988. Tinneke played netball as a teenager and was part of the Western Province netball team when she was in Grade 8.

According to Benita, playing netball had to take a backseat while she raised her children and worked on her career in education. “Unfortunately, I don't have the time to focus on netball anymore. My focus is now on my students, whom I love very much, and on helping to make their experience at SU even better," says Benita.

Benita's MEd research focused on commuter students and on how the cluster communities at SU have helped these students have a better Matie experience. “This is ground-breaking research, as no one else in the country has looked at this topic. I've always been able to relate to and understand the circumstances of commuter students and the experiences they go through, as I was one during my high-school years."

Benita had to travel from her home in Kuils River to Bellville High School during her secondary education. She also participated in sports and other extra-curricular activities while doing her best to excel academically.

Tinneke says that it is this hard work and determination that she always saw in her mother that has motivated her to work harder, too. “My family have always been very supporting and loving. They have always told me to do what I want to do as long as I enjoy it. Being able to see my mom do the same is even more encouraging."

For more information on the March graduation ceremonies, visit www.sun.ac.za.