Close on 100 Stellenbosch University student athletes graduated in the 2017 academic year during graduation ceremonies in December (2017) and March (2018).
The graduates were members of a variety of Maties Sport clubs, including the High Performance (HP) sport codes rugby, hockey, netball, athletics, swimming, cycling, basketball, cricket and Parasport. Other graduates pursued a healthy and active lifestyle during their student years by becoming members of clubs and representing Maties in sport codes such as gymnastics, judo, badminton, rowing, canoeing, sailing, water polo and surfing.
The graduates include Parasport world champions Charl du Toit and Dyan Buis (athletics), Paralympic medallist Hendri Herbst (swimming), World Student Games participants Emma Chelius (swimming) and Lwazi Madi (water polo), several Maties Rugby stalwarts, including FNB Maties' 2018 Varsity Cup captain Niel Chippie Oelofse and flyhalf Chris Smith, and Dusi Canoe Marathon winner Jordan Peek.
“We are extremely proud of these student athletes," says Maties Sport: Chief Director Ilhaam Groenewald.
“It's not easy to complete your studies successfully while representing your university, your province and even your country on the sports field. Over and above their academic responsibilities, these student athletes have to make time to attend training sessions and compete in matches or competitions, which often includes travelling to other places in South Africa and even the world.
“However, student athletes are students first and athletes second. Maties Sport therefore celebrates their academic achievements and strives to create an enabling environment in which student athletes can flourish both academically and on the sports field. This process is driven by our Maties Sport High Performance (HP) Unit and supported by the PACER* programme," adds Ilhaam.
“We understand that being a student athlete is very challenging and we support them when and where we can."
*PACER is an acronym for Persistence, Authenticity, Commitment, Empathy and Resilience.
