Stellenbosch University (SU) will become home to a good number of the top matric learners of 2017 this year. The top three, Janke van Dyk, Matthys Carstens (both Western Cape) and Joanna Smith (KwaZulu-Natal) will be Maties in 2018.
First on the list, Van Dyk, says that studying at Maties is a dream come true for her and that she is very excited to be starting her academic career at SU this year.
“I want to study chemical engineering at Stellenbosch because I heard that their engineering faculty is one of the best in South Africa.
Eighteen-year-old Van Dyk, who matriculated from Bellville High School in the Western Cape, says she still cannot believe she is the top student for the class of 2017. “Throughout high school, I have maintained the top position at my school, but I was really shocked and surprised. Being honoured and celebrated at such a high level caught me by surprise."
She added that some of the highlights of her high school career includes winning the spelling competition hosted by the WOW Project of the SU Woordfees, when she was in grade 10 in 2015. Van Dyk took the first place nationally at the competition, which is held in Stellenbosch every year.
Free State's top matriculant Doré Mostert also plans to study at Stellenbosch this year. Mostert, Smith and Carstens will all be studying Actuarial Science. Northern Cape's top matriculant Josefien Engelbrecht will be studying Medicine at SU this year.
Other brainboxes on their way to Stellenbosch are top achieving twins, Nicole and Lisa de Villiers from Nelson Mandela Bay who passed with 6 distinctions between them. Nicole will be studying towards a law degree. One of the top IEB matriculants Mikhail Singh of Felixton College in KwaZulu-Natal, will also be heading to SU this year. He passed with 8 distinctions and will be studying Actuarial Science.
- SU will also welcome a triplet this year. Jana, Gerrit and Anli Van Zyl from Beaufort-West passed with 11 distinctions between them. The siblings who matriculated from Sentraal High School will all start their BCom degrees.
Photo supplied from Janke van Dyk.
