​​​​​​When first-year postgraduate LLB student Willem Sterrenberg Horn first stood for election as a house committee member in 2019, he was the only non-heterosexual candidate. This year, however, there were multiple non-heterosexual candidates, which is a source of pride and happiness to Horn.

​“I believe one plays a role through being seen," Horn says, adding that he has seen a big cultural shift taking place in student leadership – especially in the traditionally male spaces. This is also evident in the PSOs which, he says, have, traditionally been hetero-normative spaces where only a certain group is allowed in the inner circle.

“Campus life has changed a great deal since ten years ago … when the culture (of student leadership) was predominantly white, male and cisgender. There was not always space for people like me in this kind of leadership. It made me happy to see this place is capable of change."

Horn, who served as Pieke PSO House Committee Member in 2019/2020 (with Culture as his main portfolio) and as Pieke PSO Vice Primarius in 2020/21, is one of the many recipients of this year's annual Rector's Award for Excellent Achievement. The awards celebrate the achievements of students in academics, sport, leadership, social impact, culture and service provision. Horn was recognised in the category of culture. He was commended for, as an openly gay man, breaking stigmas surrounding male leadership as Vice Primarius Pieke PSO, one of the oldest male PSOs on campus, and his role has set a standard for male communities who strive towards inclusivity and diversity.

Horn served as the Pieke Acapella group leader for 2020 to 2021 and was a KuKo Woordfees 2020 performer and first runner-up in the KuKo Toneelfees in 2019.

One of his nominators described him as an “enthusiast, participant and supporter of various official cultural events at Stellenbosch University …" including the renowned SU Acappella competition, Connect Vensters and the title-winning play, Kantlyn. 

“His actions and efforts did not only set an example but a standard that will long outlive his presence on campus …"

He was also nominated for, apart from being a high academic achiever, excelling on many levels. “He is the epitome of excellence through adversity as he has time and time again been dealt adverse blows, but continued to push through and maintain a very high standard of excellence".

Horn was born and raised in Newcastle in northern KwaZulu-Natal and moved to Cape Town with his family when he was 16. He completed his bachelor's in Theology and Psychology in 2020.

He still has two years of LLB studies ahead of him and hopes to still influence “a great number of productions and help artists along the way". His ten-year plan from here includes furthering his career as a candidate attorney, “but also allowing myself the space to create".

“I feel eternal gratitude to those who nominated me … this was a great reminder that the constant 'behind the scenes work' one does, does not go unnoticed."