​Grace Mngadi's passion for leadership was recently recognised when she was awarded a Rector's Award for Excellence.

She is one of the 82 recipients of this year's annual Rector's Award for Excellent Achievement, which recognises students for their achievements in the respective fields of academics, sports, leadership, social impact, culture and service provision. Mngadi received an award in the leadership category.

Durban-born and Gauteng-bred Mngadi elaborates that student leadership can be extremely taxing. "Students do not know of all the work that a leadership position entails. Sometimes leaders also feel uncertain about whether they are on the right track or not. An external affirmation like the Rector's Award is great in alleviating that pressure," she says. 

Since 2019, Mngadi held various leadership positions at Stellenbosch University (SU). This included Deputy Speaker Internal of Student Parliament; House Committee member of Minerva; chairperson of the University of Stellenbosch Debating Union (two terms); Secretary General of SU Society of Theatrical Arts; Students' Representative Council (SRC)'s manager of the portfolio of Women and Queer Empowerment; and head of student relations of the BA Student Committee. She is also an active member of the Anti-GBV Movement at SU.

​"For me, leadership means service – serving the community so that everyone around me can excel. That drives me. Secondly, work ethic. I have never signed up for anything that I was not willing to put 110% into. It took a lot of sacrifices to see these positions through, but it was worth it," she says.

Mngadi paid tribute to the “amazing people and teammates" she has worked with at SU. "I would not have achieved what I did if it was not for my teammates. I am honoured to have served with such amazing people," she says.

Click here to read more about the Rector's Awards and recipients. 

*A total of 82 top Stellenbosch University (SU) students were recently honoured with Rector's Awards for excellence in academics, leadership, social impact, culture, sport and service provision. During the next few weeks, we will feature some of the winners.