For the fifth consecutive year, a group of students from the Boland area have been awarded bursaries from the Paarl Media Bursary Trust for tertiary study in 2012.
At a function for the new and existing students, held at Lemoenkloof Guest House on Tuesday, 10 November, Nico Grobbelaar, Human Resource Director of Paarl Media, welcomed and congratulated the six successful applicants and their families. Since the inception of the Trust in 2006, thirty three students have qualified for this financial assistance.
Lambert Retief, Non Executive Chairman of Paarl Media, acknowledged the efforts of the existing students, explaining the award process; “The successful recipients were selected by the Board of Trustees based on financial need, academic performance to date, relevancy of course as well as demonstrated leadership and community involvement.”
With ten students in their final year, he highlighted that the bursary is not restricted to undergraduate studies: “We have two students who we will continue to support for further study towards their Honours next year.”
The new recipients each expressed how honoured they felt to be awarded the bursary. Xenel Williams, currently head girl and top learner in grade 12 at Klein Nederburg Secondary School, described the award as an answer to a prayer. Joining Xenel in studying B. Accounting at the University of Stellenbosch, is Nicholas de Villiers who commented; “This will challenge me to work hard towards achieving my goals and ensuring I pass every year.”
Zani le Roux from Hugenote Hoërskool added: “The opportunity to get a degree is a springboard for me to succeed in life.” Zani has selected to study Dentistry at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Helene Steyn will also be entering the medical field at UWC with a Bachelor of Science (Sport & Science). Her father shared that the bursary gives her an opportunity to do what she has also wanted to do.
Hettie van der Walt, head girl of Hoërskool Gimnasium, will also be studying a Bachelor of Science at the University of Stellenbosch, with the intention of converting to a full medical degree. She described the opportunity she has been offered as a platform from which to launch into her selected profession.
The R10 million Paarl Media bursary scheme, launched in 2008, is administered as a perpetual fund. It is aimed at students who are interested in studying at the University of Stellenbosch, University of Western Cape, Cape Peninsula University of Technology or Elsenburg Agricultural College. Although there are no prescriptions about the field of study, preference is given to candidates residing in the Drakenstein Valley.
2011 Paarl Media Bursary Trust Awards
| Hettie van der Walt | Hoërskool Gimnasium | B.Sc | University of Stellenbosch |
| Nicol Vermeulen | University of Stellenbosch | B.Comm Business Science | University of Stellenbosch |
| Nicholas de Villiers | Paarl Boys High | B.Accounting | University of Stellenbosch |
| Zani le Roux | Hugenote Hoërskool | B.Ch.D. I | University of Western Cape |
| Xenel Williams | Klein Nederburg Secondary School | B.Accounting | University of Stellenbosch |
| Hélene Steyn | University of Western Cape | B.Sc Sport & Science | University of Western Cape |
For more information, please contact:
Louise Ehret
Paarl Media Marketing
+27 21 550 2627
E-mail ehret@telkomsa.net / louise.ehret@paarlmedia.co.za
