{"id":45070,"date":"2026-10-28T13:39:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T13:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/?p=45070"},"modified":"2026-10-28T17:16:30","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T17:16:30","slug":"student-life-achievement-awards-celebrate-campus-leaders-and-organisations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/student-life-achievement-awards-celebrate-campus-leaders-and-organisations\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Life Achievement Awards celebrate campus leaders and organisations"},"content":{"rendered":"

“VUT\u2019s Student Life Achievement Awards recognised student leaders and organisations for leadership, entrepreneurship, service and community engagement.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

28 October 2026 | Story by: Sadiki Siphiwe<\/strong> | Picture: Peter Masela<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Nako ea ho bala metsotso e 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \"VUT\n
\n Student Life Achievement Awards honour outstanding student leaders and organisations.\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Behind campus events, student organisations and community projects are students who give their time to creating opportunities for others while managing their own academic responsibilities. The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) recognised these contributions at its annual Student Life Achievement Awards, held on 22 October 2026 at the Emerald Resort and Casino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hosted by Student Support Services, the awards brought together student leaders, university officials and campus organisations to celebrate achievement, leadership and service. The programme recognised contributions across academic, religious, cultural, social and political life, alongside entrepreneurship and community engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Programme Director Ms Keamogetswe Lekolwane guided proceedings, which opened with a welcome from Mr Lucas Mahooa, Acting Director of Student Life and Governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTonight, we are here to celebrate the heartbeat of our campus,\u201d said Mr Mahooa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He praised nominees for contributing to university life while pursuing their studies and thanked student organisations for helping build a vibrant campus community. He also proposed expanding future award categories to recognise more forms of volunteering, community outreach and service that advance the university\u2019s strategic goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of university management, Dr Gugulethu Xaba, Executive Director of Student Support Services (SSS), said the awards acknowledged the preparation, sacrifices and persistence behind student achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTonight is about us as a university saying: we see you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Xaba also recognised students whose contributions do not always receive public acknowledgement, including those who remain behind after events, support struggling peers and create opportunities for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged students to look beyond qualifications and awards and consider the people they were becoming, the relationships they were building and the lives they could improve through their actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drawing on motivational speaker Zig Ziglar\u2019s ideas about success, Dr Xaba highlighted the importance of wellbeing, commitment, meaningful relationships and perseverance. He urged students to find joy during their university journey rather than postponing happiness until graduation or another milestone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour body carries your talent,\u201d he said, reminding students to protect their health while pursuing their ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that preparing for the future required discipline, developing skills, honouring commitments and building a reputation others could trust. He encouraged students to choose supportive friends and to offer the same care and dependability in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhere you come from doesn\u2019t determine where you are going,\u201d said Dr Xaba, urging students to remain hopeful about their futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the award recipients, the Logistics Student Association was named Best Performing Academic Structure, while Believers Love World received the Best Performing Religious Structure award. Bopedi Bapedi won Best Performing Cultural Structure, Voice of Creatives received Best Performing Social Structure, and Mayibuye was recognised as Best Performing Political Structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Teboho Maeko received the Success Against All Odds Award, while the Green Campus Initiative (GCI) won the Community Engagement Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Kabelo Nkadimeng received both the Best Entrepreneurship of the Year Award and the Best Entrepreneurship Stall Award, recognising his contributions to student enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The VUT Choir received the Student Life Special Award, Ms Neo Maluleke was named Best Female Leader, and Tech Collective received the Volunteer of the Year Award. The interim Student Representative Council (SRC) also received awards recognising its contribution to student life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The awards highlighted the role of student participation in advancing the VUT 2033+ Strategy, recognising leadership, wellbeing and service as important parts of the university experience. They also acknowledged the everyday efforts through which students support one another and strengthen their campus community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bona boiphihlelo bo felletseng ho Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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