Four of KwaZulu-Natal’s highest-performing learners in the matric class of 2023 joined the University of choice – UKZN – landing themselves Pius Langa Prestige Entrant Scholarships.
Star College matriculants Ms Sarah Chetty, Mr Yurav Hirachund and Mr Paveshan Naidu are studying to become medical doctors, while Mr Aboobaker Joosab, who matriculated from Lockhat Islamic College, is doing a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.
The Pius Langa Prestige Entrant Scholarship awards R50 000 each to matriculants from schools writing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations and ranked in the top 10 in each of the nine provinces, as well as to learners from Independent Examination Board (IEB) schools in KwaZulu-Natal who are ranked in the top 50 nationally in the IEB final matriculation examinations.
The Entrant prestige awards may be retained into the next year of undergraduate study if the recipient scores at least 80% on a weighted average basis in a normal full-year subject load.
Elated and grateful for the scholarship, Chetty scored an impressive 10 distinctions in matric. She says she knew back in primary school that she wanted to become a medical doctor, so Life Sciences became one of her favourite subjects in high school. ‘I developed a profound fascination and appreciation for the human body being the vehicle of our lives. It amazes me how every part of the body is perfectly engineered and designed to face almost anything, yet we hardly ever think of the million tasks it does as we live our lives. By the end of my schooling career, I knew I wanted to learn more about the body,’ she said.
Hirachund who matriculated with nine distinctions said: ‘Being awarded such a prestigious scholarship has been surreal – it’s an overwhelming feeling. At the same time, it has been incredibly rewarding, serving as a testament to all the work put in throughout matric and seeing it come to fruition.’
Hirachund said knowing that he had the financial support he needed, the scholarship had been a stress reliever, serving as a source of motivation to continue excelling academically.
Inspired by his sister, also a UKZN Medical student, Naidu matriculated with nine distinctions. ‘My parents were my greatest motivating factor, they showed me the importance of a good education and how vital it is in achieving success. My journey at UKZN has been pleasant and enriching. I got to meet new people who share many of the same interests I do. I also immersed myself in the new workload which has been interesting,’ he said.
Equally grateful for the scholarship, maths whizz, Joosab said he was determined to obtain his Engineering degree in record time.
Words: Lunga Memela
Photographs: Sethu Dlamini
