Have you seen some of those futuristic movies where people with expressionless faces wear dull grey suits while shuffling along the same old, well-trodden paths? In such a world, people think the same thoughts, like the same things and believe the same (un)truths. What an utterly boring world.

 

Thankfully, the NWU community is far from being monotonously uniform – take our alumni, for instance. They live in all nine provinces and speak a substantial number of our 11 official languages, while their fields of expertise range from nuclear physics and animal health to music and pharmaceutical sciences.

 

The different categories in our Alumni Awards (“NWU honours the best of the best”) reflect this wonderful variety of talents and interests. So does the fact that some of our alumni are passionate about the history of athletics (“Relive the NWU's rich sport heritage”), while others love to share the marvels of music with all communities (“Opera thrills community”).

 

The way our alumni will spend this festive season also echoes this diversity. Some will for instance seek out the tranquillity of the bush, while others will flock to our beaches. For some, the thrill of white-water rafting will be the ultimate way to spend their summer holiday, while others might prefer to spend peaceful time with friends and family.

 

Whatever you are doing this December, we wish you a blessed festive season and a joyful 2017. We will soon be back with more news about the NWU and its people.

 

Happy reading.