Programme director Hanlie Smuts from Corporate Communication addresses the alumni at the breakfast event.

Alumnus and master of ceremonies Thami Mangezi was definitely not at a loss for words during the recent farewell function for final-year students.

What a lovely sight: bright-eyed final-year students pack the Big Lapa for their farewell event.

Keeping to the dress code of “spring colours”, the 700 final-year students were indeed a beautiful sight, and even more so against the backdrop of the picturesque Vaal River.

 

This was the scene on 25 October 2018 at the Big Lapa on the campus in Vanderbijlpark, when vice-chancellor Prof Dan Kgwadi and alumnus Nkateko Khoza addressed the final years.

 

The theme of the event was appropriately coined as “The end of one era and the beginning of another”.

 

Keeping this in mind, Prof Dan and Nkateko told them to keep the NWU in their hearts as the era of being students comes to an end. They also urged them to stay in touch as they enter a new era as alumni.

 

Fast forward

 

A few days later, on 29 October, another group met on the campus. With their final-year farewell now only a treasured memory of the past, 50 alumni attended a breakfast where deputy vice-chancellor Prof Linda du Plessis addressed them.

 

During the event they also learned more about the Convocation. “We put this high on the agenda after receiving many calls from our alumni, asking what the Convocation is all about,” says alumni relations practitioner Zanele Ngobese.

 

At the end of 2018 we see another era making way for a new one and another group of students changing into alumni. There is, however, one constant in this flow of time: the unwavering bond between alumni and their alma mater.

Present at the event hosted for final years are (from right) Clement Manako, executive director for corporate relations and marketing, Father David Dinkebogile, an NWU Council member, and Jacob Simango, director for student life on the campus in Vanderbijlpark.