Top ten GSB students join golden list
For eight Graduate School of Business MBA and two EMBA students June 04 was a particularly special day. Not only was it their graduation day, but each of them was also awarded an Old Mutual Gold Medal which recognised them as the top academic achievers in their class.
According to Lucille Roberts, Programme Manager for the Open Academic Programmes, each Gold Medallist is recognised as Old Mutual Scholars. “As one of the GSB’s donor partners, Old Mutual has been awarding these medals and certificates to top achieving
MBA s since 1966,” explained Roberts.
Joy Khaole, Brand Expression Manager at Old Mutual, added that in the past, Old
Mutual used to award bursaries to MBA students, but many years ago they decided to instead identify students who were attaining top marks and recognise their achievements by giving them Gold Medals and certificates.
“Since 1966 we have given away 300 gold medals to incredibly deserving students and this year was again no exception,” said Khaole.
The two MBAs who ranked top of their class and received the medals as well as Old
Mutual Scholar status were fulltime student and owner of her own wine boutique business called Wineguzzlers, Ruth Penfold as well as Roelof van Schalkwyk, from the
Modular MBA class.
Currently the Strategy and Operations Manager at online software solutions company,
Imbali Studio, Van Schalkwyk said that it was an enormous honour to receive the Gold
Medal.
“I have so much respect for all the MBAs that I was lucky enough to share this experience with. Each and every one of them I believe worked as hard as I did. These are really smart people, so I am delighted and quite proud,” he said.
Van Schalkwyk, aged 26, added that being one the youngest MBAs to have received the prestigious award has also helped boost his confidence.
“It has just proven to me that I can achieve anything and that is a great feeling. The MBA was such a fantastic experience and through it I have gained so much. So receiving the
Gold Medal is really jus t an added bonus,” he commented.
The eight other gold medal recipients were Josias Jacobus Wessels, Morgan Jones,
Nichloas Misplan, Adri Grobler, Desigan Govender, Mark Gething, Lynne du Toit and
Trent Clarke.
Ends
Media interested in an interview or more information can contact Jane Notten or
Michael Morgan on 021 448 9465 or email info@rothko.co.za
.