Alumni Award recipient to join NMMU (published November 2015)
After 15 years as principal of Sapphire Road Primary School, 
NMMU graduate Bruce Damons is passing on the baton after transforming the Booysen Park school into a place of hope and opportunity for both parents and pupils.
Damons will be taking up a new role as a lecturer at NMMU's education faculty next year. He will be teaching honours students leadership and research. He also hopes to work for the univeristy's centre of community schools, which aims to promote, strengthen and support the work of ommunity schools in the Eastern Cape.
Under his leadership, the school opened a clinic. a wellness centre, vegetable gardens and a library and built two security points manned by unemployed parents to tackle crime and vandalism.
NMMU Alumni honoured
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University alumni were once again honoured for the significant contributions they have made to their specialist fields and their contributions to the development and well-being of society at local, provincial, national or international levels.
The annual Alumni Achievers Awards took place on Friday, 30 October 2015 at the university.
"Other than a degree certificate or diploma from NMMU or its founding institutions the recipients must have an excellent professional track record (and have achieved recognition by peers, industry, professional bodies, etc, must have made significant impact within their professional field and/or in society/community development at local, regional, national or international level and must be of good character to serve as NMMU ambassadors and role models,’’ said NMMU Alumni director Paul Geswindt.
This year Rising Star Awards were presented to Business Day editor-in-chief Songezo Zibi and businessman Gugu Nxiweni, academic Prof Nkqubela Ruxwana, businessman Ruan Viljoen and sportsperson Zanele Modana.
Furthermore, Head of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Kevin Hustler, the Provincial General Manager of SABC (Eastern Cape) Zola Yeye and public relations guru and Business Women’s Association chairperson Michelle Brown receives Alumni Special Awards.
Andrew Hannington, CEO of one of the largest accounting firms in South Africa, Grant Thornton, Global Director of Digital Marketing for Huawei Technologies, Nicholas Graham, Head Coach to two international cricket teams – the Rajasthan Royals, in the Indian Premier League, and Sydney Thunder, in the Australian Big Bash League, Paddy Upton receives the Alumni Achievers Awards.