This year, the annual Alumni Awards event was brought back to campus also celebrating the 10 year birthday of the university at the Madibaz Vodacom Indoor Centre on South Campus.
NMMU Alumni Director: Paul Geswindt said “Other than a degree certificate or diploma from the NMMU or its founding institutions, the recipients must have an excellent professional trade record and have achieved recognition by peers, industry, professional bodies etc, must have made significant impact within their professional field and/or in the society/community development at local, regional, national or international level and must be of good character to serve as NMMU ambassadors and role models.”
Three categories remain for the Awards – namely the Alumni Achievers Awards, the Alumni Rising Stars Awards and the Alumni Special Awards. Three graduates received the top award – the Alumni Achiever Awards.
CEO of one of the largest accounting firms in South Africa, Grant Thornton, Andrew Hannington, Global Director of Digital Marketing for Huawei Technologies Nicholas Graham and Head Coach to two international cricket teams – the Rajasthan Royals in the Australian Big Bash League, Paddy Upton were these recipients.
This followed with the Rising Star Awards which was presented to Business Day editor-in-chief Songezo Zibi, businessman Gugu Nxiweni, academic Prof Nkqubela Ruxwana, businessman Ruan Viljoen and sportsperson Zanele Mdodana.
The Alumni Special Awards were received by the Head of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Kevin Hustler, public relations guru and Business Woman’s Association’s Michelle Brown and the Provincial General Manager of SABC (Eastern Cape) Zola Yeye, who has just recently left the employ of SABC.