An initiative by the Paarl Media Bursary Fund Trust, supported by Novus Holdings, has enabled 11 matric students to finance their tertiary education next year through awarding bursaries to the value of R660,000. A ceremony was held earlier in November to honour the learners in Paarl. Since its inception in 2008, the Trust has awarded more than 100 bursaries valued in excess of R11 million.
‘The Trust aims to create opportunities for learners who are hard-working and committed to working towards a brighter future. The successful learners have shown exemplary dedication to their studies,’ said Peter Metcalfe, group executive: sales and marketing Novus Holdings.
Hailing from schools across the Western Cape, the learners will be pursuing qualifications in the fields of education, accounting, agriculture and engineering at prominent Western Cape institutions such as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, University of Stellenbosch, University of Western Cape and Embury Institute of Higher Education.
The successful bursary winners are:
Bursary Trust Recipient |
School |
2019 Course |
Institution |
Bevan Adams |
Klein Nederburg Secondary School, Paarl |
B.Ed Senior Phase and FET Teaching |
Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
Corne Burger |
Laborie High School, Paarl |
BEng (Chemical) |
University of Stellenbosch |
Kelly Carlse |
Laborie High School, Paarl |
B.Ed Intermediate Phase |
Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
Shenay Govender |
Embury Institute of Higher Education |
B.Ed Foundation Phase |
Embury Institute of Higher Education |
Jessica Hillier |
Fairmont High School, Durbanville |
BA Language and Culture |
University of Stellenbosch |
Shannon Klaasen |
Franschhoek High School, Franschhoek |
BSc Medical Bioscience |
University of Western Cape |
Amicke Mostert |
Paarl Girls' High School, Paarl |
BCom Management Accounting |
University of Stellenbosch |
Kyle Olsen |
Huguenot High School, Wellington |
B.Ed |
Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
Jada Phillips |
Belhar High School, Belhar |
B.Ed |
University of Western Cape |
Jessey Sasman |
Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
B.Ed Foundation Phase |
Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
Luan van Wyk |
University of Stellenbosch |
BSc Agric (Animal Science) |
University of Stellenbosch |
Successful candidates had to apply and meet certain requirements in order to qualify, such as: be from a financially disadvantaged background, have leadership attributes, demonstrate community involvement and hold a commendable academic school record. Bursaries are open to those who meet these requirements.
‘The bursary award winners are selected following a rigorous process. We are certain that they will do us proud as they embark on this new chapter in their lives,’ said Metcalfe.
The Trust was started by the Retief family in the Western Cape in 2008, with an initial investment sum of R10 million. The Retief family built up Paarl Media – today known as Novus Holdings – into a successful business. Today, bursaries are awarded from the investment returns and are run by independent trustees. Novus Holdings supports the Trust by providing resources to facilitate and manage the administration and processing of the bursaries each year.
‘We congratulate the recipients and wish them well on their journey towards becoming tomorrow’s leaders,’ concluded Metcalfe.