This week, DUT hosted a luncheon to celebrate the awarding of this year’s Sharon Wilson Award for the Top Annual English and Communication Student, in which Rachel Hale, a second-year Video Technology student, was announced as the winner.

Hale beat about 7000 students for the prize by obtaining an 88 percent mark on the subject. Because of her outstanding performance, she walked away with a cash prize of R2 400.

“I’m so grateful to Clive and the English Department (at DUT) for making this award possible. It’s a great honour to win this award. I’d like to dedicate it to my high school English teacher Mrs Beuger. She was a great influence in my life and made me realise the importance of the (English) language,” she said.

The award was established in 1988 by Clive Wilson after the death of his wife; Sharon Wilson, from a brain aneurysm. The award pays tribute to Sharon, who worked at the University’s English Department. DUT has been hosting the award ceremony for more than 20 years.

There are over 5000 students with over 46 diplomas taking English as a subject at DUT. There is no selection process for the award. The winner is awarded the prize by acquiring more marks than the other students.
Clive Wilson said while Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world, with English lagging behind in third place, it (English) is a global language used by everyone to communicate.

-Talent Buthelezi

Pictured from left: Front row: Terry Herd, English and Communication Program Co-ordinator; Clive Wilson, award benefactor; Rachel Hale, this year’s award winner and Rodwell Makombe, English and Communication lecturer within the Video Technology Department. Standing at the back are René Hale, Rachel’s mother; Carry Burnett, Video Technology Department HoD and Wendy Hein, Video Technology Department Secretary.