The Department of Food and Nutrition Consumer Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) celebrated academic excellence and student achievement at its annual Student Awards ceremony, recognising outstanding performance, dedication and resilience during the 2025/2026 academic year.
Held at the Steve Biko Campus, the ceremony brought together staff, students and guests to honour students whose commitment and hard work have contributed to their academic success.
In her welcome address on behalf of the Head of Department, Dr Nokuthula Vilakazi welcomed guests and congratulated the students on their achievements. She commended them for the resilience and dedication they had demonstrated throughout the academic year.
“At the heart of everything we do is you, our students,” she said, encouraging them to continue dreaming, learning and challenging themselves.
Dr Onwaba Makanjana highlighted the significance of the awards as an opportunity to recognise students’ hard work and perseverance while inspiring them to strive for further success.
“This day means a great deal to me as a lecturer because it provides an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the hard work, commitment, and resilience of our students,” she said.
She explained that the ceremony also allowed students to reflect on how far they had come and appreciate the value of their efforts, while reinforcing the importance of balance and wellbeing.
One of the highlights for her was seeing the pride and excitement on the students’ faces. She noted that recognising their achievements could strengthen their confidence, encourage perseverance and motivate them to pursue their goals with greater determination.
Among the top achievers were Ryan Gurduth, a final-year Consumer Science: Food and Nutrition student, and Amanda Ngcamu, an Advanced Diploma student. Both received five awards each.
For Gurduth and Ngcamu, their choice of Food and Nutrition was driven by a love of food and a desire to understand its relationship with health.
“My interest in Food and Nutrition developed from an appreciation of the important role food plays in our health, my passion for culinary arts and my interest about the science of food,” Gurduth explained.
Ngcamu’s interest began at home, where she enjoyed watching cooking shows. As she explored the field further, she discovered that Food and Nutrition extended beyond preparing meals.
“I realised that there’s more to Food and Nutrition than just being in the kitchen. And this has deepened my love to learn and grow with the department and food industry,” she said.
Reflecting on his achievements, Gurduth singled out the Academic Excellence Award for Second Year Student 2025 as particularly meaningful, given the challenges he faced during that period.
“That particular year was challenging and required a great deal of discipline, hard work, and balance. It represents the effort, sacrifices and determination I have devoted towards my academic career,” he shared.
Ngcamu attributed her academic progress to active participation in class and consistent preparation. She explained that listening attentively and asking questions helped her understand and retain information, making her study sessions feel more like revision.
Beyond her academic efforts, she credited her father as her greatest source of support and motivation.
“There are times where I feel like giving up but I soldier on. My dad believes in me so much and I just feel like I can’t let him down,” she said.
The department also extended appreciation to Hotel Requisite, Dirks, Gourmet Catering Supplies, Act Trading, Suncat, and Clarice King/Jean Brydone for their continued support in celebrating student achievement.
Pictured: Student winners at the event.
Nosihle Mthembu
