The English and Communication Programme celebrated the academic achievements of its students at the annual Sharon and Clive Wilson Top Achievers Awards, held at the DUT Hotel School at Ritson Campus on Friday, 2 October 2026.
This year’s awards ceremony marked a new chapter in how the programme recognises academic excellence. In previous years, the Sharon and Clive Wilson Award focused on the overall top student. This year, the programme expanded to recognise top achievers across its various modules.
The English and Communication Programme is a service unit within the Department of Media, Language and Communication that provides communication modules across faculties, equipping students with professional and interpersonal communication skills.
The ceremony opened with welcome remarks from the Acting Head of the Department of Media, Language and Communication, Professor Maleshoane Rapeane-Mathonsi, who emphasised the importance of recognising students’ achievements.
“We teach many modules in our programme. Therefore, what we are saying this year is that every top student in those modules matters, and we want to celebrate their excellence,” said Professor Rapeane-Mathonsi.
Students and staff from various departments attended the event, including Media, Language and Communication, Business and Information Management, Information and Communication Technology, Town and Regional Planning, Mathematics, Analytical Chemistry, Consumer Science, Food and Nutrition, Catering Management, Video and Communication Design, Library and Information Studies and Environmental Health.
The programme included introductions from representatives of partnering departments, followed by introductions from staff members in the Department of Media, Language and Communication. Attendees were also treated to performances by opera singer Mdumiseni Ngwenya and poet Lebo Thlathla.
The first segment of the programme recognised the top achievers in 11 modules: Communication 1 (CMON1), Food Communication 1 (FOCO101), Communication Literacy 1 (CMCL101), Communication for Sciences (COSC101), Communication in English 1 (CENL101), Communication Skills 1 (CMMS101), Communications (CCNS101), Interpersonal Communication and Self (ICMS101), Business Communication and Information Literacy (BCIF101), English for the Arts 1 (EGLA101) and Communication 2 (CMON201).
This was followed by the Sharon and Clive Wilson Awards, presented to the two top-achieving students, Nomfundo Dlodlo and Claire Thomas.
Dlodlo, a second-year Bachelor of Health Sciences in Environmental Health student, received the Communication Skills 1 (CMMS101) award and went on to claim the overall Sharon and Clive Wilson Award. She was recognised as the top achiever among more than 700 students registered for the relevant modules in 2025. Former Visual and Communication Design student Thomas was named runner-up for the Sharon and Clive Wilson Award.
“I’m very grateful to have received this award because I know the work, commitment and sacrifice that went into reaching this point. I would like to thank Clive Wilson for creating an opportunity for students like myself to get recognised for their academic achievements. For me, this is more than an award, it is an encouragement to keep believing in what I am capable of,” said Dlodlo.
She also expressed her appreciation to her lecturers, family and friends for their support and encouragement throughout her academic journey.
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Media, Language and Communication, Dr Ursula Vooght, provided a historical overview of the Sharon and Clive Wilson Awards and encouraged students to draw inspiration from the legacy of the awards as they work towards achieving their goals.
The event highlighted the importance of effective communication while encouraging students to remain committed to academic excellence and their future aspirations.
Photographer: Sifundo Thwala
Pictured: Award winners and staff members
Sompisi Ntuli
