Understanding the field of Engineering was the key to achieving academic excellence for the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Sandile Mbekezeli Maduna.
Maduna graduated Cum Laude this morning, Monday (22 May 2023) for his Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Power Engineering degree. He laced this accolade with the esteemed Dean’s Merit Award. It was an exciting moment for Maduna and his family as they had come to witness him being feathered in his cap.
The young graduate from Ladysmith, Watersmeet in KwaZulu-Natal praised his sister and late mother who have been supporting him since the beginning of his academic journey.
“The support I have been receiving from my family and friends is amazing and I could not have achieved this without them. A big shout out to my sister and my late mother for sticking with me and for always reminding me of the reason I started. My sister used to constantly call and encourage me to study. She was more excited when she learned that I had achieved my qualification Cum Laude with a Dean’s Merit Award. said Maduna.
Maduna explained that bagging this degree was no walk in the park, saying that it took him hard work, commitment, and consistency to reach the end. For Maduna, the goal had always been to excel in his studies. He emphasized that the Engineering field requires one to be focused, hardworking and passionate.
Moreover, Maduna described himself as someone that prioritizes academic excellence. According to him, keeping a good circle of friends is the way to go. Friends that push you to do your best, and that does only the best for themselves. Maduna achieved this accolade through working with other people, having mutual understanding and common goal. Maduna added that amongst other things that threatened his good performance, distractions almost won against him achieving excellence.
“Associate yourself with the right people within the university and outside of the university. Always keep in mind that hard work pays. Stay consistent and focused,” advised Maduna.
Sandile Maduna
Photograph: Khulasande Tshayile
Nikiwe Sukazi
