It is a remarkable milestone for Tamika Colbeck who graduated Cum Laude with the prestigious Dean’s Merit award for her Advanced Diploma in Public Relations and Communications Management. This is the second time she has obtained the prestigious award consecutively. She was honoured at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony at the Olive Convention Centre on Thursday, 22 May 2025.
Her first Cum Laude and Dean’s Merit Award came in 2024 for her Diploma in the same course. It is no coincidence that Colbeck keeps excelling in her academics. It is a true reflection of her consistency that requires dedication and resilience.
Colbeck (23) born in Wentworth, Durban expressed that graduating with the Dean’s Merit Award consecutively is more of a blessing and she feels honoured.
“It is rewarding and a humbling blessing. My undergraduate studies did not compare to how challenging my Advanced Diploma was. Research was a new element, and I did have tough time perfecting my research, however I was triumphant in the end,’’ she added.
Her journey at DUT started during the COVID-19 pandemic. She had to study online, but with her commitment she managed to familiarise herself with the online system. She has been always known as a student who was not afraid to ask questions. Being outspoken made her popular not only for her excellence, but for her braveness.
She has been involved in various university initiatives like an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, a Green Youth Workshop, and Open Week twice in 2023 and 2025.
One of the DUT Living Values and Principles she resonates with the most is accountability; she feels that it’s a vital element in life. It has helped her make better decisions for her future and to keep the consequences in mind.
Public Relations was her first choice, but she had no idea what it was. She eventually fell in love with it. Through this course she met so many amazing people, it boosted her confidence in speaking and opportunities that she never imagined.
Advising the first-year students, Colbeck said “Speak up in class, surround yourself with smart people, and have fun because you only get one life and maybe even one student experience,’’ she said.
She aspires to obtain her PhD soon. Currently, she works at Woolworths as a till operator on the weekends and as a DUT tutor for Advanced Diploma students doing PR and Communications. There is one thing she has discovered about herself so far is that she likes teaching, and retail is a tough sector to work in. However, retail and tutoring both have improved her problem-solving skills, public speaking skills, and patience.
Pictured: Tamika Colbeck
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini
Vukani Langa
