Photo 1: Tshepiso Pitikoe was awarded Student Ambassador and Ms Jaydee Snyman, Operational Manager: Hotel School.

Photo 2: Ms Grethé Muller, Lecturer: Hospitality Management: Hospitality Management. 

Photo 3: Mr Thabiso Nkitseng, Lecturer, with best third-year diploma student: 1^st place G van Rensburg, 2^nd place, Z Mazibuko and 3^rd place, TG Donkrag.

Photo 4: Ms Dalene Crowther, acting Head of the Department of Hospitality Management and L Kotze, best 2^nd year advanced diploma. 

The CUT Hotel School in the Faculty of Management Sciences held its annual awards ceremony to recognise and honour the student excellence of 2022.

This event not only rewards top academic performers but also aims to strengthen partnerships with stakeholders and attract high-quality students for future enrolment with CUT. Top students were awarded trophies and certificates.

The best first-year Diploma student was awarded to Ntombizodwa Ngcosane, the best second-year Diploma student went to Mapaseka Mokone, and Gilbert van Rensburg received the best third-year Diploma student.

In the category of advanced and postgraduate diplomas, Chad MacDonald was awarded the best Advanced Diploma student, and Kanelo Sethathi was honoured with the award for best Postgraduate Diploma student.

Kekeletso Skhosana and Mamasedi Ramasedi shared the award for best first-year Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) student and Lebotsa Ramoroko received for best Second-year Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) student.

Rapelang Maraka received the most professional student award while Tshepiso Pitikoe was honoured with the award of Student Ambassador. These two awards are based on academic performance criteria, participating/volunteering at functions, and professional conduct.

CUT Alumnus and guest speaker Mr Gustav Pieterse, shared his success story and journey within the hospitality industry and congratulated the hard-working award recipients. He said, “ the levels of success can mean different things to different people. Your timing doesn’t have to be the timing of everyone else.  There comes a time in your life when you decide who you want to be and when you want to be that person. Always remember that the world is your oyster, capitalise on opportunities in this industry because it is going to teach you things that are going to change you as a person,” he said.

Mr Gustav started his career at the Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, as the Banqueting Manager, and quickly grew through the ranks, where he ultimately held the position of Food and Beverage Manager. Thereafter, he spent some time in Washington DC, in the United States of America, at the Hay-Adams Hotel. He then returned to South Africa and re-joined the Saxon, as Operations Manager, and now Hotel Manager.

He is enthusiastic about the industry and has a passion for developing people, processes, and education, in the best interests of Hospitality in South Africa.

Industry partners who sponsored awardees with valuable gift vouchers include Tsogo Sun, Protea Hotel Bloemfontein and Bon Hotel.

Uploaded: 21 April 2023