Vice-Chancellor honours top students
- Wits University
Wits University recognises academic excellence at the 2025 Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Awards
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits University, on 4 May hosted top performing first-year students, their parents and high school principals, donors and staffat the 2025 Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Awards.
The VC’s scholarship is awarded to the top 20 learners who excelled in the National Senior Certificate exams in 2024 and who are currently enrolled in their first year at Wits University.
This scholarship is automatically extended to the highest achievers upon registration and covers their tuition for their entire degree.
This scholarship celebrates academic achievement and provides a significant financial support to alleviate the costs of pursuing a university education for students and their families.
“Receiving this scholarship is significant and helpful for me. I can completely focus on my studies as well as completing my degree without having to worry about my fees,” says Tshego Mahlangu, first-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery student and a recipient of the scholarship. “I have also made my parents and teachers very proud.”
Vilakazi welcomed all attendees and acknowledged the educators and school principals as the ‘architects of possibilities’: “The belief in your students, your tireless mentorships and your commitment to education is the reason we are all gathered here today,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the donors who help the University to provide these scholarships, saying, “These scholarships are more than financial awards— they are instruments of change.” Turning his attention to the parents and guardians of the scholarship recipients, the Vice-Chancellor recognised their support and sacrifices. “Parents, thank you for the sacrifices you have made and the encouragement you have your children—today is as much your child’s triumph as it is yours, for the encouragement you have given them over 18 years.”
However, Vilakazi’s address truly shone upon the stars of the day—the scholarship recipients. To these students, he said, “You are not here by luck nor by favour but by merit. Your discipline, your courage, your resilience, and intellectual spark has led you to this moment. You have earned a place at a top university, not only in the continent, but the world.”
He urged the recipients to be the ripples of hope that will impact society and the future, in medicine, science, technology and commerce. “I place this responsibility before you: let your scholarship be a launchpad into the future to advance life, redefine possibilities, and to design and reimagine the future.”
Wits University offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to matriculants including the University Entrance Scholarship, the Vice-Chancellor’s Equality Scholarships, and the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Awards. Find out more about the Wits scholarships.