With graduation season having recently drawn to a close, it is not only large universities boasting a new cohort of trained professionals leaving through their doors.
One example of this is a total of 120 graduates receiving national diplomas after completion of courses at a Bloemfontein-based private agricultural college.
The Peritum Agri Institute’s largest group of graduating students since the inception of the college celebrated their achievements with their families at the annual graduation ceremony held at Leopards and Lace in Bloemfontein on 26 April.
Emmie Pietersen welcomed students and their families, emphasising how proud she and Belinda Louw, fellow founding director of Peritum, were to host this event in the students’ honour.
Of the 120 students, 87 specialised in Animal Production, while 33 majored in Plant Production.
Special awards were presented to top achievers in both programes.
Tsepang Seleka, Hennie Hancke, and Gerhard Ferreira were merit award winners in the Plant Production programme, with Chris Wessels being recognised as the top achiever.
Drew Evans, Vamamusa Maphalala, and Melinda Groenewald obtained merit awards in the Animal Production programme, with Frederik Nel being named the top achiever.
Hancke and Maphalala addressed fellow students at the closing of the proceedings, encouraging them to make wise choices now that they have been issued their qualifications, apply their learning and growth to expand their farming businesses, and provide food for the nation.
The Peritum institute takes a career-oriented approach to offering qualifications, incorporating a hands-on practical programme that equips graduates ready to enter the agricultural workforce.
“The significance of our collaborations with John Deere, the Red Meat Production Organization, the Aeres University of Applied Science, and Senwes Equipment cannot be overstated,” Pietersen asserted.
