Petersen was speaking during the stars ceremony, which honours the hard-working pupils who strive for academic excellence, held on Saturday night at the university's centenary hall.

He says this varsity initiative seeks and hopes to inspire these students who are from the most disadvantaged schools and from the most impoverished households in the province.

He adds that the issues around their social class need to be addressed in a way that will inspire and give courage to those who seem to have lost hope.

He further adds that a learner from Albert Moroka, in Thaba Nchu, cannot be academically assessed in the same manner as one from Grey College, in Bloemfontein, due to school infrastructure challenges, amongst other things.

The top ten learners were chosen from a vast group of learners through a competition within their respective schools, based on excellent academic results from different regions in the province.

These learners were then brought together to compete against each other and the one with the highest score was chosen as a top achiever and ultimately named as the ambassador of the programme.

Petersen says he has, however, encouraged the top achievers to strive for better academic excellence through passion and reminded the top achievers that the varsity takes the word 'transformation' seriously.

Meanwhile, Thabang Sithela, from LA Wesi Secondary in Allanridge, told OFM News that he was overwhelmed and excited to have entered the competition.

He described the competition as an inspirational path and says he is happy to have been chosen to go through this programme.

He adds that winning this competition reflects upon hard work, passion for excellence and the drive to achieve more through academic excellence.

OFM News