Ian Mwamunga – a Bachelor of Business Information Technology #Classof2020 graduate once said, “…the worst thing we can do in this COVID-19 era is to stop living.” Terse yet very weighty words, the truth of these sentiments was put to task in the recently held 2021 Strathmore University Academic Excellence Awards.

The University once again recalled students back to an on-campus ceremony, and this time with a red and black dress code theme. Glam and elegance are not enough to describe the frenzy and vibrant atmosphere at the Main Auditorium where the ceremony took place – a reminiscence of the exciting and carefree student-oriented events before COVID struck. The ceremony, however, took place in two sessions, so as to accommodate all students, while following Covid-19 event guidelines.

The Academic Excellence Awards gala is held every year to honour and reward outstanding academic performances by students from every faculty/school. The gala held on Friday 19^th February 2021 feted brilliant minds who have been top of their class in their respective undergraduate programmes during the 2019/2020 Academic Year. Despite a tough 2020, these students have been resilient and continue displaying a knack for excellence.

Your classmates might have jokingly teased the class bookworm or class joker about appearing in the famous Dean’s List. But to many Stratizen folk, having one’s name penned in this coveted list can be equated to having the proverbial king’s seal in an all-important document, commanding intellectual respect among peers and ultimately including it in the “Achievements” section in one’s résumé. The certificate itself is one that lays laminated next to important documents such as the birth certificate and passport.

While lauding their academic brilliance, the School Deans present at the ceremony urged the students to keep up the good work and to also transcend knowledge beyond academia by being of service to the community. Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Peter Kwenjera, Dean – Strathmore Law School, concluded the ceremony by saying, “Education is a process encompassing more than just the academic realm. It is time to go forth and impact the world positively in your different capacities!”

 

This article was written by Francis Kabutu.

 

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