To say that Slindile Shongwe, a final-year Electrical Engineering student, has done the University proud will be an understatement. On 25 November 2022, at a ceremony held at the Coastlands Hotel in Durban, Slindile was announced as a winner of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) SAIEE (South African Institute of Electrical Engineers) Award for Best Design. Slindile was awarded a certificate, trophy, and prize money.
Slindile said that receiving the award was a great honour. “This award from SAIEE recognizes my hard work and gives an amazing feeling of getting awarded for the efforts that I put in,” said Slindile.
Slindile’s winning project was a solar-powered advertising board. Slindile said solar-powered boards were the cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to display a company’s brand, or to highlight something of importance at zero utility cost.
Sibongiseni Masondo, a staff member in the Department of Electrical Engineering, said he was “excited that one of our own students in the department was nominated for the 2022 KZN SAIEE Awards, and won. I like to congratulate Slindile Shongwe for making us proud as a department,” said Masondo.
Masondo added that want made it more exciting was that a woman won this award in a male-dominated field.
“I am looking forward to seeing more females dominate in these awards; Slindile has shown other students that nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it,” Masondo said.
The behind the scenes work done by Dr Richard Chizdonga, Head of Department, Electrical Engineering, cannot be understated. He made thorough consultations with MarComms and the Legal office to ensure that the student receives her prize before the end of the year.