Champala class champion again
Top performing student scoops another accolade
Reginald Champala is the true epitome of intelligence.
Champala, 20, was the star of the show at the Gauteng education department’s announcement of the matric results three years ago. He was the top pupil in the province.
Champala, who matriculated at Dr Harry Gwala Secondary School in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, walked away with six awards for his sterling performance which saw him score 100% in geography, maths, physical science and life science.
He is now reading his third year in mathematical science at Wits University.
Fast forward to 2017, Champala was one of three students honoured at the Vodacom bursary achievers awards last week.
Vodacom is funding 110 students studying at the varisty.
Speaking to Sowetan after receiving his award, Champala said he did not even expect to get one. “I was actually quite surprised because last year in June I was mostly sick, so I did not necessarily expect to get it. I had a terrible flu and it hit me during exam time and I even had to write deferred exams …”
His overall mark last year was 70%, and he got four distinctions.
Champala said he did nothing out of the ordinary. “I just study to understand and I take interest in what I do, because I have realised that if I have interest I am able to go much further.”
Even though he described university as both “hell and heaven”, he did not believe he would have got this far if it was not for his mother. “The experience of being away from home has not been difficult because my mother calls me every day … And, also, home is two hours away so whenever I want to visit I just go over the weekend … She has been my support system throughout.”