Best Matric of Year awards event yet
I HAD the privilege of being among the guests to attend The Herald Continental Matric of the Year function on Friday. I have attended a few of these functions, even as a finalist myself in 1999, and I would like to congratulate The Herald and the competition sponsors on your best event yet.
First, I must mention the exceptional top 20 finalists. The video montages really highlighted their achievements, and allowed us to get to know each and every one of them.
The talent that the Eastern Cape has to offer knows no limits and I look forward to searching for their results at the end of the year.
The event was masterfully led by your deputy editor, Nwabisa Makunga, who oozed professionalism and allowed the evening to run smoothly.
Not once did I feel that time was wasted and that the evening had gone on too long.
Changing the format this year to allow us to sit down for dinner allowed me the opportunity to interact with finalists outside of my school, and I got to meet the wonderful and humble Inga Mpepanduku from Port Alfred High School.
This is an opportunity I would never have had, had she not been seated at my table.
However, a major highlight of the evening for me was your guest speaker, Amanda Hobana.
She is a real gem of the Eastern Cape who I hope will continue to turn everything she touches into gold.
She kept the audience entertained, and was able to speak at a level that allowed the matrics in attendance to relate to her and remain engaged.
Thank you so much for allowing this competition to still be running after all these years.
Those who work hard should be rewarded.
I still am very proud that I was a part of this competition all those years back and I know that each of these finalists will remember this evening for many years to come.
Melanie Black, Port Elizabeth