Limpopo’s best matriculant from Frikkie Meyer – Well done Tanya

THABAZIMBI – Thabazimbi town and High School Frikkie Meyer produced the highest scoring matric pupil in the whole Limpopo Province in 2007. Well done Tanya White, you have done us proud! Keeping her nose to the grindstone paid off for Tanya who achieved A symbols in all her subjects: Afrikaans HG (84%), English HG (100%), Maths HG (96%), Science HG (96%), Biology (99%) and Accountancy (100%). Another HFM learner, Maréli Storm, came 22nd in Limpopo Province, also with six A symbols. A third pupil, Johann Coetzee, also achieved A symbols for all his subjects, and two learners, Rikus Oosthuizen and Gerhard van Wyk each had five distinctions. These achievements helped put HFM at the top of all the schools in the Waterberg region, including schools from Potgietersrus, Bela-Bela and Lephalale. According to principal Deon Azar this group of matrics did very well considering that it included the first English parallel medium group to write matric. Altogether 83 distinctions were obtained by this matric group and one pupil failed. According to Mr Azar 2007 was a bit of an upside down year with many changes, including strikes, teacher inconstancy and problems at the Department of Education. Despite this the matrics had good teachers who managed to give them the right foundation in order to excel. The HFM teachers who had most pupils obtain distinctions are Mrs M Jacobs (English) with 24 distinctions, Mrs H Visser (Tourism) with 10 distinctions, Mrs M Pieterse (Biology) with 8 distinctions and Mrs R Erasmus (Accountancy) with 6 distinctions. Five distinctions each were obtained for Afrikaans (Mr J v Rensburg and Mrs M Boshoff), Maths (Mr C Grové), Science (Ms C Brits) and Geology (Mr G v Rooyen and Mr F du Toit). Tanya, who decided to make a go at a 95% average in matric, not only succeeded, but is also awarded a full Limpopo Province bursary for her medical studies at the University of Pretoria as long as she passes every year; and will receive, along with the best two students in all the other provinces, a laptop computer. She will also be meeting president Thabo Mbeki at this award ceremony. Despite criticism for giving up her extramural activities Tanya persevered and achieved her goal with an average of 95,8%. But the story has an even better ending. Maréli, one of Tanya’s best friends also qualifies for a Limpopo Province full bursary, will also be going to Tukkies for her medical Left: These two good friends Tanya White (left) and Maréli Storm obtained first and 22nd positions respectively in Limpopo Province for their matric exams. Both are going to Pretoria University to study medicine.