At Kearsney College’s annual speech day and prize-giving, guest speaker and former head prefect Monde Nkosi delivered an inspirational and heartfelt address. His message, particularly to those boys leaving school, was the importance of finding their moral compass.
“Until now you’ve mostly had rules set for you, by teachers and families; but now you’ll start making your own rules. My advice is to do what’s right, even when no-one is watching. In an era with social media, make sure you’d be comfortable for whatever you do or say to appear on the front page of a newspaper,” Nkosi said.
Hayden de Kock is this year’s dux. He received academic honours cum laude (over 86%), and walked away with subject prizes for Mathematics, Advanced Programme Mathematics, Physical Science, Biology, Engineering Graphics and Design, Modern Languages and Afrikaans (shared).
During the year he was in the top 100 of the national Mathematics Olympiad, whilst still managing to excel on the sports fields. Hayden was selected for the KZN Southern Coastal golf team, and played 1st team golf and hockey for Kearsney.
His runner-up, Bryce Crockart, received academic honours (80-85%) and subject prizes for English, Poetry and Music. He was in the Kearsney orchestra.
The school’s coveted trophy for best all-rounder in the sixth form was awarded to Jordan Bamber, who achieved academic colours (75-79%), was KZN Coastal cricket captain, played 1st team cricket, rugby and rugby 7s for Kearsney, and was also deputy head of house.
Guest speaker Nkosi is currently based in Johannesburg as an investment manager at Value Capital Partners. After completing Bachelor of Business Science and Honours in Finance degrees at the University of Cape Town, he went to Stanford University in California, where he achieved an MA in Education and graduated as top MBA student.
A true all-rounder, he matriculated with academic honours cum laude from Kearsney 12 years ago, where he was head prefect and played three first team sports.
Ten Kearsney boys who also achieved academic honours are Ryan Healy, Neels Volschenk, Jack Savage, Dillon Wimbush, Joseph McKenzie, Liyema Jacobs, Michael Smith, Joshua Barrett and Nkanyiso Mkhize.
In addition to Jordan Bamber, Ethan Mills, Brent Gibson, Reid Stuart, Liam Breytenbach, Matthew Horn, Andrew Watt, Carlo Miller, Justin Goldie, Dean Gibson, Thomas Painting, Regan Shen, Jack Williams, Jordan Baker, Kevyn Meyer and Luke Wilson were awarded academic colours.
The boys start their final IEB examinations on October 9.
