The Potchefstroom Campus of the NorthWest University South Africa recently awarded Chancellor’s Medals to Rev Erlo Hartwig Stegen and Mr Vincent Graig Curruthers during the PhD graduation.

Rev Stegen received the Chancellor’s Medal for his humanitarian work among poor rural communities and Mr Carruthers for his contribution towards environmental sciences.

Kwasizabantu is a non-denominational missionary station and reaches out to people of all racial and cultural groups for ministration of faith, spiritual guidance, educational support and counselling.  

Rev Stegen’s achievements also reach beyond the missionary field. He established, amongst others, the Thabitha School for Adults – a literacy centre for adults – and the Domino Servite School, a combined school with 300 learners.

In addition to the abovementioned, he also founded the Cedar College of Education in 1994 – an off-campus training facility for teachers that is affiliated with the Potchefstroom Campus of the NWU, where the Faculty of Educational Sciences annually presents BEd and HonsBEd degrees and diplomas.

Rev Stegen is also well-known for his part in the development of poor rural communities by means of agricultural and community development projects.

Mr Carruthers was born in 1942 in Johannesburg and is a respected director, author and consultant. He has 25 years consultation experience in top-level strategic management, tourism and environmental affairs, and has already completed more than 120 projects successfully.

He is an expert on amphibia and wetlands in South-Africa, and is also a registered professional natural scientist in accordance with the Natural Scientific Professions Act.

He is the author of various authoritative publications in the fields of natural sciences and South-African history, including The Magaliesberg, The Wildlife of Southern Africa - Guide to the Animals and Plants of the Region, South African Frogs - A Complete Guide, etc. In addition to this, he has also written various articles that appeared in scientific and professional journals, as well as in specialist publications.

He served on the Parks and Tourism Board of the North-West University South Africa seven years, and was the Chief Executive Officer of the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa, chairperson of Birdlife South Africa, and vice-chairperson of the Delta Environment Centre. He is currently the Director of VC Management Services as well as the Director of the Sustainable Tourism Research Institute of Southern Africa.