HL Hall Gold Medal 2019 Mr M B Mahlalela

Mr M B Mahlalela was the university’s top graduate with a Bachelor of Agriculture in Agricultural Extension and Rural Resources Management

Leading avocado producer and marketer Halls has rewarded high-flying students in South Africa for excelling in their agricultural studies.

The company presented its annual HL Hall Gold Medal Award to top graduates at the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) in the city ofMbombela in the north-east of the country.

At the annual Academic Excellence and Vice-Chancellor Scholarship Awards Ceremony on 10 May, Mr M B Mahlalela was recognised as the university’s top graduate with aBachelor of Agriculture in Agricultural Extension and Rural Resources Management,notching up a whopping 19 distinctions.

A second award was given to Mr B Sedibe for graduating as the top student with a Diploma in Agriculture. Sedibe achieved an impressive 11 distinctions.

The HL Hall Gold Medal Award was launched in 2015 when Halls donated R125 000 to UMP at a handover ceremony at its Mbmbela campus to coincide with the company’s 125-year anniversary.

Craig Lewis, Halls’ commercial director in South Africa, said: “I look forward to this ceremony every year. It is such an uplifting time for us as we get to witness and recognise all the hard work and dedication by both the students and the University of Mpumalanga.

“Our involvement in this partnership though our two awards is key in recognising achievers and building exposure for young talent in the agricultural space.”