The School of Tourism and Hospitality (STH) invites its proud alumni to be a part of tomorrow’s future, today. In the run-up to the annual STH Industry and alumni event in September, the school is bringing back its Plaque Initiative, giving alumni a chance to create a lasting legacy for themselves and to contribute to the efforts to upgrade the school’s facilities and equipment in line with the latest state-of-the-art utilities. In 2019 the school held its 50th Anniversary event, honouring its legacy institutions that contributed to what it is today – a world renowned research, learning, and training institution, ranked Number 1 as a School of Tourism and Hospitality in Africa, and at number 9 in the Top 10 globally. “That year we established an Endowment Fund through which we would fundraise for the school’s needs for the future, because were mindful already at that stage that the industry was changing, and we wanted to position the school in a way that meets the needs of the future,” said Kagiso Mosue, STH’s Marketing Manager. The second initiative launched was the Plaque Initiative – aimed to add onto the fundraising initiative through the school’s strong alumni network purchasing plaques that were engraved with their full names and graduating year and placed on identified walls around the school campus. The school raised over R2 million by September that year, as Mr Len Wolman, Chairman and CEO of the Waterford Hotel Group
and recipient of this year’s Alumnus Dignitas Award, not only led pledging with a sizeable contribution but extended a challenge to fellow alumni to add to the contributions. The target is to ultimately reach R5 million through the various fundraising initiatives. However, unfortunately fundraising activities slowed to a standstill over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking on the school’s rich history and its continued success in producing some of the country and world’s best hospitality and tourism practitioners, Mosue said the plaques added a layer of inspiration and aspiration for its current students.
“We are bringing the initiative back this year, still mindful of the economic environment and the challenges the industry continues to face. But, we’re saying, if you can buy your plaque as an alumnus, the value is that you get to contribute to the future. The students going to their classes or walking past the campus are able to see themselves in your name on those walls,” Mosue explained. The plaques are divided into three categories: Bronze (R100-R500), Silver (R500-R1000) and Gold (R1000- R5000), and are placed at select venues and buildings across the campus. Alumni wanting to take part in the initiative can visit the UJ website and click on the fundraising portal.
Are you an STH Alumni? Support our fundraising initiative. Join your peers and leave a lasting mark of your time with us. Inspire the ones following in your footsteps. There are three (3) plaque options available for sale, dependent on the level of contribution as follows:
Bronze: R100 – R500 Silver: R500 – R1000 Gold: R1000 – R5000
Corporate Sponsors are also welcome. ORDER NOW: https://uj.devman.co.za/devman/online/giving/
School of Tourism and Hospitality Plaque Initiative: Creating world-class facilities for the next generation
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ALUMNI IMPUMELELO
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