Second-year Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Statistics student Paulus Hamutenya (23) is well on his way to becoming the first degree holder in his family.
Since his very first year, Hamutenya has been excelling and has always been part of the top performers in his class.
It, therefore, comes as no surprise that he was recently awarded a certificate of merit for the best second-year student in Applied Mathematics and Statistics 2023 during the 2024 Nust Annual Academic Awards ceremony.
Hamutenya is one of 10 ReconNamibia scholarship recipients selected from the Kavango East and Kavango West regions, pursuing qualifications in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fields. He is currently in his third year of studies. “It felt exhilarating and overwhelming receiving this award. But I know I deserved it because I put a lot of pressure on myself and worked extremely hard to earn this recognition,” she said.
Coming from humble beginnings, he said uplifting his family remains a relentless motivation for him to keep pushing. “Changing my background is an incentive to me to keep pushing and do better and become the first person to receive a higher degree in my family,” Hamutenya said.
“Every journey is hard, but if you set yourself in the right direction through applying consistency, hard work, self-discipline and the three Ps (Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance), anything can be achieved.” He acknowledged ReconNamibia for the support rendered to the students throughout the years, and for constantly pushing them to always do better.
“Without ReconNamibia, it was going to be more difficult for me to come out as the best student because they provided me with so much support as a student. It is very important to have financial support to have all the material needed academically. Hence my journey with ReconNamibia assisted in making it possible to achieve this recognition,” he added.
ReconNamibia spokesperson Ndapewoshali Shapwanale said Hamutenya has consistently been performing, showing dedication and commitment to his studies.
“We are extremely proud of him, as one of the beneficiaries of our scholarship programme. The 10 scholarships awarded to students from the two regions form part of the company’s environmental, social and governance approach to business,” she said.
Apart from his studies, Hamutenya is also a part-time tutor in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. Through this tutoring, he believes he can showcase his skills and expand his knowledge to other students.
He urged students aspiring to excel in their studies to always set goals for themselves, plan, and be consistent in their plans.
“Consistency, hard work, commitment and self-discipline are the keys that build your character to achieving good results or excelling in academia,” he stated. -psiririka@nepc.com.na