Wealth of prizes up for grabs in matric competition

SCHOLARSHIPS, shopping vouchers, computer tablets and a trophy are some of the prizes up for grabs in The Herald Matric of the Year 2014 competition.

The competition opened for entries on Monday and hundreds are expected to pour in.

Nomination and CV summary forms are available here: and

Curriculum manager for the Education Department in Port Elizabeth and competition judge Isaac Metembo said a huge number of entries were received each year but the set criteria of the competition made selecting the ultimate winner a relatively straightforward process.

"We receive set criteria from the sponsors and we use these to decide on who we put through as our 20 finalists."

Metembo, who will be judging for the third time, said candidates had to excel in different areas to be considered.

"We don't want a finalist who only focuses on one area of the criteria, but an allrounder, someone who shows consistency, someone who's been active in community projects throughout their high school career."

Each year 20 finalists are chosen and none of them walk away empty-handed.

Each finalist will receive a three-month subscription to The Herald, with the top matric and scholarship award winners, together with their schools, receiving a year's subscription.

The overall winner and their school will receive a floating trophy and a R50000 voucher for advertising in or placing an advertorial feature in The Herald.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University is giving away one of the biggest prizes: a bursary covering studies towards a degree or diploma to the overall winner. This will cover registration and tuition fees.

The sports category winner will receive a R10000 bursary.

A dinner prize package from Fat Cats Catering and the Beach Hotel will go to the top matriculant.

The two top matriculants will each receive a Samsung Galaxy Tablet 4 valued at R5000 and a one-gigabyte data bundle valued at R149.

Proline Computers will give computer tablets to the overall winner and category winners, valued at R2899 each.

Walmer Park Shopping Centre is giving a R300 shopping voucher to each of the 20 finalists and a R1000 voucher to each of the category winners, while the overall and scholarship award winners receive R2000 and R3000 respectively.

Rafi's Appliances and Mattresses will give the two top matriculants a Russell Hobbs microwave oven each, and prizes to other winners. Profiles Health Club will give the overall winner a year's gym membership and a health and spa voucher valued at more than R5600.

Other prizes include vouchers of R750 for each category winner from Van Schaik Bookstore, and printers for the two top matrics from stationers Waltons. - Nomazima Nkosi