Some events tick boxes, and then some remind you why community matters and why we come together, celebrate, and keep going. The Postgraduate International Graduation Ball, held on the evening of Friday, 5 April 2025, was the latter.

For Tina Sisanda Bikitsha, graduating with a Master’s degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University is not simply an academic achievement but a triumph of love and resilience. As a mother to a non-verbal 10-year-old child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Tina’s research journey was highly personal, filled with moments of both emotional anguish and hope.

On the 2nd of April 2025, sisters Dr Alyssa Shawntay Williams and Loryn Michelle Williams once again shared the Rhodes University graduation stage, sharing another defining milestone. This time, Alyssa hooded her younger sister while wearing the distinguished red gown of a doctoral graduate.

Ripfumelo Pascalia Chauke’s graduation from Rhodes University is more than a personal accomplishment, it is a symbol of hope for her community in Soweto and beyond. The first in her family to obtain a university degree, she has defied the odds, opposed expectations, and inspired many with her story.