If you still doubt the value of mathematics and science, just ask William Cronje and Reinardt Atkinson to share their future prospects with you.

William, a Grade 11 learner from Vereeniging Gymnasium, and Reinardt, a final year BSc IT student, recently programmed and calculated their way to success during the annual North-West University (NWU) GeeXpo event. 

Both William and Reinardt won full study bursaries in computer and information science from the NWU, William for his undergraduate studies in 2020 and Reinardt for his honours degree in 2019.

The recent GeeXpo event, which is a highlight on the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science’s calendar, focused on information technology, mathematics and statistical sciences and attracted hundreds of learners from across central South Africa. In fact, this year saw a record number of participants taking part in the Maths Olympiad and the PAT Competition.

According to Daleen Gerber, director of the School of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, the impact of the annual expo is unlocked by the way in it enables learners to experience the full spectrum of professional opportunities that can be associated with mathematics and computer science.

At the same time, the expo is also a platform from where academic distinction can be celebrated. The latter referring to the winners in the different GeeXpo categories, namely: Robotics – as hosted by Trophy Robotics, Maths Olympiad, Cyber Security Challenge, Britehouse Competition and the popular PAT Challenge.

The Cyber Security Challenge and the Britehouse Competition are for final year IT students at the NWU.

The day saw the following learners and schools being awarded prizes:

Robotics Competition – as hosted by Trophy Robotics

• 1^st: Sergio de Abreu and Dylan King (Alberton High School)
• 2^nd: Ulrich van der Merwe and Danae van der Merwe (Brandwag Hoërskool)

Maths Olympiad

Grade 12

1st	Sean Groenewald	Randburg Hoërskool
2nd	Graham van den Berg	Sasol High School
3rd	Marelize Roux	Transvalia Hoërskool

Grade 11

1st	Avian du Plessis	Randburg Hoërskool
2nd	Shankar Palamootil	Alberton High School
3rd	Lufuno Raliphada	Shandringham High School

Grade 10

1st	Kari Burger	Randburg Hoërskool
2nd	Ilke Botes	Transvalia Hoërskool
3rd	Pieter-Jan Bosman	Randburg Hoërskool

Grade 9

1st	Zainaaz Hansa	Willomore High School
2nd	Ruan Engelbrecht	Transvalia Hoërskool
3rd	Eduard Verschuur	Transvalia Hoërskool

Grade 8

1st	Ruan Kotze	Transvalia Hoërskool
2nd	Massinissa Ferka	Alberton High School
3rd	Zayanah Laher	Willomore High School

 

Cyber Security Challenge

• Cybertronix: Deon Pieterse, Natassja Hefer, Brandon Lubbe and Leonard Wassenaar

Britehouse Competition

• 1^st: Reinardt Atkinson (bursary winner)
• 2^nd: Deon Pieterse
• 3^rd: Phumudzo Muvhango

PAT Competition

Grade 10

1st	Pieter-Jan Bosman	Randburg Hoërskool
2nd	Janu Fouché	Potchefstroom Volkskool
3rd	Ulrich van der Merwe	Brandwag Hoërskool

Grade 11

1st	William Cronje (bursary winner)	Vereeniging Gymnasium
2nd	George Roodt	Hoërskool Driehoek
3rd	Cameron Eales	Jeugland Hoërskool

Grade 12

1st	Jarred Roodt	Monument High School
2nd	Cameron de Bastos	Hoërskool Driehoek
3rd	Andrew le Roux	Potchefstroom Gimnasium

The organisers of the event would like to thank the following sponsors and partners who contributed towards the success of the event: Sharp, Van Schaik Bookstore, Britehouse, Binary Space, CASIO, Fourier, NWU managers and staff.

Sune van der Linde (NWU) and William Cronje.

JT Janse van Rensburg (NWU) and Reinardt Atkinson.