Written by: Shanice Pillay

Modest and inspiring, these are the two words that best describe 21-year -old Durban University of Technology’s Journalism student Eugene Sandile Lukhozi.

The Durban University of Technology student is one of 20 students in South Africa to receive a scholarship to Scottsdale Community College in Arizona, United States of America.

“I feel anxious and scared at the same time,” said Lukhozi. “I never thought someone like me would be going to America.

The shy individual was born in Donnybrook,in uMzimkhulu and grew up in Bothas Hill, KwaNyuswa. Coming from a traditional Zulu home, Lukhozi is the middle child and has always kept to himself.

“I come from a family of five; my parents, my older brother and younger sister. My parents are like most, strict when they need to be. But they have both played important roles in my life in shaping who I am today,” explained Lukhozi.

He holds his previous school in high esteem for the contribution his teachers made in his life.

“When I attended KwaNtebeni Comprehensive High School that is where I grew as a person, because I’ve always been very quiet and I still am but that’s when I developed my social life and got involved in various sport,” he said.

He developed his love for journalism because of his father. Newspapers became a tradition in his home especially the Sunday Times. He was confused by his father’s choice of paper because it was in English. However, little did he know that his father’s influence would shape his career.

“When I was in grade 9 I used to buy a newspaper called Soccer Laduma. I would use my allowance of R3.50 to buy the paper which was R3.40, to be left with 10c in my pocket. I would do this every week just to read the paper and grow my knowledge in sport,” said Lukhozi.

In his first year of journalism, he thought of de-registering because he wasn’t sure if he was able to cope. But his hard work eventually paid off when he was selected as one of the top ten in his first and second year classes. These would then be engaged in the internal selection process for the scholarship.

“The top ten students in journalism were chosen. After the interviews within the department, only five were selected to attend interviews at the United States Consulate. From there only one was chosen,” explained Lukhozi. The chosen one to proceed to proceed to the nationwide selection process was Lukhozi.

Mbuso Kunene, a friend of Lukhozi’s, describes him as a welcoming and well-mannered individual who has a good personality.

Deseni Sooben a lecturer at the Journalism Department, is pleased with Lukhozi’s achievement.

“I have got to know Sandile, in the second year of his studying while teaching Media Studies II. He was a very shy and quite individual, however, there was a lot going on in his mind and he always toped the class in my subject. I’m very pleased with Sandile and his family and I think sheer hard work pays off and hopefully he will come back and inspire other students,” said Sooben.

Lukhozi wil depart South Africa in July. When asked about what he would miss the most, he said his little sister.

DUT Journalism wishes Lukhozi all the best for his stay in the USA.

*Caption: The humble Sandile Lukhozi set to leave South Africa for Arizona State in the United States of America.