Helen Denny emerged as the gold medal and CoZa Cares Trophy winner in this year's Computer Applications Olympiad. This achievement was acknowledged at an awards function, held at Kelvin Grove, in Newlands, Cape Town, recently.
Denny, a grade 12 pupil at La Rochelle Girls High, in Paarl, was among 13 finalists who took part in the final round of the Computer Applications Olympiad, challenging the skills of learners in the use of productivity software packages like Microsoft Office, Open Office and Libre Office.
“I did not expect the award; it was a surprise, but I'm happy to see my hard work and the effort put in by my teachers pay off,” said Denny.
She is a regular competitor in the Maths Olympiad, Science Olympiad, English Olympiad, Global Olympiad, Accounting Olympiad, and many other competitions and Eisteddfods. She is the 2010 Dux of her school, and has enrolled at the Stellenbosch University to study for a BA LLB.
“It was a wonderful experience to explore my computer skills, [it provided a] good track record for varsity next year, and it gave me recognition,” she concluded.
Denny's achievement is remarkable, given that the Olympiad attracted more than 13 000 entrants from nearly 400 schools this year. The Computer Applications Olympiad, backed by UniForum SA and organised by the South African Computer Olympiad Trust (SACOT), aims to identify, encourage and reward computer application skills in high school students.
“We are delighted about the success of this year's Applications Olympiad. Compared to 2010, the number of participants has doubled, and the number of schools has tripled. What is even more encouraging is that schools are using the Olympiad for revision, and that the Olympiad is affecting the standard of the subject positively,” says Peter Waker, CEO of SACOT.
Silver medals went to Jaco Nortier, of Paarl Gymnasium, and Sean Wentzel, of Westerford High School. Paarl Gymnasium's Erns Labuschagn'e and Richard Saunders, and Ren'e Engelbrecht, from Ho"er Volkskool, Potchefstroom, took home bronze medals.
“We congratulate this year's winners for their excellence in a year we received so many entries. It is pleasing to see how much enthusiasm there is for this important subject among educators and learners,” said Fiona Wallace, director of UniForum SA.
Waker added that the Computer Applications Olympiad is an important event because the Computer Applications subject attracts a diverse population of learners, and helps to prepare them for the needs of a technology-driven workplace. The Olympiad promotes the importance of ICT in under-resourced schools.
“We are looking forward to an increase in both the number of participants and the number of schools for 2012,” he said
According to Wallace, UniForum SA's support of the Computer Applications Olympiad will continue in 2012.
Share
