By: Belinda Nketia
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has held the third edition of the Vice-Chancellor’s Students’ Excellence Awards (VCSEA) on Student Appreciation Day 2025, celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of students across a wide range of fields. The event took place on 16th July, 2025 at the Great hall in KNUST. 55 awardees from a pool of 146 finalists who were shortlisted from 290 nominations received were honored in 15 thematic areas.
The thematic areas of recognition included: student leadership, academic excellence, sports, debate, cadet corps, peer counselling, innovation, entrepreneurship, volunteerism, media, creative arts, best college, all-rounded exemplary students, and postgraduate research (posters and exhibitions).
In addition to these, special award recognitions were presented in the distinguished categories of Humanitarian Service and International Exploits, to honor students whose outstanding contributions to community development and global engagement have brought pride and visibility to KNUST beyond the classroom.
The 2025 edition was held under the theme “Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Celebrating Students’ Excellence, Leadership and Service.”
Vice-Chancellor Celebrates Students as “Super, Super Heroes”
In her address, the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, expressed heartfelt admiration for the students, referring to them as “the backbone of all that we do as a university” and “super, super heroes.”
She called to attention the university’s mission to empower students to be architects of change, lead with integrity and innovate with purpose whiles serving with compassion.
“My dear students, you give meaning to our mandate. You keep the laboratories, our studios, our workshops, our farms very active in solving real-life problems,” she stated. “The shuttles are very busy because you’re refusing to walk,” she added humorously, to laughter from the audience.
Prof. Dickson encouraged students not to be discouraged if they were not among this year’s honorees. “If you didn’t make the list, don’t worry at all. Just keep going. Next year will be your year.”
She described the awards as part of the university’s broader effort to “add value” to students and to inspire them to also add value to others and their communities.
“In appreciating you, all we are doing is pointing out the gold mine in you,” she noted. “We challenge you to leverage on that to impact the world positively.”
She closed her remarks with a call for students to remain curious, innovative, and relentless in their pursuit of excellence. “Keep learning, keep being curious, keep innovating, keep growing, keep asking the critical questions as you continue to make us proud.”
The Selection Process Award Categories
The Chairman of the VCSEA Planning Committee, Professor Samuel Amos-Abanyie, provided insights into the planning and selection process. He revealed that the 15-member committee, supported by co-opted members from the university’s colleges, units, and former student leaders, were tasked with identifying students who had excelled across all facets of university life.
The nomination window was open from June 5 to June 30, 2025, followed by a screening phase from July 1 to July 11. Finalists were announced on July 13, with voting for the All-Rounded Exemplary Student category taking place between July 12 and 14. The finalists comprised 44 females and 102 males and were all invited to the ceremony.
Assessment criteria included the submission of CVs, academic transcripts, referee confirmations, and evidence of leadership, innovation, and service. For the All-Rounded Exemplary Student category, students participated in the selection through an open voting process.
Professor Amos-Abanyie expressed deep gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor for her support and praised the committee’s subgroups namely the nominations, logistics, publicity, budget and sponsorship, and events and venue subcommittees, for their dedicated work. “We are proud to present to you 55 of your sons and daughters for awards… You stand tall among your peers, and we see you. We appreciate you,” he said.
A Growing Legacy of Student Recognition
The KNUST Vice Chancellor’s Student’s Excellence Awards (VCSEA), was launched in August 2023. It is an annual initiative by the KNUST Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson under the university’s Student Appreciation Day celebrations.
Its goal is to acknowledge academic excellence, promote leadership, and encourage visibility for student achievements that inspire higher performance standards. The maiden edition honoured 46 students across 12 categories, while the second edition, held on July 2, 2024, recognized 52 students out of 226 nominations, and introduced new categories including Outstanding Media Personality, Best Poster, and Best Exhibit.
Now in its third year, the awards have grown in scope and impact, reinforcing KNUST’s commitment to holistic student development and excellence beyond the classroom.
The Vice-Chancellor admonished all students present of their potential saying, “Appreciation is like flu, it is caught. KNUST is appreciating you today. Don’t let it end with you. Go and add value to yourself further and impact your generation.”
