University of Pretoria (UP) alumna Dr Eurika Mogane-Jones was recently selected by the Golden Key International Honorary Society as the winner of the 2021 Outstanding Member Award. She received a scholarship award of $500 (about R8 000).

“It is such a huge honour to have been given such an award,” said Dr Mogane-Jones, a health and wellness practitioner at the Nelspruit Integrative Medical Centre who hails from Mpumalanga. “Having such a highly esteemed organisation reaching out to celebrate my journey and resilience is really humbling. With the money received from the society, I plan to pay my outstanding fees at UP.”

The society is the world’s largest collegiate honour society for graduate and undergraduate students. Golden Key chapters are put in place to service projects and leadership development for students. Individuals are granted membership when they appear in the top 15% of their class, and are given access to scholarships, travel and study opportunities abroad and more.

“Being a Golden Key member means taking up the beacon of light to ensure that others start seeing opportunities where many could not find them before. It means being a pioneer.”

Dr Mogane-Jones sees herself as a community leader who will continue to raise the Golden Key International Honorary Society flag high. “In 2020, I was part of the partners who assisted in offering community support (food parcels, boreholes, new homes, clothing, etc.) to more than 6 000 families in the Mpumalanga area. I would often share my story and encourage the youth.”

She graduated from UP in 2012 with a BSc degree in Medical Sciences, and completed a Neuroscience: Sports Vision Testing and Training certificate in 2011. She is currently doing a course in Trauma Counselling.

Dr Mogane-Jones recalls the challenges presented by her academic journey. “While studying, I had to return home because of lack of resources for the Medical Sciences course. I volunteered at several offices in Mbombela, going from office to office, seeking any opportunity. I got an opportunity to be an office cleaner at a company in Mbombela. Soon after my office work, I got an offer to work with the Cancer Association of South Africa and became one of the youngest African female provincial managers overseeing the Mpumalanga province.”

She continued studying part-time online with institutions from abroad as well. “I was even offered an opportunity by Duke University to complete a Medical Neuroscience course, and a Diploma in Sports Medicine with the FIFA Medical Network. Online learning became a key focus area for me. I could still do research and offer support where needed. I also hold qualifications in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and an Honorary Doctorate from one of the Universities from the UK”.

Dr Mogane-Jones says we can expect bigger and better things from here onwards. “I hope to roll out a mental health and wellness programme one day to support community members – a programme that will help deal with any stigmas or stereotypes in the villages. Many suffer in silence, because they sincerely do not know what they are facing.”