Athina Dennis
Nominee's Province:
Western Cape
Project Name/Description:
Oval North High School, Mitchells Plain, Educator.
The Western Cape teacher, Athina Dennis, made a name for herself when she became the first female NSC (National Senior Certificate) Chief Marker for Mechanical Technology in her province. Her influence and impact are seen in the classroom and beyond as she continues to break barriers. She was a finalist in the Good Hope FM Warrior Woman Awards in 2024 for her impact in the education sector. One of her first challenges as a youth growing up in the gangster-infested township, Cape Flats, she managed to escape the violence, gangsterism, drugs, alcohol, and other bad habits. Following her matriculation in 2006, she pursued an apprenticeship at Actom John Thompson, where she qualified as a Re Seal Welder. She went on to graduate from Cape Peninsula University of Technology as an educator. She is very passionate about youth development. She believes that curricula must align with the labour market demands as a response to the increasing unemployment rate.
