KATLEHONG Technical High School pupil Refiloe Machaba is on his way to realising his dream of becoming an engineer

Machaba, 17, was one of 33 pupils from four high schools in Ekurhuleni, who graduated from the Samsung Electronic Engineering Academy.

The Grade 10 pupil said he had always wanted to be a chemical engineer and that the academy had helped to enhance his job prospects in the engineering field.

He hopes to work for Samsung after he matriculates.

"When I finish school I hope to get the bursary that Samsung offers to study engineering and hopefully work for Samsung," he said.

Samsung on Tuesday honoured the first graduating class of the academy, all of whom had achieved a pass mark of more than 70%.

The auditorium erupted in applause when Machaba, was named the academy's top achiever, which earned him a Samsung Galaxy Tab portable personal computer and a television set.

The academy accommodates pupils from Grades 10 to 12.

Margret Masiteng, the academy's head, could not stop gushing about Machaba and said he was her star pupil. Both his mother and grandmother could also not hide their excitement as they ran over to hug him.

The top three pupils in each grade were also rewarded for their efforts, with the third prize being a camera, second prize a laptop and first prize a Galaxy tab.

The top achievers in the different grades are:

l Grade 10 - Machaba, Kuhlekonke Kaunda, Zwela Beshe;

l Grade 11 - Busisiwe Luthuli, Carlos Chongo and Zanele Masiso;

lGrade 12 - Sineliso Abraham, Simphiwe Mtshali and Xoliswa Mpongoshe.

The Samsung Electronic Engineering Academy provides hands-on, vocational skills training at no cost to the 120 youths in Grades 10 to 12 from the Katlehong Technical High School, the Fumana and Lundulwazi secondary schools and Vosloorus Comprehensive School.

The pupils go to the academy after school and do intensive training on electronics.