Latest news with #IIE-Vega
The Citizen
29-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
IIE Vega interior design graduate rings the bell on chemo and graduation
When Hannah Carpel walked the stage at the Independent Institute of Education (IIE)-Vega Bordeaux campus' recent graduation ceremony, she wasn't just a graduate; she was a survivor. She earned her IIE Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design degree after overcoming more than most, starting her tertiary studies in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, losing her father in November 2023, and being diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in June 2024. She completed her final round of chemotherapy in June 2025, ringing the bell to mark the milestone. Now in remission, Carpel is not only celebrating her health and her degree; she's celebrating the start of an exciting new chapter. 'Graduating meant everything to me. I didn't want to become a victim of circumstance. I was so close to finishing my studies, and I put in so much effort. I wasn't going to let cancer stop me. Completing my degree was something I needed to do.' Also read: IIE-Vega held an Analogue Mini Jam game day Throughout her treatment, Carpel leaned on the support of her family – both at home and at school. 'The lecturers and staff were absolutely phenomenal. After the sudden loss of my dad, the staff were a huge help. Lecturers granted me concessions and extended deadlines so that I could submit my work.' Carpel has wanted to become an interior designer since she was 12 years old. Despite having to adapt to online learning in her first year, due to Covid-19, she described her studies as thoroughly enjoyable. Looking back, she said the journey taught her more than she expected. 'I've learnt that I'm a lot tougher than I thought I was. I learnt that I have resilience and fight inside me. There were moments when I wanted to quit, to let go and let cancer take me, but quitting wasn't an option. I needed to fight back.' She advises students facing adversity to accept that things will get tough every now and again, and to set a goal, focus on a dream, and know that's what they're fighting for. To learn more about the programmes at IIE-Vega, visit Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
IOL News
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Game On! Durban students level up at global 72-hour Ludum Dare challenge
Students from IIE-Vega School's Durban campus recently participated in Ludum Dare, a global game development competition Image: Supplied Students from IIE-Vega School's Durban campus recently participated in Ludum Dare, a global game development competition where participants are tasked with creating playable games in just 72 hours. Held biannually, Ludum Dare is recognised as one of the largest and longest-running challenges of its kind. This year's theme, 'depths,' inspired a variety of interpretations, as participants worked under tight deadlines, either individually or in teams, to design and build playable video games. The school noted that the event also formed part of the academic assessment for second- and third-year students. Asher Gray, a first-year Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences student specialising in Game Design and Development, created Animalia Memories, a horror game set within the neural connections of a cat's brain. The retro-style, pixelated game follows a player investigating the cause of the cat's death. Ludum Dare is recognised as one of the largest and longest-running challenges of its kind. Image: Supplied 'This is my first game jam and my first completed game project. As a solo developer, I handled everything from animation and modelling to coding and programming. It was intense, but rewarding.'Gray said. A team of first-year students from the same programme Adishesha Nandkoomar, Dylan Minkley, Jessica Anderson, Abigail Sykes, and Tatum Bollman developed Mush Go Deeper, a game in which the lead character, Mush, embarks on a quest to recover his original body after it is lost in a fight with a dragon. 'This game is an early prototype for a larger project we hope to continue developing,' Nandkoomar explained. 'Our lecturer, Henk Scheepers, encouraged us to participate and provided the support needed to bring the project to life.' Third-year students from the same programme, Daniel Dennison, Rebecca Goodall, Raees Amla, and Njabulo Zikhali developed Rock Bottom, a fast-paced adventure game in which a dwarf battles through a mineshaft to recover his lost pickaxe. 'We've participated in game jams before, so we learned to focus on creating something short, simple, and fun within the time constraints,' Dennison said. Students from IIE-Vega School's Durban campus recently participated in Ludum Dare Image: Supplied Game design and development students from IIE-Vega's Durban campus recently took part in Ludum Dare - one of the biggest international game development competitions. The challenge? Build a working video game from scratch in just 72 hours. Image: Supplied
