Daniel French - IV · The Record

Profile

Michaelhouse graduate with six matric distinctions, five consecutive years of academic colours and a national-level debating record, now reading BEng Mechatronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University. Three years of continuous professional work at TG Tracking building live telemetry dashboards and client websites, alongside event finance at R300 000 scale and a first-year contribution to PhD research. Comfortable where technical work, structured argument and endurance overlap.

Education

Stellenbosch University

BEng Mechatronic Engineering

2026 – Present

ECSA-accredited four-year degree integrating mechanical, electrical, electronic and computer engineering
First-year modules: Mathematics 114/144, Physics 114/144, Computer Science 143, Engineering Graphics & Design, Statics & Dynamics, Electrical Engineering 152
Member: SAIMechE student chapter, Stellenbosch Debating, ANGSOC
Contributing to PhD-level education research in first year

Michaelhouse

National Senior Certificate — Six Distinctions

2021 – 2025

Six matric distinctions; top ten academically in every one of five years
Subjects: Information Technology, Economics, English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, History, Advanced Mathematics, Advanced Physics, Advanced Graphs & Matrices
Distinction in Advanced Statistics a year early — one of three students in school history
Five years of academic colours; Honours in Debating and Academics
School Prefect · Chairperson of Debating & Public Speaking · Head of Cross-Country · Head of Chess

Woodberry Forest School

International Exchange Student · Virginia, USA

Jul – Dec 2023

Honours courses: American History, American English, Advanced Calculus, Advanced Coding
Seven half marathons completed during a single semester
100+ hours of community service; prizes for poetry and book review
JV football, track & field, cross-country, climbing and soccer; organised school soccer and taught rugby during the Rugby World Cup

Monument Primary School

Head Boy

2020

94% average; second in the grade
National chess player; 2nd place, National Speaking Competition
Awarded a scholarship to Michaelhouse

Work Experience

TG Tracking

Media Marketing Specialist

2023 – Present

Developed a real-time dashboard integrating API data from coal-truck tracking devices, built at age 16
Analysed logistics data to improve operational efficiency and reporting accuracy
Designed customer-facing websites and marketing materials across three years
Progressed from intern to specialist over three years of continuous engagement

Michaelhouse

Research Assistant

2024 – 2025

Collaborated with Rector Anthony Clark on a study of high-stakes communication and narrative construction
Research topic: "Elon Musk's Secret to Selling Anything"; findings presented to senior leadership

Leadership & Finance

Stellenbosch University Engineering Ball

Sub-Committee · Head of Finance

2026

Managing a R300 000 event budget with Standard Bank as a corporate sponsor
Built a Google Apps Script and HTML ticket management system; two stations sold R150 000 of tickets in a single hour
Responsible for financial reporting, sponsorship coordination and budget forecasting across the full committee

SA University Debating Championship

Invited · Prospective Head of Finance

2026 · Pending

Invited to lead the finance sub-committee should Stellenbosch University be selected to host the national championship
Scope would include drafting a national-scale tournament budget and managing income, expenditure and institutional sponsors

Metanoia Residence · Newcomers Committee

Event Organiser

2026

Co-organised a newcomers dance production for all residents on a sub-R20 000 budget
Secured sponsorship from Nawty Water

Michaelhouse

School Prefect & Head of Three Disciplines

2024 – 2025

Chairperson of Debating & Public Speaking — led one of South Africa's strongest school programmes
Head of Cross-Country and Head of Chess
Head of Bible Studies for the boarding house (2024)

Achievements & Awards

Debating & Public Speaking

2nd place, National Debating League — 1st in KwaZulu-Natal
Trialled for the South African national schools debating team (top 20 nationally)
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Debating Team — top 10 speaker in the province
Competed for the South African team in Public Speaking
1st place, Maritzburg Impromptu Speaking Competition
Contribution to Debating Community Trophy — five years of service
Gabriel Masse Award for Public Speaking — three years
Silver Certificate, National Debating (2022)

Athletics & Endurance

One of the youngest finishers, Ultra-Trail Drakensberg (2025)
Youngest participant, Durban City Marathon (2025)
Dolphin Coast Marathon (2024) — first marathon, aged 17
Seven half marathons in a single exchange semester (2023)
Head of Cross-Country, Michaelhouse (2025)

Academic

Six matric distinctions; five consecutive years of academic colours
Distinction in Advanced Statistics a year early — one of three in school history
1st in History (2023 and 2025)
Bronze, English Olympiad (multiple years); third round, Mathematics Olympiad (multiple years)
SARB Monetary Policy Challenge (2025); Yale Global Economics Essay Competition (2024)
Winner, school vertical farm design and business plan competition (2021)

Skills

Engineering & Computing

C / C++ · Python · MATLAB & Simulink · HTML · CSS · JavaScript · Google Apps Script · Embedded Systems · CAD & Engineering Drawing

Analytical

Graph & Matrix Algebra · Statistics · Econometrics · Economic Research & Policy · Logistics Data Analysis

Leadership & Communication

Public Speaking & Rhetoric · Team Coaching & Mentorship · Event Organisation · Sponsorship Acquisition · Budget Management · Stakeholder Management

Languages

English (native) · Afrikaans (reading and writing)

Certifications

EduCourse & HubSpot Academy

2025

Inbound Sales Certified (HubSpot Academy)
Occupational Health and Safety
Customer Service Consultant
Call Centre Agent Training
Office Administration
Reception Certificate
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word Basics