Sinclair Geoffrey Francis

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Firstly I would like to show my appreciation towards the USSAS Committee for the interest they have given my application. The following paragraphs deals with the topics that were asked to be written by me for the USSAS Committee.

Personal Information:

I, Sinclair Geoffrey Francis, am living at the above address (Avoca Hills, Durban) from 1990 to the present day. I am formally fro Overport, West Road were I lived for 11 years (ie. 1979-1989)

Family Background:

I have 1 sister and 1 brother. My sister (Yvette) is 23 years of age. She is married and has 1 child. My brother (Wesley) is 8 years of age and is a standard 1 pupil at the Duffs Road Primary School. My father (Emmanuel Runga Francis) is working as a technician in the Audio Visual Media Centre of U.D.W. My mother (Ambigavathi Francis) is a house wife. Both my parents grew up in the Asherville area.

Financial Circumstances of Family

My father is the sole supporter of our family. He earns in the region of R1200.00 per month (net).

School and Post-School Background

My entire Secondary school career was spent at Centenary Secondary in Dunnattar Ave. Asherville. This is from st. 5 in 1983 to matric in 1988. I represented my school for athletics during the Inter-School Sports Meeting in 1988. I was captain of the Inter-House Sports Team from 1987 to 1988. During std. 9 and matric I was given the responsibility of being a prefect. In std. 9 I was awarded prizes for Technical Drawing and Physical Science. In matric I was awarded again for Technical Drawing, Physical Science and Mathematics.

On completing school I registered at UDW for a degree in Electrical Engineering. In my first year of study I achieved three distinctions (i.e. in Applied Mathematics 1, Physics 1A and Engineering Design 110). These results placed me in the top 3 (at least) in the first year Engineering class of 1989. The total class size was approximately 175.

My name together with tow other class-mates appeared in the U.D.W. TOP 40 Students, list in the Daily News. I passed all my courses in the subsequent years of ’90 & ’91. I am now in my final year of study (i.e. for BSc (ENG). Elect)

Community Involvement

I belong to the Avoca Hills Swimming Association. This entails (for me) coaching children aged 6 to 10 years old on how to swim or generally how to take care of themselves and others in the water. Due to the intensive nature of the Engineering courses I do not find enough time to involve myself further in the community, although I would certainly enjoy spending more time in that respect once I have completed my degree.

Details on how the Grant is to be Spent:
Most importantly I would be using the grant to purchase books that I would be needing for this year. A list of books and their prices are shown below.

Advanced Engineering Mathematics R126.50
Electronic Circuit Design R95.50
Digital Circuits and Systems R106.65
Microprocessors and Interfacing R 89.95
Digital Signal Processing R143.25
Microelectronics R109.95
Total: R671.80


I would also be using the grant for my traveling expenses for the year, excursions for the year (e.g. to visit the Drakenberg Power Station) and Stationery costs. Details are given below.

Traveling expenses R200.00
Excursion costs R110.00
Stationery costs R 20.00

Once again I would like to thank the USSAS Committee for showing an interest in my studies.

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