Celebrating their 20th anniversary, Dr. Sylnita Swartz-Filies and Dr. Gérard Filies also made history as the first married couple to receive PhD degrees together.
Dr. Sylnita Swartz-Filies and Dr. Gérard Filies are teaching us lessons in love, friendship and education. They were officially named the first couple to graduate from UWC at the same time, for the same PhD. Their graduation took place this month and their story is inspiring many others.
They met at UWC and became friends long before they started dating. Dr. Sylnita Swartz-Filies believes that is how they were able to build up their marriage into such a strong and encouraging one.
The pair both studied occupational therapy and throughout their years together, inspired one-another to keep moving forward, to keep reading and to keep learning.
“She’s a natural reader and writer,” Gérard says about his wife and best friend.
“Many times I would catch her at home, and she would be writing or reading, and then I feel so guilty and then pick up my books…I think that helped me a lot.”
In an interview with Pippa Hudson on Cape Talk, Dr Gérard Filies confirmed they both worked hard to focus on their respective studies before graduating with a PhD. The couple have two children together and Dr Gérard confirmed his wife is always challenging herself, working at a school for the blind and supporting the family.
He said they always support each other. This couple is making our hearts sing, giving us some serious “couple goals”.
UWC created a video about the amazing and inspirational couple, take a look below.
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