Leah Parry from Glenashley has become only the eighth person in 30 years to receive a White Blazer, the highest accolade awarded at Durban Girls’ College.
This prestigious award is given to girls who have achieved Honours in three of the four categories: academics, culture, sport and service.
The Grade 12 excelled within sport, music and service which earned her a place among the select few to receive the award.
Most schools award an Honours Blazer if you achieve a single set of Honours. The DGC White Blazer award is different because you have to achieve Honours in three of four potential categories.
The 18-year-old received special honours for music in 2022 by winning a global audition and representing South Africa in Vienna to perform with their University’s Philharmonic Orchestra.
“I had also been selected to appear as a featured soloist in the KZNPO’s Young Performers Showcase, once playing violin and once singing. I earned a distinction in music Grade 8 for violin and classical singing, respectively.”
In 2023, she received Honours for Service for devoting more than 250 hours of community service to three main NPOs, primarily the SPCA.
“I was also awarded the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold President’s Award.”
This year she was awarded Honours for Athletics making three categories of the four.
“It is my goal to represent South Africa in my sport, race walking, in 2025.”
In addition to all her success, she has been awarded Honours for Performing Arts, Full Colours for Artistic Swimming and Half Colours for Academics by DGC and was head of culture, a mentor and head of cross country this year.
Parry said she had always been very goal oriented so before the end of senior primary she started working towards her application to go to Durban Girls’ College for high school on a music scholarship.
“This is when I decided I wanted to achieve the most prestigious award at Durban Girls’ College, the White Blazer, so it has been something I have been working towards for a very long time.”
The other recipients were: Kim MacNeillie in 1994, Sarah Pudifin in 2002, Melissa Corfe in 2003, Amy Schaap in 2015, Cenelle Gounden in 2018, Sarah Sparks in 2022 and Jia Patel in April this year.
She was inspired by her mom who is also a Durban Girls’ College alumnus.
“She told me all about how in her matric year her classmate, Sarah Pudifin, was awarded the White Blazer in 2002. I aspired to be as well known and so highly regarded in my school community as she still is.”
It has taken her more than five years of hard work, commitment and dedication to achieve this award.
“There have been times when I have had to make sacrifices to ensure this goal could remain one of my top priorities. Luckily, I have always had my mom by my side to help me get through any difficult days.
“Sometimes it was challenging to balance the amount of hours required to achieve the highest standard in each of the three categories simultaneously with academics, friends and family.
“However, I feel very honoured to be awarded this prestigious award because it is so highly regarded and has been earned by so few. I feel deeply humbled to know that my name will always appear in such a great company.”
She hopes that by receiving a White Blazer, it will open a way for new opportunities “because it is testament to years of hard work and consistency. I believe the skills I have learned while working towards the White Blazer will stand me in good stead in my pursuit of my career choice of medicine,” said Parry.
Parry is travelling to the University of the Free State tomorrow (Sunday) for the final round of their Matriculant of the Year competition, as one of the Top 14 candidates in the country.