MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE & LION AWARDS

PRESS RELEASE:
For immediate release
National Institute for the Deaf College student receives International Lion Award
02 June 2011

Lazyja Le Roux, a Deaf Beauty and Cosmetology student at the National Institute for the Deaf College, has been awarded the City and Guilds International Lion Award as the Best International Student. The Lion Award as well as the Gold Medal for her exceptional performance in Level 2 IVQ Diploma in Beauty Consultancy, speaks of the determination and drive of Lazyja. The Lion Award is inimitable in the sense that Lazyja is the first South African to receive this award, was chosen out of 4 million students internationally and being the first Deaf person to receive the Lion Award. She received this award on the 26th of May 2011 in London at a prestige event.

In spite of many barriers, e.g. deafness, severe English language barrier, commuting a distance to work, raising a small child, being a farmer’s wife (and also working on the farm) Lazayja excelled. She remained committed and advanced herself by running the National Institute for the Deaf’ Training Salon, while also being a Trainee Assistant Facilitator. She continually pushes herself to learn new things and is currently studying how to facilitate at the College as she has already completed her Assessor qualification.

“At first I was shocked and it felt as if I was dreaming” was Lazayja’s reaction to this wonderful news. “I worked extremely hard and wanted to prove to other Deaf students that Deaf persons can do anything and has the ability to excel!” says Lazayja who believes that God is celebrating along with her about this achievement.

The National Institute for the Deaf and its College is extremely proud of Lazayja and her Facilitator, Mrs Christina O’Gorman, as this is the first time in South African history that a Deaf student in South Africa has received such high accolade in Beauty.

We wish her all the best, and know that she makes a difference to other persons with hearing loss in South Africa. She is a role model and shows that anything is possible if you have a dream and challenge yourself, you can succeed.

The National Institute for the Deaf’ Liaison Officer, Jenna-Leigh February may be contacted at 023 342 5555 or liaison@nid.org.za for an interview with Ms Le Roux and more details.