Another feather in cap for Paralympic star Louzanne Coetzee

Multifaceted, talented, award-winning trailblazer, and Paralympic star. These are some words used to describe Louzanne Coetzee.

Adding to her long list of achievements on and off the athletics track, Coetzee obtained a postgraduate diploma in Business Administration with distinction during the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences graduation ceremony on 19 April 2023.

This is Coetzee’s fourth academic qualification from the University of the Free State (UFS). Coetzee, born blind due to a hereditary condition called Leber congenital amaurosis, also obtained a BA degree in Integrated and Corporative Marketing Communication, a BA honours qualification in Integrated and Corporative Marketing Communication, and a master’s degree in Social Cohesion and Reconciliation.

Trailblazer

Her illustrious association with the UFS includes being the recipient of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2019. She also became the first visually impaired student elected to the UFS Student Representative Council (SRC) in 2014.

Recently appointed Coordinator of Parasport in the KovsieSport division, Coetzee is also a mentor to female students in her role as head of Akasia residence.

Obtaining this latest qualification with distinction, Coetzee says she constantly challenges herself to do her best. “The programme was very time-consuming, and it challenged me. Obtaining the postgraduate diploma is something that I needed to complete in order to move on to my MBA later. So, this means that I am one step closer to my goal of completing my MBA.”