The premier award in the history of Hood athletics was the white blazer. Beginning in 1920, the Athletic Association would nominate two or more student-athletes of the incoming senior class who embodied the qualities of good sportsmanship, school spirit and leadership, while also maintaining a high academic standing. The best all-around student-athlete would be selected by vote and honored at an event each spring. Originally a white wool sweater, the white wool flannel blazer bore a large “H” and was to be worn by the honoree to class and College events. Forty-four girls from the classes of 1921-1969 proudly sported these symbols of achievement and fair play. A student not selected for this top award still had the opportunity to letter in athletics through competition. Known during the 1920s and 1930s as “H” Girls, these student-athletes received their coveted letters from the Athletic Association during the spring semester. Other athletic awards in the form of colored bars and stars and engraved trophies were also given out to worthy students.
While the awarding of the white blazer ended in the 1960s, in 2013, a White Blazer Award was established by the athletic department to honor one male and one female student-athlete from the senior class in recognition of outstanding academic accomplishments, significant contributions to the community, and excellence in intercollegiate athletics. The tradition also lives on through Hood’s mascot, Blaze, who sometimes dons a white blazer when making appearances at special College events.
