Exceptional candidates sought for Alumni Awards

DO you know a La Trobe University graduate who doesn’t receive the recognition they deserve?

Are there past students whose achievements you think people should know about?

Nominations for La Trobe’s Distinguished Alumni Awards and Young Achiever Awards remain open until this Monday 22 June.

On top of professional achievements, nominees must have demonstrated excellence across three other areas – community service, inspirational leadership and personal qualities.

As La Trobe University Bendigo’s head of campus Marg O’Rourke pointed out, there are typically five to seven award recipients every year, including recipients of the young achiever award.

“There’s a panel of people that assess all of the applications that we get, and we get a lot,” she said.

“So, it’s a pretty significant achievement to be selected and we’ve had some amazing winners in the past.

“This year, out of the six that were announced, three of them came from Bendigo – we’ve often punched above our weight here and we were thrilled to see those alumni get the recognition.

“That’s a good message to tell local people, that Bendigo alumni are not ignored.”

O’Rourke said it would be great if people are interested in nominating someone.

“If you’re inspired by someone that you know, who has studied at La Trobe, and you feel like they’re an unsung hero in the work that they’re doing, absolutely go online and have a look at the requirements to submit an application,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful way of acknowledging those who are not out there beating their own drums, they’re just getting on and doing the work that needs to be done.”

Nominations can be submitted by Monday 22 June on the La Trobe University website.