Members of the community are encouraged to nominate high-achieving University of the Sunshine Coast graduates for USC’s annual Outstanding Alumni Awards.

USC would like to hear from the employers, parents, friends or colleagues of people who have made significant impacts in their fields ofexpertise since graduating from the University.

Their success could range from professional or community work to postgraduate study and research. Nominations close on Tuesday 30 June.

The three award categories are Outstanding Alumnus of the Year; Regional Achievement (for graduates making an impact on the Sunshine Coast); and Rising Star (for graduates aged 35 years or younger, or who graduated in the past five years).

USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill urged the community to get involved to honour the many high-calibre USC graduates now excelling locally, nationally and internationally.

Last year’s award winners were water scientist Dr Warish Ahmed (PhD), business owner Brendan Powell (MBA) and creative director Jessica Huddart (Bachelor of Arts Design and Marketing).

USC’s Alumni Relations Officer Anita Edmonds said previously nominated alumni who were unsuccessful could be re-nominated, and self-nominations would be accepted.

“Nominators are not required to specify award category, as the judging panel will determine the categories in which the nominees are most suited,” she said.

The awards will be presented at the 2015 Outstanding Alumni Awards Ceremony at USC on Thursday 24 September.

Nomination forms are available online at www.usc.edu.au/alumniawards or by contacting Ms Edmonds at alumni@usc.edu.au or (07) 5459 4564.

— Julie Schomberg