The University of the Sunshine Coast will announce the winners of its 2018 Outstanding Alumni Awards tonight (Wednesday 12 September).

Many high-quality nominations were received this year, with employers, parents, friends and colleagues of graduates eager to celebrate the significant impact that USC’s alumni have made in fields ranging from community work to business and scientific research.

The awards presentation will be held from 6-7.30pm at USC’s Innovation Centre auditorium on campus at Sippy Downs. Those interested in attending the free event are asked to register online.

The award categories are: Outstanding Alumnus of the Year; Regional Achievement (graduates making an impact in the broader Sunshine Coast region or another regional community); and Rising Star (graduates aged 35 years or younger, or who graduated in the past five years).

USC Alumni Relations Officer Anita Edmonds said all USC graduates, staff, benefactors and supporters of the University were welcome to attend this free, social and inspiring event.

She said refreshments would be served, and USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill would outline many of the University’s exciting recent developments.

Last year’s award winners were: Becker Helicopters Group CEO Captain Jan Becker (Nursing Science 2009), Australian Coastal and Marine Ecology founder Mathew Davis (Environmental Science 2004) and Gladstone nutritionist Megan Leane (Nutrition and Dietetics 2013).

— Terry Walsh