Continuing with the success of our Young Alumni Awards – the 20Twenties, we invite you to nominate a young graduate who has made a positive impact in their community or wider through their leadership, innovation, determination, or research.
We are looking for those who are disrupting the status quo; using trailblazing ideas to solve old problems; ensuring the well-being of their community; demonstrating that leadership can be successful from non-traditional arenas; providing successful business models for this century; or showing innovation in an area dear to their heart.
You are welcome to make more than one nomination.
Nominations close at 5:00pm on Friday 31 August 2026
Please read the Terms and conditions.
Eligibility
- Aged under 30 at time of nomination.
- A graduate of the University of Otago with a full qualification, a Certificate of Proficiency (COP) is NOT eligible.
- Willing to be included with a photograph, in various alumni and University publications including online, social media, and marketing material.
- NOT self-nominated.
Criteria
- Entrepreneurial mindset - Demonstrates innovation in career and decision making, implementing new ideas and strategies.
- Leadership - Demonstrates measurable positive impact; likely to be an inspiration to the next generation of graduates and the community at large.
- Service - Has made a measurable contribution to their community at local, national and/or international levels through mentorship and advocacy.
- Career - Demonstrates significant contribution to their profession at local, national and/or international levels.
- Engagement - Collaborates with others, faces ambiguity with enthusiasm, and adapts to challenges.
Process
- Nominators provide as much detail as possible outlining the achievements, impact, and contributions of the nominee.
- All submissions are reviewed against the selection criteria.
- A selection panel comprising of alumni and staff determine the recipients for the awards.
- Recipients are announced to the public in October.
Please complete the nomination form with as much detail as possible. Incomplete submissions may be unable to be accepted.
20Twenties Young Alumni Awards 2025
Read about the recipients of the 20Twenties Young Alumni Awards for 2025
20Twenties Young Alumni Awards 2024
Read about the recipients of the 20Twenties Young Alumni Awards for 2024
