Celebrating excellence

09 Jun, 2026

The School of Communication Studies, Te Kura Whakapāho, recently welcomed students, alumni, staff, industry partners, and sponsors to the return of its Excellence Awards, reviving a long-standing tradition that celebrates excellence across the school community.

The evening focused on achievement, connection, and community, recognising excellence across 18 awards presented to students, recent graduates, and alumni whose work continues to shape communication, media, creative industries, public life, and communities in New Zealand and internationally.

For Head of School Professor Dan Laufer, reinstating the awards was an important priority when he joined the school last year.

“Before COVID-19, the Excellence Awards were held in the school every year. Bringing them back was important not only to honour our outstanding students and alumni, but also to create an opportunity to bring everyone together to recognise those success stories.”

The return of the awards highlighted the school’s commitment to recognising excellence while strengthening relationships that extend beyond graduation.

“Celebrating excellence is an important way to highlight our student and alumni successes,” says Professor Laufer.

“It strengthens our relationships with students and alumni while recognising the important role staff and industry partners play in supporting those journeys.”

The event recognised achievements across undergraduate and postgraduate categories while acknowledging the many relationships that contribute to student success, from academic staff and professional networks to sponsors and industry partners.

Spanning disciplines including radio, journalism, screen production, public relations, advertising, brand and creativity, and digital communication, alongside awards recognising innovation, leadership, and alumni achievement, the categories reflected the breadth of talent across the school, and the diverse pathways students and graduates take within communication and creative industries.

Support from organisations including the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand, Television New Zealand, The Radio Bureau, and the Commercial Comms Council reinforced the school’s strong industry connections, with representatives joining students, alumni, and staff for the evening.

Professor Angelique Nairn, Deputy Head of School, says the awards are about more than recognising individual achievement.

“We wanted to celebrate, reconnect with, and acknowledge the achievements of our alumni and students, particularly given the significant influence they continue to have across the communication industry.”

She says one of the most meaningful aspects of the evening was bringing together different parts of the school community, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose that encourages ongoing collaboration.

“The event is not only a celebration of individual achievement, but also of the relationships and networks that support students and alumni throughout their careers.”

Among those recognised was 2026 Alumni Award recipient Tane Wolfgramm, a Bachelor of Communication Studies graduate now working in London as a content creator for Arsenal Football Club, highlighting the global reach and impact of the school’s alumni community.

For Tane, whose work combines creativity with a lifelong passion for sport, the opportunity to work in elite sport has been a dream realised.

“I’ve always been a massive fan of sport, so having the ability to work in an environment I could only ever dream to be a part of is unreal, let alone being able to express myself creatively on top of that.”

Reflecting on his time at AUT, Tane says the practical nature of the programme provided a strong foundation for his career.

“My time at AUT has provided a strong base for everything I’m continuing to learn. The practical nature of AUT came in so handy when I got into the working world.”

Like many students graduating during that period, Tane’s final year experience looked different from what he expected, but it also shaped some of his strongest memories.

“I spent most of my third year at uni in lockdown, but I genuinely enjoyed connecting with the people in my radio classes during that time.”

As the school looks ahead, the return of the Excellence Awards represents more than the revival of a tradition. It reflects an ongoing commitment to recognising achievement, strengthening industry connections, and celebrating the impact students and alumni continue to make across New Zealand and beyond.

Alumni Award Recipients

• Tane Wolfgramm
• Zoe Madden-Smith
• Rebecca McDonald
• Lealani Siaosi

Impressions from the ceremony