The Blues Awards are part of a tradition from England. The blue colours of Oxford and Cambridge Universities came to symbolise sporting excellence.

Categories of the award

While a Blues Award has traditionally been a sporting accolade, there are now three categories of the award at the University of Auckland:

• Sports
• Arts and Cultural
• Service and Leadership

Nomination process

• Nominations are accepted between 26 June - 27 July 2018. 
• The University of Auckland Blues Selection Panel will review nominations and nominees will be notified of the outcome in early September. Successful nominees will be invited to the Blues evening in late September.
• Students may self-nominate or be nominated by someone else. Self-nomination applications must include a written reference from a suitable referee.

Nomination criteria

• All nominations should be based upon activities completed between 1 January 2017 and 27 July 2018.
• Nominations are for extra-curricular and co-curricular activities only. Activities which will contribute to the achievement of course credit should not be included in the nomination.
• Nominees who have previously received a Blues Award will have to demonstrate they have improved on their previous achievement or contribution to be considered for another Blues Award.
• Nominees must have maintained good academic standing.
• Nominees must have been enrolled in the University at the time of the activities for
  which the nomination is based, although they may have graduated since then.

Nominations will be assessed against the following criteria for each award:

Sports Blue

Successful nominees will have represented their country at a senior or age group level in a sport recognised by the national sporting body (for example Sport NZ and/or a sport which has a national sporting body). Nominees may also have competed for a franchise team in a national or international tournament (for example the Mystics, Blues or Warriors etc). Nominees may also be considered for achieving success in nationally significant events. The Evaluation Panel will consider the significance of the event and the quality of the competition (for example top three placing in the Coast to Coast event or a top three placing in the elite field of the Round Taupo cycle challenge).

Arts and Cultural Blue

Successful nominees will have achieved external success in their chosen field which may include (but is not limited to) dance, dramatic and cultural performance, artworks, architecture, design, film or media, writing, music, song, debating or oration. Students have shown diligence and commitment in their area.

Blues in Arts and Cultural are awarded for achievements at an international or national level. 

Service and Leadership Blue

Activities should be for those undertaken on a voluntary basis and have received no payment or stipend.

In assessing nominations, the panel will consider the following criteria:

Contribution and impact

• How the student has demonstrated a significant contribution to their community- either at a local, regional, national or international level. 
• The value and benefit of their contributions at these levels.
• Demonstrate leadership and initiative in setting direction, supporting others and bringing about change.

Leadership and initiative

• The student’s involvement in setting the direction of a group, organisation or cause in which they are involved.
• How far they have taken the lead in a project or area of work which is complex in nature to achieve a positive outcome for their organisation or peers.
• Their efforts to support, mentor, train or encourage others.
• Their ability to identify recurring problems and take steps to minimise or eliminate them. 

Club and Student Association executives are not normally expected to receive a Blue for their contribution in such roles. Blues will only be awarded to club and student association executives in exceptional circumstances and will require clear and strong evidence that they have achieved at a very high level and well beyond the normal requirements of the role.

Major Awards

From all nominations, the panel will select individuals for Major Awards. The categories are:

Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Award

Māori Sportsperson of the Year Award

Para-athlete Sportsperson of the Year Award

Award for the Most Meritorious Performance (Sport)

Award for the Most Meritorious Performance (Arts and Cultural)

Award for the most outstanding contribution (Service and Leadership).

114 Blues were awarded to University of Auckland students on Friday 29 September. Read more for the full list of winners, including major award winners.

For questions about the Blues Awards,  phone +64 9 923 7581 or email blues@auckland.ac.nz.