The ACU Sport and Performer Awards is a celebration of sporting, performing and academic excellence among ACU students and alumni across multiple disciplines.

The inaugural event held in 2022 was the unveiling of the Blue award into the ACU legacy. A Blue is a well-known tradition within the tertiary sector and acknowledges students who have achieved excellence in sport or performance while studying.

ACU has a proud tradition of supporting students who are pursuing a dual career pathway. The Elite Athlete and Performer Program (EAPP) supports more than 400 ACU students every year, from across the country and around the world. ACU’s program stands apart from our competitors due to our geographical opportunities and the relationship between the faculty staff and EAPP administrators.

2026 nominations will open later this year:

University Blue

A Blue is traditionally the highest sporting honour awarded within tertiary institutions worldwide. It is awarded to student athletes who are studying at university, are competing in the highest level of sporting competition, and have attained outstanding achievements.
ACU has extended its definition of a Blue to include performers who have achieved consistent excellence in their respective field.

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Award categories

A Blue is awarded in recognition of a student athlete/performer or alumni who has represented Australia or performed at an international event while maintaining their academic studies.

Requirements:

  • Achieves success at open international level or selection on an open national team for a major event such Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games or World Championships.
  • Displays good sportsmanship in and out of competition.
  • Achieves a minimum of national recognition and accolades in their performing art.
  • Athletes from professional codes who are competing at the highest level and have no or limited opportunity to compete for a national team (AFL, NRL etc) will be reviewed by the sub-committee each year and should demonstrate significant long-term success in their sport.
  • Has not previously received an ACU Blue Award

A Half Blue is awarded in recognition of a student athlete/performer or alumni who has represented Australia at a junior level while maintaining their academic studies.

Requirements:

  • Achieves success at junior international level or selection on a junior national team for a major event such Youth Olympic Games, Youth Commonwealth Games or Junior World Championships.
  • Displays good sportsmanship in and out of competition.
  • Has not previously received an ACU Half Blue Award
Recognises an exceptional performance by an elite student athlete/performer at a world championship event or other significant international event.
Recognises an exceptional performance by an elite student athlete/performer with disability (AWD) at a world championship event or other significant international or national para event. Performance must not be related to a university sport event.

Recognises an exceptional performance by an Indigenous elite student athlete or performer at a significant international or national event

These awards recognise outstanding sporting achievement combined with academic excellence. Award recipients will have displayed high-level sporting or performing achievements while maintaining a significant study load and high academic results.

Recognises the sporting achievement/s of a university sport team at an event or competition.

Requirements:

  • The team must consist of at least 50 per cent ACU students.
  • Sporting achievement is not limited to a university sport event and may include community-based competitions, FISU events, national championships (cheer and dance, distance running, league of legends) or inter-varsity competitions.

Recognises an ACU Sport Club that has achieved excellence on and off the field.

Requirements:

  • The sport club must demonstrate success in an external competition, have high levels of student membership, have maintained a positive club culture, and boast a strong presence and level of involvement in life on campus.