Viestintä, brändi ja markkinointi

Alumni of the Year

Alumni of the Year honorary title is given to alumni who have used the abilities they have acquired at the university in a positive way and increased the interaction among the university, the society, and the economy and inspired other alumni.

 Vaasan yliopistoseura (the Vaasa University Society) acts as a panel, to select the Alumni of the Year each year. 

Who do you think would be a good choice for the University of Vaasa's Alumni of the Year?

Nominate the Alumni of the Year
The deadline for responses is 15.6.2025. There will be a prize draw for University of Vaasa merchandise among the respondents. 
 

Katja Rajala is the alumna of the year 2024

Chair of the Women Entrepreneurs of Finland Katja Rajala has been elected as the University of Vaasa's Alumna of the Year 2024. Rajala graduated from the University of Vaasa in 2007 with a Master's degree in Social and Health Administration. Her minor was public law.

Read more about Katja Rajala.

Katja Rajala

Jarno Syrjälä is the alumnus of the year 2023

Under-Secretary of State Jarno Syrjälä has been named alumnus of the year 2023 at the University of Vaasa. Syrjälä graduated with a master's degree in economics and business administration in 1988 from the former degree programme in marketing and international trade. Since graduation, he has built an impressive career as a diplomat, and he has also shared his expertise as a lecturer and seminar speaker at the university.

Read more about Jarno

Jarno Syrjälä, Vaasan yliopiston vuoden alumni 2023

Tiina Helenius is alumni of the Year 2022

Tiina Helenius, the cheif economist of the Mutual Pension Insurance Company Elo is our alumni of the year 2022. Helenius graduated in 1992 with a master's degree in economics. 

Read more about Tiina 

Tiina Helenius, Vaasan yliopiston vuoden alumni 2022

Jakamo's team is Alumni of the Year 2021

For the first time, a team was awarded as the alumni of the year at the University of Vaasa instead of a person. The award-winning team includes nine founders or core influencers of the growth company Jakamo. They are also alumni or doctoral alumni of the University of Vaasa.

The alumni of the Year are Jarl Matti Anttila, Timo Rossi, Jukka Vesalainen, Matti Manner, Matti Mäkelä, Anssi Uitto, Tapio Niemi, Tommi Ranta, Anssi Kumpula ja Aki Vainio. 

Eeva Kalli is Alumni of the Year 2020 

The Vaasa University Society has chosen Eeva Kalli as the University of Vaasa Alumni of the year. Eeva Kalli is an excellent example of what the University of Vaasa represents: strong expertise, courage and innovation.

Samuli Manninen is alumni of the Year 2018 

Samuli Manninen Vaasan yliopiston vuoden alumni 2020

Alumni of the Year 2018 is M.Sc. Samuli Mannisen, success full in his business and a very active alumni. He has among other things arranged several alumni meetings in the Helsinki area over the years, thus raising awareness about University of Vaasa. 

Previous Alumni of the Year

Previous Alumni of the Year are  Anne Korkiakoski, Sari Essayah and Kari Leppilahti.

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Alumni meetings

People at a party
Has your class been in contact over the years? Do you organise get-togethers with your student friends? We'd love to hear about these meetings, and we'd love to share news about them in the alumni newsletter and on social media. In addition, we could help you with the arrangements.

Alumni meetings 

We are happy to help when our alumni want to arrange a meeting. Of course, we hope that the participants of the meeting will join the alumni network so that keeping in touch will be easier.

Our help/support may include:

  • Information in an alumni newsletter or on social media channels
  • Creating an electronic registration form for the event
  • Assisting with the booking of rooms and meals if the event is at the university (Please note, that we do not automatically promise to cover the cost of meals.)
  • Organising a university greeting or speaker for the event

Please contact us when you are arranging a meeting.  Let's discuss how we can help with your event. 

Further information: alumni(a)uwasa.fi

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