2015 Award Winner

The University recently recognised local businesswoman Alyson Hogg’s outstanding achievements when it presented her with the First Trust Bank/Ulster University Distinguished Graduate Award for 2015/16.

Alyson Hogg
Alyson Hogg

Alyson graduated from Ulster University in 1996 with a BA Hons in Philosophy and has gone on to have a varied career, which led her to found the skincare brand Vita Liberata, a brand which has gone on to revolutionise the spray tan market.  The firm sells more than 250,000 spray tans every year in Ireland alone.

It has a sales target of more than £50 million in the next 5 years, and is planning to create more than 50 new jobs.

Accepting the award, Alyson told graduating students and their friends and families how Ulster University had contributed to her success and how humbled she was to receive such an accolade.

Local businesswoman Alyson Hogg, pictured above with Eddie Friel, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Vice-Chancellor Professor Paddy Nixon, receiving her trophy from Mrs Siobhan McElhinney, has been recognised for her outstanding achievements by the presentation of the First Trust Bank/Ulster University Distinguished Graduate Award for 2015/16.

Siobhan McElhinney, First Trust Bank said:

We have been sponsoring the Distinguished Graduate Award since 2001 and are very proud to be associated with such an important event in the University’s calendar.

We recognize the invaluable contribution that graduates make to the lives of others and to society as a whole and are delighted to be able to mark these achievements through our on-going sponsorship.