The inaugural Alumni Gala Dinner and Awards Night was held on 29 August 2015 at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva. This historic event acknowledged the achievements of FNU graduates and honoured them for their contribution to society.
A total of sixteen alumni were recognised and given the Outstanding Alumni Awards. Awardees ranged from teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs to engineers.
Out of the sixteen, four had gone on to become Prime Ministers. They were awarded for their milestone achievement and contributions to national development. These awardees were Hon Josaia Vorege Bainimarama (Fiji Institute of Technology, 1980); Dr Jona Baravilala Senilagakali (Central Medical School, 1954); Dr Timoci Uluivuda Bavadra (Central Medical School, 1960) and Sir Dr Terepai Tuamure Moate (Central Medical School, 1954), former Cook Islands Prime Minister.
The Fiji Institute of Technology used to be housed at what is now the Derrick Campus of FNU where the College of Engineering, Science and Technology (CEST) is based while the Central Medical School is now known as the Fiji School of Medicine in the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMHHS).
In addition to fine dining cuisine and reminisces of the good old days, the night also included a Walk Down Memory lane with vintage photos of the different institutions that combined to form the Fiji National University, lined up at the entrance of the Grand Pacific Hotel. The images were donated by the Fiji National Archives and ranged from 1945 to 1976.
The entertainment for the evening was provided by the students of the FNU School of Creative Arts as well as the UniSound Band of the College of Humanities and Education (CHE).