Laura Evans receives her Graduate of the Year award from broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald

A recent Sussex graduate has been named Graduate of the Year at a regional business-award ceremony. Laura Evans was recognised for "her drive, initiative and application of her skills and knowledge".

The Gatwick Diamond Business Awards winners are people who have shown innovation and inspiration in their work and have demonstrated commitment to the 'Gatwick Diamond' region, which extends from Redhill and Reigate to the south coast, and from Horsham in the west to Haywards Heath in the east.

The winner of the Graduate of the Year category must show how the learning they received as a student and at their workplace has helped them to make an impact on the success of the business.

For her final project on the MA in Digital Media at Sussex, Laura Evans spent some time at Makemedia, a digital-media agency in Brighton. After finishing her MA in September 2010, Laura joined the company as Marketing and Business Development Manager.

Laura won the Graduate of the Year award because, said the Gatwick Diamond Business Association, "Her drive, initiative and application of her skills and knowledge have made a real impact to the company's bottom line."

Robin Scott, founder of Makemedia, said, "We are exceptionally pleased with what Laura has brought to the company, the changes she has been able to make and the positive effect she has had on marketing and sales. 

Laura said: "This is a big achievement for myself and for Makemedia and it really means a lot to me to have won this award after the hard work I have put in to my course and my involvement with the business community last year.

"The MA in Digital Media helped to further develop my skills as a creative thinker - through both practical and theoretical projects.

"Classes were interesting and challenging and the skills I have learnt from the course help me in my day-to-day work.

"A big thank you goes out to Kate O'Riordan and my other lecturers at the University of Sussex."

Laura received her trophy from TV news presenter Sir Trevor McDonald at an awards dinner on 17 March, held at the Copthorne Effingham Park Hotel near Crawley.

All three finalists for the Graduate of the Year award were Sussex graduates.