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Uni celebrates sporting and academic greats

2008 Young South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n of the Year, Matthew Cowdrey.
Photo by Calum Robertson, courtesy of Messenger Community Newspapers.
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Professor Mike Young, SA Environment Award winner.
Photo Jennie Groom
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Professor Dick Ruffin, SA Health Award winner.
Photo by Basil Popowycz, courtesy of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
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Professor John Hopwood, SA Science Award winner.
Courtesy of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Academy of Science.

Friday, 21 November 2008

The world's most successful paralympian at Beijing, ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide student , was last night named .

Nineteen-year-old Cowdrey, who is studying Media and Law at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, accepted the award from his Excellency the Governor, , at a black-tie ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Adelaide.

Cowdrey was also named best male athlete for 2008 by the last night.

Other ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide academics who took out top honours in their field at the SA Great Awards included water policy expert , who won the Environment Award, and respiratory specialist , winner of the Health Award.

, an affiliate professor with the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s , won the Science Award for his research into finding a cure for genetic diseases.

Cowdrey captained ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ at the , winning eight medals including five gold, world record-breaking swims, and was the team's flag bearer at the closing ceremony.

In 2007 he was named the Male Swimming World Disabled Swimmer of the Year and despite his congenital amputation, also achieved an able-body qualifying time for the 2007 Telstra ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ National Championships.

Professor Mike Young is the Research Chair of Water and Economics Management at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide. One of the leading water policy researchers in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, Professor Young has proposed a template for the restoration of the and a framework for restructuring water licences.

He is also a founding member of the , committed to using their combined expertise to improve the long term management and conservation of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n environment.

Asthma specialist Professor Richard Ruffin is the Deputy Head of Medicine at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide and a clinician at . He is also on the Board of the Asthma Foundation of South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, Chair of the and works with the .

In 2005 Professor Ruffin was awarded a Member of the Order of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ for his services to teaching and research in respiratory medicine.

Professor Hopwood is Head of the Lysosomal Diseases Research Unit based at the and a scientist of worldwide acclaim.

The Vice-Chancellor and President of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide, , described all four award winners as "outstanding ambassadors for the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, demonstrating a consistent record of achievement and excellence in their respective fields".

"The fact that four of the 10 people nominated as South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s most inspirational people are from the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide is a great honour," he said.

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