VOICES for Indi co-founder Alana Johnson and AFLW star Daisy Pearce have been saluted by their university.
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The North East pair was honoured by La Trobe University alongside four others as distinguished alumni at a ceremony in Melbourne.
Vice-chancellor Professor John Dewar said they were "innovators and leaders" who "enrich the lives and welfare of others in their communities".
Only 88 of more than 210,000 graduates have been awarded distinguished alumni status.
Ms Johnson, who farms at Lurg near Benalla, was lauded for her leadership which has included helping form the Victorian Rural Women's Network and Australian Women in Agriculture.
Ms Johnson said she "absolutely" saw her La Trobe accolade saluting Voices for Indi efforts in "empowering".
"My work in Voices for Indi has always had the same function as my other roles, that is letting people feel connected through their voice and having a say in their community and democracy," she said.
Ms Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1977 and a Bachelor of Social Work in 1979.
Pearce, a Melbourne player from Bright, was named a young achiever and recognised for advocacy for women in sport.
The award salutes those under 35 who achieve significant career success in a relatively short period.
In a video interview reflecting on the award, Pearce, a television commentator, told of her early ambitions.
"There's a cute little poem from...our yearbook from Wandiligong Primary School," Pearce recalled.
"I must have been grade three I think and it was about a girl that went on to be a commentator."
Pearce was awarded a Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery in 2010 after studying at La Trobe.
"I feel so lucky that I get to juggle the football career and the midwifery career," she said.
"If there's a little girl out there sitting back thinking 'I can do that and I can do it better than Daisy', well then I'm doing my job."
Others honoured were ABC radio host Virginia Trioli, genetics specialist Professor John Hopper, Iraqi refugee turned doctor Batool Albatat and healthy food advocate Simone Carson.
