Falmouth University has launched a competition for students to design a ceremonial mace for use at official functions.
The competition, which offers the winner a £500 cash, was announced on both campuses on Monday, with a presentation by Anne Carlisle, vice-chancellor and chief executive of the university.
The university has set an initial maximum budget for the project of £9,000, not including the prize money, which is equivalent to a year's tuition fees.
Currently, ceremonial occasions include the maces from Penryn and Falmouth, with the university paying £120 to the Penryn bearers for an appearance at last year's inauguration.
Professor Carlisle said: “"The life of the University mace could be over hundreds of years, so this is an exciting opportunity for a graduate, student or member of staff to make a very long-lasting contribution to the University through the design of our mace, which will be seen by thousands of future graduates and their families."
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