Students with a passion for flora and fauna illustration will compete for one of the University of Newcastle's most prestigious awards tomorrow, the 2010 Margaret Senior Wildlife Illustration Award.

The Award recognises the talented students in the University's Bachelor of Illustration (Natural History) program. The University of Newcastle is the only institution in Australia to offer such a program.

Margaret Senior was one of Australia's most prominent and respected wildlife illustrators who died in 1995 leaving a bequest to the University to encourage the continuing study of natural history.

The annual award is funded by NSW Parks and Wildlife Division, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water and the late Margaret Senior.

Director Tourism and Partnerships NSW Parks and Wildlife Mr Carl Solomon will be the official guest presenting the award to this year's recipient.

Picture opportunity: The winner of the 2010 Margaret Senior Wildlife Illustration Award will be announced on Thursday September 2 at 11am in the foyer of the Design Building at Callaghan campus.