The ceremony of the Dean’s Awards of the Faculty of Theology for 2023 was held on Friday 26 May 2023 in the presence of the Pro-Rector Prof. Tanya Sammut-Bonnici, the Academic Registrar, Dr Colin Borg, the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Rev. Dr Stefan Attard, and the Dean of the Faculty of Laws, Dr Ivan Mifsud. The awarded students and their sponsors were invited to the event which took place at the Aula Magna, Valletta Campus.
The Dean of the Faculty of Theology opened the ceremony by congratulating all the students of the Faculty, especially those receiving the awards. Rev. Dr Attard spoke about the fundamental importance of academic study and research not primarily as a means to obtain a good income, but especially for the benefit of the mind, the heart and the spirit, an endeavour that the Faculty of Theology tries to promote through its wide scope of courses.
The Dean’s List features three kinds of awards: First in Class for students who excelled overall and placed first in their cohort; Special Awards by different sponsors to students who made a contribution to Maltese society through their research; and Certificates in Academic Excellence for high standards achieved in the dissertation.
A further Special Award in Applied Theology was given to the Founder-couple of ICPE Mission, Mr Mario Cappello and Mrs Anna Cappello. Mr Stefan Attard, a former student of the Faculty, highlighted the commitment of the Cappello couple in evangelisation and in charitable works especially in the health sector.
Finally, a recipient of the First in Class Award, Rev. Jesmond Schembri, gave a speech highlighting the practical and concrete concept of theology as service.
At the end of the ceremony, the Dean thanked the Faculty administrative staff for organising the event as well as the sponsors for their support: Agenda Bookshop, Kite Group, Foster Clark Products, the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter, St John Co-Cathedral Foundation, the Archdiocese of Malta, the Foundation for Theological Studies and the Secretariat for Catholic Education.
Ms Mariana Debono was compère for the evening, which also included musical interludes by Ms Sarah Tanti (Violin) and Ms Elisa De Bono (Cello).
AWARD WINNERS FOR THE DEAN’S LIST
First in Class Awards were presented to students who placed first in class with distinction. These were:
- Maria Paula Bugeja Lucas (B.A. Hons in Theology full-time)
- Adelaide Anastasi (B.A. Hons in Theology part-time)
- Allison Sammut (B.A. in Theology with Human Studies)
- Dionisius Bisma Pradhana (B.A. Hons in Theology with Philosophy)
- Denise Mihaescu (Master of Arts in Bioethics)
- Jesmond Schembri (Licentiate in Sacred Theology).
- Special Award for Ethical Values in Life, sponsored by the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter: Ian Diacono (Licentiate in Sacred Theology)
- Special Award in Applied Theology: Award in Recognition of the Promotion of Human Dignity and Christian Evangelisation: Anna and Mario Cappello (Founder-couple of ICPE Mission).
- Alexandra Azzopardi
- Joseph Inarigu Abu
- Michael Mifsud.