Every year the Faculty of Theology celebrates the work of its students during the Dean's Awards ceremony.
First in Class Awards are given to students who excel overall and obtain the highest mark in their class.
Certificates in Academic Excellence are awarded to students with the best dissertation in their area.
Other Special Awards are presented by our sponsors to students who make a contribution to Maltese society through their research.
A Special Award in Applied Theology is given to a person who applied Theology concretely in society through his/her work.
The first Theology Dean's Awards ceremony was held on 28 July 2021 at the Valletta Campus, in the presence of the then Minister of Education, Hon. Justyne Caruana, the University Rector, Prof. Alfred Vella, and the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Dr John Berry.
The Dean congratulated all students and highlighted the various achievements of the Faculty over the past years. He thanked the sponsors of the event and the Faculty administrative staff for the organisation.
The University Rector underlined the fundamental place that the Faculty of Theology holds on Campus and within society at large. On her part, the Minister of Education recalled with affection her years studying at the Faculty of Theology while reading Law and affirmed the importance of a robust theology for the development of dialogue and freedom in society.
First in Class Awards were presented to students who placed first in class with distinction:
The following Special Awards were given by different sponsors to students who made a contribution to Maltese society through their research:
Certificates in Academic Excellence in recognition of high standards reached in the dissertation were presented to:
A further Special Award in Applied Theology was given to Rev. Martin Micallef (Id-Dar tal-Providenza) in recognition of his sustainable promotion of human dignity and civic engagement through his work with persons with disabilities. Fr Micallef had written his Licentiate dissertation at the Faculty of Theology on the sexuality of persons with disabilities.
The event was sponsored by: CareMalta, Caritas Malta, SportMalta, AcrossMalta, Outlook Coop, Librerija Preca, Archdiocese of Malta, Architect Richard England, Secretariat for the Laity, Secretariat for Catholic Education, and the Entomological Society of Malta.
Ms Valerie Vella was the compere of the evening which included a short musical interlude by the violin and viola duo Mr Matthew Fenech and Mr Valhmor Montefort.
Iċċelebrati l-ħiliet tal-istudenti tat-Teoloġija (Il-Leħen, 08.08.2021) [PDF]
The ceremony of the Theology Dean’s Awards for 2020-2021 was held on 1 July 2022 at the Valletta Campus in the presence of the Director General for Educational Services, Mr Emile Vassallo, Pro-Rectors Prof. Joseph Cacciottolo and Prof. Ing. Simon G. Fabri, and the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Rev. Dr Stefan Attard.
Opening the ceremony, the Dean congratulated all students and spoke about the way the Faculty has been engaging in various activities and its plans for the near future. He thanked the Faculty administrative staff for organising the event as well as the sponsors for their support.
The Director General for Educational Services addressed the event and Rev. Robert Falzon, SDB, recipient of the First in Class Award, gave a speech highlighting the essence of theology in terms of relationships with others as well as the theology of presence.
The evening was presented by Ms Valerie Vella and included a short musical interlude by mezzo-Soprano Vanessa Magro accompanied on the piano by Romina Morrow.
First in Class Awards were presented to students who placed first in class with distinction:
The following Special Awards were given in recognition of outstanding performance in research:
Certificates in Academic Excellence in recognition of high standards achieved in the dissertation were presented to:
A Special Award in Applied Theology was given to Commissioner for Justice, Ms Victoria Scicluna, in recognition of her promotion of human dignity and civic engagement. Rev. Dr Charlo Camilleri highlighted the link between Ms Scicluna’s work in this field and her postgraduate studies in Spirituality, particularly her dissertation on drug addiction recovery and insights from Carmelite spirituality.
The event was sponsored by: Miller Distributors, Midsea Books, Agenda Bookshop, Librerija Preca, Architect Prof. Richard England, the National Council of Women, St John Co-Cathedral Foundation, the Archdiocese of Malta, the Carmelite Institute Malta, the Secretariat for the Laity, the Secretariat for Catholic Education, and the Conference of Religious Major Superiors.
The ceremony of the Dean’s Awards of the Faculty of Theology for 2021-22 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 Laws, Dr Ivan Mifsud, and the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Rev. Dr Stefan Attard. 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 donates 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, 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. 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) and Jesmond Schembri (Licentiate in Sacred Theology).
The following Special Awards were given in recognition of outstanding performance in research:
Certificates in Academic Excellence in recognition of high standards achieved in the dissertation were presented to: Alexandra Azzopardi, Joseph Inarigu Abu, Michael Mifsud.
The ceremony of the Dean’s Awards for academic year 2022-23 at the Faculty of Theology was a highlight occasion held on Friday, 10 May 2024, at which were present His Grace Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna and other distinguished guests, including Pro-Rectors Prof. Joseph Cacciottolo, Prof. Frank Bezzina, Prof. Valerie Sollars, Prof. Ing. Simon Fabri and HRMD Deputy Director Mr Robert Abdilla. Hosted at the Aula Magna, Valletta Campus, the event celebrated the academic achievements of outstanding students and the faculty’s commitment to excellence.
Rev. Prof. Stefan Attard, the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, set the tone with his heartfelt congratulations to all students, particularly those receiving awards. He emphasised the pivotal role of academic pursuit and research within the Faculty, shedding light on its recent milestones such as the introduction of new programmes, namely, the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Scripture Studies, the restructuring of the Certificate in Safeguarding of Children and Young People to a post-graduate degree, as well as the restructuring of the MA in Environmental Ethics which will be offered in a synchronous and asynchronous mode. Noteworthy initiatives through the past year include the conference "Making Connections" and THExpO, both meticulously organised by the proactive Għaqda Studenti tat-Teoloġija. Rev. Prof. Attard also underscored initiatives such as the Aquinas Lecture in which His Eminence Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect for the Section of First Evangelisation of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, delivered a heart-warming speech, titled, “Proclaiming the Good News by a Church which ‘goes forth’”.
The ceremony gained international perspective with Professor Barbara Strzałkowska from Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw, Poland, who shared biblical and theological insights with the esteemed assembly. She spoke about how theological discourse was born when Judaism encountered Greek thought through Christianity.
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 sponsored by different entities to students who contributed to Maltese society through their research; and Certificates in Academic Excellence for high standards achieved in the respective dissertation of their course.
A further Special Award in Applied Theology was given to Brother Edward Galea f.s.c. Ms Mariella Scicluna, a close collaborator of Brother Galea, highlighted the commitment of the Lasallian Brother to the promotion of Christian education and evangelisation.
Finally, a recipient of the First in Class Award, Tian Ci Shawn Dominic Wong, delivered 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 and the sponsors whose generous support made the event possible: Agenda Bookshop, Foster Clark Products, Kite Group, The Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter, St John Co-Cathedral Foundation, the Archdiocese of Malta, the Foundation for Theological Studies, the Malta Catholic Youth Network, Professor Richard England, together with the Seminary Vocations Centre of the Archdiocese as stakeholder.
Dr Francesca Briffa Polidano compèred the evening, that included musical interludes by Ms Fiorella Camilleri (flute) and Mr Karl Galea (guitar).
AWARD WINNERS FOR THE DEAN’S LIST
First in Class Awards were presented to students who placed first in class with distinction. These were: Carla Borg (Diploma in Religious Studies), Daphne Marie Fenech (Diploma in the Archival and Cultural Appreciation of Ecclesiastical Patrimony), Ryan Dalli (Bachelor of Arts [Honours] in Theology with Philosophy), Ritienne Debono (Master of Arts in Spirituality), Gabriel Cassar Tabone (Master of Arts in Spiritual Companionship), Malcolm John Saliba (Master in Theology), and Jean Claude Attard (Licentiate in Sacred Theology).
The following Special Awards were awarded in recognition of outstanding performance in research:
Certificates in Academic Excellence in recognition of high standards achieved in the dissertation were presented to Mary Anne Agius, Tian Ci Shawn Dominic Wong, and Miriam Mallia.
The ceremony of the Dean’s Awards for academic year 2023-24 at the Faculty of Theology was held on Friday, 9 May 2025, at which were present distinguished guests, including Pro-Rectors Prof. Frank Bezzina, Prof. Joseph Cacciottolo, Prof. Carmen Sammut and Prof. Valerie Sollars. Hosted at the Jesuits’ Church Oratory of the Onorati, Valletta, the event celebrated the academic achievements of outstanding students and the Faculty’s commitment to excellence.
Rev. Prof. Stefan Attard, the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, set the tone with his heartfelt congratulations to all students, particularly those receiving awards. He emphasised the pivotal role of academic pursuit and research, highlighting important events that are taking place this year within the Faculty. Among these, he mentioned the Faculty’s collaboration with The Mediterranean Theological Network, the St Augustine Lecture on women deacons in antiquity, the Aquinas Lecture on the Jubilee in the Bible, a colloquium on the Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the monthly Research Seminars that explore different facets of theology from an interdisciplinary perspective.
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 sponsored by different entities to students who contributed to Maltese society through their research; and Certificates in Academic Excellence for high standards achieved in the respective dissertation of their course.
A further Special Award in Applied Theology in Recognition of the Promotion of Christian Values and Human Dignity was awarded to Ms Maria Formosa from Dar Bjorn.
Finally, a recipient of the First in Class Award, Sr Rosanne Azzopardi, delivered a speech highlighting the practical and concrete concept of theology as service in Catholic school leadership, emphasising the importance of restorative justice as an approach to be adopted in schools.
At the end of the ceremony, the Dean thanked the Faculty administrative staff for organising the event and the sponsors whose generous support made the event possible: Agenda Bookshop, Caritas Malta, the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission of the Archdiocese of Malta, Foster Clark Products, the Foundation for Theological Studies, and the Richmond Foundation.
Ms Valerie Vella compèred the evening, that included musical interludes by Mr George Curmi.
Award Winners for the Dean's List
First in Class Awards were presented to students who placed first in class with distinction. These were: Marilyn Busuttil (Certificate in Safeguarding of Children and Young People), Daniel Micallef (Post Graduate Diploma in Pastoral Psychology), Luke Vella (Bachelor of Arts [Honours] in Theology with Philosophy), Ian Baldacchino (Master of Arts in Bioethics), Rosanne Azzopardi (Master of Arts Catholic School Leadership), Phyllisienne Bugeja (Master of Arts in Matrimonial Canon Law & Jurisprudence), and Anthony Aggiah (Licentiate in Sacred Theology).
The following Special Awards were awarded in recognition of outstanding performance in research:
Certificates in Academic Excellence in recognition of high standards achieved in the dissertation were presented to Mary Anne Bartolo, Robin Camilleri, and Krista Mizzi.
Updated October 2022
1. First in Class Award – to students obtaining the highest global mark. [If there is only one student, he/she will be given this award only if his/her overall grade is over 75%.]
2. Certificates in Academic Excellence – to students with the best dissertation in their area or, if the best dissertation was of a student who got the First in Class Award, the next best dissertation is chosen, even if it is slightly under 80%. This may be given to more than one student if they have the same mark.
3. Special Awards – to students with a dissertation which has a good grade and which can be linked to a sponsor.
[As for the Certificate in Academic Excellence and the Special Award, if two students have the same dissertation mark, the global average will determine who of them gets one of these prizes. However, more than one dissertation may be chosen if they have relatively high marks in relation to the rest and/or if any of them can be easily linked to a sponsor.]
4. Special Award in Applied Theology – to one person who ideally studied theology in the past and who has been applying it concretely in society through his/her work.