Today it was announced that the president of Estonia, Alar Karis, has honored 148 Estonians or our friends from abroad with national awards, also known as decorations.

It is a great pleasure to announce that the Order of Merit of the White Star was awarded to Prof. Hilkka Hiiop, a valued member of our workgroup! She has been acknowledged for bringing the conservation of cultural heritage into the focus of Estonian society.

The press release can be found here (in Estonian). But to translate some of the words of our president: “On the eve of Independence Day, the Republic of Estonia thanks people with its decorations whose perseverance, selflessness, dedication, ingenuity, or creation are an example to many others and have made Estonia better, more caring, more noticed, and more entrepreneurial.”

Congratulations from all of us to you, Hilkka!