Three AABS members –Toivo Raun, Guntis Šmidchens and Mare Taagepera – have been awarded state decorations by the Republic of Estonia for services to the state.
From the official press release of the Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia:
“As the Head of State, I consider the decorations of the Republic of Estonia to be the highest gratitude and acknowledgement of the Republic of Estonia to people from Estonia and other countries, whose work and activities have contributed to a better, safer and richer Estonia and, in a number of cases, the nominees of the decorations have expressed special personal courage. They have done more that their work would have assumed them to do,” told President Ilves. “The number of receivers of decorations is not large and this should enhance the value and significance of each and every one of them.”
“The Order of the White Star, 3rd class, is being awarded to the promoter of discovery-based learning, initiator and contributor to the Forest University in Estonia, Mare Taagepera.”
“The Republic of Estonia acknowledges the keepers of its history. The Order of the White Star is being awarded to Professor Toivo Ülo Raun, researcher of the history of the Baltic countries and Finland at the University of Indiana in the United States of America.”
“Estonia thanks its friends and supporters aboard. Orders of the Cross of Terra Mariana is awarded to one of the founders of the Baltic study programme at the University of Washington, Professor Guntis Šmidchens.”