JCI Malta honours Ten Outstanding Young People during annual gala night

Last week JCI Malta held its annual Gala and Awards Night at the Corinthia St George’s where several young people between the ages of 18 and 40 were recognised for their efforts towards the organisation and the community.

The evening, compered by Malcolm Galea, was divided into three sets of awards starting off with the JCI Malta Awards that are presented to JCI Malta members and partners who have done sterling work throughout the year and who have contributed greatly to the development and success of the organisation.

The following people or programmes received awards: Best Local Community Empowerment Programme – Seed Green; Best Local Personal Skill Development Programme – Leaders of Tomorrow; Best Inter-Organisation Collaboration Project – You Ask, MEPs Answer; Most Outstanding National Board Member – Mel McElhatton; Most Outstanding New Member – Florence Vermeiren; Most Outstanding Member – Johann Agius; Most Outstanding Local Organisation – JCI Wignacourt; Most Outstanding Local President – Mel McElhatton; Senator Recognition – Annalisa Schembri; Most Outstanding Partner – UP YOUR LEVEL Performance Coaching; Most Outstanding Project Leader – Clayton Axisa, and Most Outstanding International Representative – Markus Behmann.

Three JCI Malta honorary awards of excellence were presented to three members, namely JCI Senator Rachel Cassar, JCI Senator and 2021 National President Nicole Borg, and 2022 President-Elect Giselle Borg Olivier.

A very special JCI Malta honorary award was presented to 17-year-old Tommy Wallbank to recognise his exemplary actions earlier this year where he ran 1,000 kilometres in memory of school friend Rebecca Zammit Lupi, raising €10,000 in aid of Puttinu Cares. JCI Malta believes in recognising the efforts of people who have the mark of being great leaders through their actions.

Finally, the last set of awards were the highly anticipated Ten Outstanding Young People (TOYP) awards. There were 33 nominees across 10 categories, but there could only be one winner per category. The winners of the 2021 JCI TOYP awards were: Dr Sarah Cuschieri (Academic Leadership/Accomplishment Award); Matthew Caruana (Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment Award); Dr Natalie Psaila (Contribution to World Peace and/or Human Rights Award); Alexandra Alden (Cultural Achievement Award); Dr Viviana Premazzi (Humanitarian and/or Voluntary Leadership Award); Rebecca Caruana (Medical Innovation Award); Neil Agius (Environmental Leadership Award); Lara Calleja (Journalistic Accomplishment Award); Martina Farrugia (Political, Legal and/or Governmental Affairs Award); Simran Mohnani (Scientific and/or Technological Development Award).

The 10 winners will now be nominated for the international JCI TOYP awards to be held in Hong Kong in 2022.

For further information about JCI Malta, please visit www.jci.org.mt