Professor Smidchens Honored by Latvian Government 

Submitted by Seth Sherwood on

Guntis Šmidchens, Associate Professor of Baltic Studies, has been awarded the Cross of Recognition, 4th Class, by the government of Latvia. Guntis will be traveling to Riga, Latvia to accept the award from the President of Latvia, Andris Berzins. The Cross of Recognition (Croix de la reconnaissance) was established in Liepaja, Latvia in 1710 and reinstated in Latvia in 1938 in commemoration of the glory days of the Duchy of Kurzeme and Zemgale. It is given to people who have demonstrated outstanding love of their Fatherland, as well as for great achievements in the realm of politics, culture, science, athletics or education. The Baltic Studies Program, under the leadership of Professor Šmidchens, has achieved outstanding results in advancing the languages and knowledge about the Baltic States. The Program is an important part of the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Washington and for that Professor Guntis Šmidchens was selected by the government of Latvia to be honored with the award of the Cross of Recognition.

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http://scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

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