Ahead of the Estonian centennial on Feb. 24, President Kersti Kaljulaid will bestow state decorations on 166 individuals whose dedication to their professional work or community has made life better for the entire country.

"Estonia is that which we do ourselves," said Kaljulaid. "Estonia is the sum of all of our thoughts and actions. All of these people have helped to make Estonia more friendly, more secure, and more successful. They have all gone above and beyond what their daily work requires and made Estonia better."

State decorations are an acknowledgement of the people of Estonia and the country's supporters abroad for their dedication in their activity as well as their loyalty to the principles upon which today's Estonia relies — openness and democracy, knowledge and entrepreneurship, and caring and noticing.

The President of the Republic of Estonia will present this year's recipients with their state decorations at a ceremony titled "Estonia Thanks" to take place at the University of Tartu Narva College in Northeastern Estonia on Wednesday, Feb. 21.

2018 RECIPIENTS OF ESTONIAN STATE DECORATIONS

The Order of the National Coat of Arms, 2nd Class

Eiki Nestor, member of the VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII Riigikogu

Mart Nutt, member of the VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII Riigikogu

The Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd Class

Clyde Kull, diplomat, organizer of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU

Peep Lassmann, pianist, music teacher, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre rector 1992-2017

Piret Lilleväli, organizer of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU

Kaja Tael, diplomat, organizer of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU

The Order of the National Coat of Arms, 5th Class

Jüri Pertmann, freedom fighter

The Order of the White Star, 3rd Class

Klen Jäärats, organizer of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU

Matti Killing, rowing coach

Andres Koppel, ecologist, promoter of science

Ants Kull, Supreme Court justice, promoter of civil rights

Jonatan Vseviov, state official, promoter of national defense

The Order of the White Star, 4th Class

Heli Adamovitš, Estonian language teacher, promoter of education

Aadu Jaak Allpere, honorary consul, promoter of Estonian-U.S. relations

Roman Baskin, actor, director

Dmitri Demjanov, promoter of culinary arts

Olga Dorogan, state prosecutor

Heiki Einpaul, promoter of entrepreneurship

Helle Gans, interior designer

Taevo Gans, interior designer

Margus Gross, state prosecutor

Anu Ethel van Hattem, honorary consul, promoter of Estonian-Australian relations

Tiit Hennoste, linguist

Luukas Kristjan Ilves, organizer of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU

Veljo Ipits, promoter of entrepreneurship

Dmitri Jegorov, state official, organizer of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU

Vahur Kalmre, journalist

Rene Kari, artist

Indrek Kelk, promoter of sports

Rubo Kikerpill, judge

Ülo Kivine, promoter of entrepreneurship

Andres Kiviste, forest scientist, professor at the Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMÜ)

Edgar Krull, scholar of pedagogy

Malle Krunks, material scientist, professor at Tallinn Univeristy of Technology (TTÜ)

Hans Kruusamägi, promoter of agriculture and local life

Jaan Laidmets, state official, promoter of cultural and educational life

Madis Lepik, trainer of math teachers

Raido Liitmäe, promoter of local life on Muhu Island

Katrin Luhaäär, pedagogue, promoter of special education, school director

Anne Luik, promoter of organic agriculture

Tatjana Lüter, school director, promoter of language immersion

Romi Mankin, physicist

Thomas Mell, organizer of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU organizer of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU

Daniele Monticelli, semiotician, translator, promoter of Estonian-Italian relations, professor of Tallinn University (TLÜ)

Margus Mägi, organizer of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU

Meelis Münt, state official, organizer of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU

Andres Noormets, director, actor

Stefan Oscar, promoter of cooperation between national minorities

Olav Osolin, promoter of the field of advertising

Tauno Otto, mechanic scientist, professor of Tallinn University of Technology (TTÜ)

Raimo Peterson, promoter of cybersecurity cooperation

Tõnu Post, promoter of agriculture

Kristjan Prikk, promoter of national defense, organizer of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU

Tarvo Puri, developer of the notary

Liivi Raudsepp, promoter of vocational education

Aho Rebas, keeper of Estonian culture in Sweden

Jaan Reimund, school director, promoter of educational life

Izabella Riitsaar, school director, promoter of educational life

Marju Rondo, promoter of the field of national defense

Andrus Rõuk, artist, poet

Kaia Sarnet, state official

Veera Sibrik, school director, promoter of educational life

Tatjana Stepanova, school director, promoter of language immersion

Kait Tamra, musician, composer

Kert Toobal, volleyball player

Vilma Trummal, archaeologist

Agu Uudelepp, communications expert

Triin Uusberg, organizer of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU

Uuno Vallner, promoter of information technology

The Order of the White Star, 5th Class

Lembit Aaslav-Kaasik, promoter of water motor sports

Ingrid Agur, theater artist

Anneli Aken, keeper of Estonian culture

Vladimir Antipp, actor

Margus Arm, promoter of information society

Are Eller, journalist, supporter of parasports

Luule Epner, scholar of theater arts, teacher

Gert Ernesaks, state official

Dolores Hoffmann, stained glass artist

Villu Kangur, poet, songwriter, translator

Aleksander Kilk, promoter of beekeeping

Kaija Kirch, promoter of internal security

Marina Kossolapova, choir director, promoter of local life

Raimo Ladva, helper of the repressed

Rein Lember, promoter of local life in Abruka

Harry Liivrand, art historian, art critic

Marika Linntam, organizer of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU

Järvi Lipasti, promoter of Hiiu dialect, promoter of Estonian-Finnish relations

Marko Matvere, actor, singer, director

Lehti Merilo, keeper of Estonian culture in the U.S.

Margus Mikomägi, theater critic, journalist

Hedi Minlibajeva, promoter of language immersion

Natalja Mõttus, folk dance director, promoter of local life in Ida-Viru County

Peep Männil, game scientist

Viivi Neare, special education teacher, trainer

Enel Niin, veterinarian

Triin Noorkõiv, promoter of educational life

Ello Odraks, promoter of cultural life in Lääne-Viru County

Agu Ojasoo, math teacher

Aleksandr Okunev, actor, teacher

Heli Pikk, preserver of the history of Estonian broadcasting

Oleg Pissarenko, jazz musician, teacher

Sirje Potisepp, promoter of entrepreneurship

Carita Rammus, organizer of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU

Tiia Randma, promoter of vocational education

Kaarel Raspel, promoter of field of e-services

Marko Reikop, journalist

Mare Riimets, Estonian language teacher

Reigo Rosenthal, state official

Andres Rüdja, geodesist

Irina Seletskaja, dance teacher, promoter of local life in Ida-Viru County

Katrin Sibul, organizer of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the EU

Mirje Sims, promoter of folk art

Helgi Taelma, choreographer, teacher

Peeter Tammearu, actor, director

Arvet Tetsmann, sailor, promoter of sports life

Vilma Tikerpuu, promoter of local life in Hiiu County

Anne Tiko, developmental psychologist, teacher

Pearu Tramberg, recorder of film history

Tiina Uudeberg, promoter of national defense

Toivo Uusna, volleyball trainer, promoter of sports life

Tiiu-Mai Vanderer, keeper of Estonian culture in U.S.

Genadi Vassiljev, land improvement engineer

Rein Vendla, orchestra director, teacher

Janek Vipre, promoter of entrepreneurship

Margit Võsa, choir director, promoter of women's choir music

Mati Õun, war historian

The Order of the White Star, Medal

Toomas Aguraiuja, bus driver

Liia Piho, mailman in Valga County

The Order of the Red Cross, 2nd Class

Leonhard Kukk, urologist, promoter of healthcare

Margot Peetsalu, medical scientist, surgeon

Lee Tammemäe, gynecologist, promoter of healthcare

The Order of the Red Cross, 3rd Class

Ojar Eerik, oncologist

Ernst Johannes Haberl, pediatric neurosurgeon (Germany)

Ülle Kadastik, gynecologist, teacher

Theodor Michael, pediatric neurologist (Germany)

Anne Ormisson, pediatrician, teacher

Ants Paapstel, heart surgeon

Kalle Põder, radiologist

The Order of the Red Cross, 4th Class

Maie Egipt, helper of cancer patients

Indrek Ints, rescue worker

Ülo Lomp, promoter of donations

Kairit Numa, helper of people with disabilities

Toivo Tänavsuu, helper of cancer patients

The Order of the Red Cross, 5th Class

Kersti Anijärv, blood donor

Riho Hänikene, blood donor

Aare Puusepp, blood donor

Tiina Saar, blood donor

Jarek Talisainen, blood donor

The Order of the Cross of the Eagle, 1st Class

Riho Terras, developer of the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF), general

The Order of the Cross of the Eagle, 2nd Class

Martin Herem, developer of the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF), brigadier general

Harri Kalevi Ohra-aho, promoter of Estonian-Finnish cooperation in the fields of defense and security, major general

The Order of the Cross of the Eagle, 3rd Class

Veiko-Vello Palm, developer of the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF), colonel

The Order of the Cross of the Eagle, 4th Class

Marek Laanisto, member of the Estonian Defence League, lieutenant colonel

Margo Palloson, security police officer

Jevgeni Pissarev, former flight squadron commander

Harli Talts, active serviceman, lieutenant colonel

Janek Valge, security police officer

The Order of the Cross of the Eagle, 5th Class

Andrei Härm, police official, police lieutenant

Aleksandr Lupanov, member of the Estonian Defence League, captain

Mati Tint, promoter of forensic science, senior commissar

The Order of the Cross of the Eagle, Gold Cross

Janis Jallai, active serviceman, sergeant major

Siim Saliste, active serviceman, sergeant major of the Land Forces

The Order of the Cross of the Eagle, Silver Cross

Meelis Juhandi, police official, police captain

The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class

Xavier Bettel, prime minister of Luxembourg, promoter of Estonian-Luxembourgish relations

The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 3rd Class

Mario Ohoven, promoter of Estonian-German relations

The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 5th Class

Malcolm Irving Wilson, supporter of Estonian automotive racing (U.K.)