15. November 2004.

The St. Martin's Day feast and the St. Martin Award ceremony were held for the fourth time this year.

In the year 2001 of the Lord, the Archabbey of Pannonhalma, the Bábolna Rt. (today known as the Bábolna National Stud Farm Ltd.) and the Herend Porcelain Manufactory Ltd. made a declaration of intent, with the approval of the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage, to the effect that the unique cultural and tourist treasures of the Northern Pannon region be better propagated, more visited and more carefully preserved.
The most spectacular part of this co-operation is the St. Martin's Day feast, held this year for the fourth time, and the St. Martin Award ceremony. This award goes to prominent persons who have contributed a great deal to the above goals.
This year the award ceremony began with words of welcome from Archabbot Asztrik Várszegi, followed by a superb musical performance by the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra and Erika Miklósa. The main speaker of the event was Lutheran Bishop János Ittzés. After his speech, the founders of the award, Asztrik Várszegi, CEO Tamás Rombauer and Sándor Polányi, managing director of the Herend Porcelain Manufactory Ltd., handed over the award - the work of applied artist Herend master László Horváth - to constitutional expert Dr. István Kukorelli.
As is customary, the official part of the feast was concluded with the blessing of the new crop and wine. Afterwards the distinguished guests were treated to a series of gourmet goose dishes.

St. Martin Award winners to date:

2001 István Nemeskürti
2002 Ernő Pungor
2003 Gáspár Nagy


Dr. István Kukorelli (52) was born in Tét, Győr-Sopron County.

All his life he has been interested in the humanities and was an avid student of history and Hungarian literature in his youth. Having graduated from the Faculty of Law, first he became assistant professor and from July 1, 1991, head of the Department of Constitutional Law. In 1998, he obtained his PhD degree and, in June 1999, qualified as a university lecturer. He is a member of ELTE's Senate. Between 1988 and 1989, he was deputy dean. In 1996, he was elected President of the Civitas Association. Between 1995 and 1998, he worked as a permanent adviser to the Parliamentary Committee on the preparation of the Constitution. He was a founding member of the Independent Forum of Lawyers, of the Hungarian Political Science Association as well as of the Society of Constitutional Lawyers. He has been Chairman of the National Consumer Protection Society since 1995. He is a member of the general assembly and of the Special Legal Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. In 1989, he became Secretary of the National Electoral Presidium, and, in 1997, the President of the National Electoral Board. He was elected Judge of the Constitutional Court by Parliament in 1999.
Mr. Kukorelli is married with three children.
He is a tolerant person who seeks to ease conflicts by acting as intermediary or holding the balance of power. In 1989, he joined the sessions of the National Roundtable Talks and assisted its work with his great expertise.
His favourite field of research is the 1848 revolution and the great figures of Hungarian history: Ferenc Deák, István Széchenyi and Lajos Kossuth, from whom he learnt the values of constitutionality and commitment of the Hungarian nation.
His career, academic work and commitment to the region all make him worthy of the St.Martin Award, which he won in 2004.