Guido Tonelli, CMS Spokesperson 2010–2011, was made 'Commendatore' of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republlic (Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana) by Giorgio Napolitano, the President of the Italian Republic, for contributions to the discovery of a new, Higgs-like particle at the LHC. The ceremony took place on September 24 at the Quirinal Palace, the official residence of the President. Others honoured during the ceremony include Sergio Bertolucci, CERN’s Director of Research, as well as Fabiola Gianotti, ATLAS Spokesperson.

“It has been really a fully unexpected, nice surprise,” says Guido. “I would like to forward President Napolitano's congratulations to all members of CMS, in particular to the young students and post-docs who played such an important role in this historical discovery.”

You can read more on the official announcement from the Quirinal Palace (in Italian).