His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday bestowed medals to a total of 28 Jordanians with distinguished records in various walks of life including administration, academia, business, art, media, medicine, education, judiciary and social work.

The King presented the medals, which ranged in type and order, to the excelling individuals during a ceremony held at Raghadan Palace.

In the field of academia, a total of eight personalities received medals of various types. They include Kamel Ajlouni and Mohammad Hatamleh who were presented with Al Hussein Decoration for Distinguished Contribution-First Order, in addition to Nihad Dheeb, Sarhan Haddad, Hussein Majali, Raed Al Aamar, Mohammad Bashaireh and Haitham Zu'bi, all receiving Al Hussein Decoration-Second Order.

Ajlouni, for example, was rewarded for his achievements during 35 years of service, mostly as a professor of medicine, former health minister and president of Jordan University of Science and Technology.

Majali, meanwhile, is an award winner for his research in electricity and energy.

In the field of administration, nine personalities were honoured for their distinguished contributions and dedication. They included Mohammad Alawneh, a former minister and head of the Legislative and Opinion Bureau. He received Al Kawkab Decoration-First Order.

Under the same field, Free Zones Corporation Director General Mahmoud Qteishat, Housing and Urban Development Corporation Director General Shehdeh Abu Hdeib and Director of the Department of Palestinian Affairs Wajih Azaizeh received Al Istiklal Medal-First Order.

In addition, the head of Building and International Projects at the Ministry of Education Osama Maghaidah, Assistant Secretary General for Roads at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Sami Halasa, a commissioner at the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission Housam Abu Ali, Assistant Director of Civil Society Institutions at the Interior Ministry Saed Shehab and Zeib Sheimat, who worked at the Ministry of Social Development for 25 years, received Al Istiklal Medal-Second Order.

Three persons were honoured in the field of media: Director General of Dar Al Sabah for Press and Publications' Arafat Hijazi, who received Al Hussein Decoration-First Order,

Zahia Ennab and The Jordan Times' Rana Husseini, who each received Al Hussein Decoration-Second Order.

In the field of art, two persons were honoured: actor Zuheir Nobani, who received Al Hussein Decoration-First Order, in recognition of his contribution to Jordanian drama, and top singer Omar Al Abdullat for highlighting Jordanian folk art at home and abroad. He received Al Hussein Decoration-Second Order.

The honoured also included Nizar Naqib, who received Al Hussein Decoration-First Order. Naqib had major contributions in social and charitable works, including the establishment of mosques and orphanages and extending donations over the years.

Abdullah Nsour, who worked in the judicial field for 40 years, was also honoured yesterday and received Al Istiklal Medal-First Order.

Another honoured was Mazen Darwazeh, vice president of Al Hikma Pharmaceuticals, who received Al Hussein Decoration-First Order, and Munib Ayyoub, an internist at the Bashir Hospital, who received Al Istiklal Medal-Second Order.

Also honoured was Matar Abu Rkhyeh, who established a decades-old charity to attend to the needs of residents of the southern parts of the Kingdom. He received Al Hussein Decoration-Second Order.

In the field of education, Al Jubeiha Secondary Schools for Girls was honoured and received Al Hussein Decoration-First Order.