Italian president Sergio Mattarella awarded 14-year-old Ukrainian Roman Moryak with the Symbol of Integration prize. Quitidiano del Sud reported that on Tuesday.
The ceremony took place at Quirinale palace in Rome on March 13.
The boy is well known for his passion for playing saxophone, football and chess. Roman has held many trophies in the chess competitions on the regional and national levels. 'Being the son of Ukrainian migrants, he became a positive symbol of integration', reads the message.
Roman Moryak and his family reside in San Eufemia d'Aspromonte, in Italy's southern region of Calabria. He is a student at a local secondarty school who boasts great achievements in the education process. His family has been living in Italy for more than 15 years now.
The prize is awarded annually to those who contribute to the development of science, arts, sport and volunteer service.