**CySEC Rewards Academic Excellence in Finance with Annual Student Awards**
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has recognized exceptional academic achievements in finance and securities markets by awarding €1,000 prizes to two outstanding university students for the 2025–2026 academic year. This initiative, part of CySEC's long-standing annual student awards program, aims to promote excellence in research and innovation within the financial sector.
The awards were presented to students whose research was deemed the best in fields related to finance and capital markets. CySEC has emphasized that this initiative not only rewards academic excellence but also encourages research efforts and fosters innovative thinking among young scholars. Additionally, the program aims to strengthen the relationship between the academic community and the financial sector, particularly regarding capital markets.
The awards are named in memory of Frixos Sorokos, CySEC's first chairman, who played a pivotal role in the establishment and development of the regulatory authority. The legacy of Sorokos continues to inspire the awards, which celebrate the contributions of students to the field of finance.
For the 2025–2026 academic year, one of the recipients was Xenia Efthymiou, a doctoral student at the Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak). Her dissertation, titled “Bail-In a Generation: BRRD’s Legacy Unveiled – The Case of Cyprus,” was recognized for its in-depth analysis and contribution to the understanding of banking regulations and their implications in the Cypriot context.
The second recipient, Ioannis Moraitis, a postgraduate student at the University of Nicosia, received the award for his study entitled “A Comparative Analysis of AI-Themed ETFs vs. Actively Managed Mutual Funds: Performance, Risk, and Cost.” His research provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of investment strategies, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence.
Each student was awarded a monetary prize of €500. The award to Efthymiou was presented by CySEC vice-chairman Panikkos Vakkou during the graduation ceremony of the Cyprus University of Technology on June 16, 2026. The event was also attended by Kaiti Sorokou, the wife of the late Frixos Sorokos, highlighting the personal connection and significance of the awards.
Moraitis's award was accepted on his behalf by Petros Lois, the head of the Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance at the University of Nicosia. This gesture underscored the collaborative spirit between the educational institutions and the financial regulatory body.
CySEC's annual awards are part of a broader strategy to encourage high-quality academic work in areas related to the financial sector. The commission aims to support closer cooperation between universities and the capital markets industry, fostering an environment where academic research can directly contribute to the development of the financial landscape in Cyprus.
As the financial sector continues to evolve, initiatives like the CySEC student awards play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of finance professionals. By recognizing and rewarding academic excellence, CySEC not only honors the legacy of its founding figures but also invests in the future of the industry.