1.   Although many have won other top awards, there are no Mobil five-star recipients this year.

2.   An independent jury selects a recipient each year.

3.   That makes it easier for the government to meet its obligations to Social Security recipients in future years.

4.   The first recipients this year were chosen by lottery.

5.   Irish poet Seamus Heaney was first recipient this year, winning the literature prize last Thursday.

6.   Recipients this year also include politicians, a TV soap star, show business personalities, artists, industrialists and athletes.

7.   The recipients this year have a record of serving the Christian faith in their local communities.