THOS awards: The golden year

JCI Senator Architect Ramiro Garcia Jr. (Photo by Isquare Photography)
JCI Senator Architect Ramiro Garcia Jr. (Photo by Isquare Photography)

WHAT can make something last through 50 years or more?

For The Outstanding Students Awards (THOS) Awards, the journey continues with every student that joins year in and year out.

More than the trophies, medals, or certificates are the stories of young lives with own fair share of personal problems, challenges in leading a group or raising funds for a cause, or dealing with economic and environmental concerns while trying to do their best in school.

For the organizers and the working team responsible for the annual search, it is the inspiration that these students provide to the community that makes all the work worth it.

The flagship program of the Junior Chamber International Philippines-Bacolod Inc. (JCI Bacolod Inc.) for five decades now, THOS Awards is considered as the most prestigious student youth excellence search in the province. Focused on the holistic development of young people, it aims to promote youth academic excellence, community service, and moral integrity.

JCI Senator Architect Ramiro "Chick" Garcia Jr., considered to be the father of THOS Awards as he started the program in 1970, spoke before the crowd gathered for the 50th THOS Grand Awarding Ceremonies held at Ayala Malls Capitol Central on February 16.

He reminded the students that, “You embarked on your journey of service and leadership because it is in you, that desire to serve your fellow students, your school, your community, and most of all the desire to improve yourselves.”

Then he encouraged them not to lose sight of their values and advocacies as many have forgotten to be outstanding after graduation and have lost their ways in the “real world.”

Over the years, THOS has evolved to be more than an award-giving body. With its “THOS Gives Back” program, various outreach projects were done to promote the core values (excellence, service, and integrity) of the search.

This year, the advocacy is on promoting psychological or mental health wellness, especially to the youth by providing seminars and training projects to communities.

With the recent establishment of THOS Alumni Association, the first-ever THOS Alumni Homecoming Dinner at Business Inn Hotel was held after the THOS awarding ceremonies.

THOS nominees, finalists, and awardees over the years gathered for a night of camaraderie, reminiscing of interview questions, fun and games, and for the launching of its project “Sagot Ko Uniporme Mo.”

It was a grand 50 years for THOS Awards and surely there are more wonderful things to look forward to in the next 50 years.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph