Filipino Centre Toronto Now Accepting Candidates For 2021 Outstanding Students Awards
By Tony A. San Juan, OCT.
Toronto-Canada
October 2, 2021
Purposefully committed to encouraging and challenging Filipino Canadian students in Ontario to excel in school performance and to achieve student success, the Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) is now accepting candidates to its annual competition for “2021 Outstanding Students Awards.”
This year’s FCT Outstanding Students Awards event started in 2005, is an annual program of selecting and recognizing outstanding and exemplary elementary, high school, and post-secondary graduates from Public, Catholic, and other government-supported educational institutions in Ontario.
Through its Outstanding Students Awards Committee (OSA), the Centre will present awards to chosen outstanding student graduates who have completed their elementary or high school or post-secondary studies. The selection criteria include 1) scholastic achievement/academic marks – 50%, 2) community involvement, and extra-curricular activities – 30%, and 3) interview performance – 20%.
All applicants, who have been screened and approved by the Outstanding Student Awards Committee, will be recognized and honoured appropriately in a ceremony. Monetary awards, trophies, plaques, and certificates will be presented to the winners and/or nominees of each category.
The overall requirements for the 2021 FCT-RCJ Outstanding Student Award Competition are as follow:
A. General Requirements for All Categories: Any applicant or candidate for an FCT Award must be a 1) Natural-born Filipino or of Filipino descent (either parent is Filipino); 2) Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada; 3) Of the good moral and exemplary character, i.e. has no pending charge involving sexual or child abuse or criminal case.
B. Specific Requirements for Elementary and High School Graduates . To qualify: 1) The applicant should be currently registered in the secondary school or college in Ontario, under one of the following categories: The elementary school applicant should have completed Grade 8 in June 2021, and be going into high school (grade 9); The high school applicant should have completed Grade 12 in June 2021 and be accepted and going into university or community college or apprenticeship program. 2) The student should have a minimum academic average of 85% (or equivalent) during the last two (2) school years( Grades 7 & 8) or (Grades 11 & 12) and must be involved in extra-curricular and community/volunteer activities. 3) The applicant must submit the following documents: For the elementary school graduate – Original copies of final report cards for the last two years. For the high school graduate – A current and original transcript bearing the school’s official seal. Additionally, two (2) original letters of character reference (one from the school, excluding immediate family), two (2) passport-size photos, and a completed FCT application form.
C. Qualification Requirements for Post- Secondary Honour Candidates : 1) For Undergraduate or Baccalaureate Degree candidates: Must have achieved Academic Honours, with Notation printed in the candidate’s degree diploma, such as any of the following: "Summa Cum Laude" or "Magna Cum Laude" or "Cum Laude" or "With Highest Distinction" (GPA 3.8 or higher) or "With Distinction" (3.5 to 3.79) or "First-Class Standing"; or other university/college equivalent academic honours distinction awards. 2) For candidates with graduate Masteral or Doctoral degree: Must have achieved Graduate Average Grade of Letter Grades of A+, A, A- only; or Numerical Marks of 90-100%, 85-89%, 80 -84% only; or High Pass-Clear Excellence or acceptable equivalent marking scale. 3) Documents (Photocopies only) to be submitted: a) Undergraduate program: Bachelor’s Diploma with Academic Honours Notation; b) Graduate program: Transcript of Academic Record or Master's/ Doctorate diploma, and 4) Passport-size Photo; 5) Completed "FCT Application Form". Academic awards received must not be more than 5 years old, from the date of application.
The members of the FCT-RCJ Outstanding Students Awards Committee (OSA) include notable Filipino Canadian professionals and educators composed of Tony A. San Juan, as Chairman, and the members are Jodelyn Huang, Steve Pagao, Mary Ann S.San Juan(Co-chair), Fermer Santos, and Rose Tijam.
Application forms for the FCT’s Outstanding Students Awards are now available at FCT, call 416-335-0485. or at www.filipinocentretoronto.com. The Deadline for submission of forms and documents is December 10, 2021, Friday. Personal interviews will begin on December 27, 2021, Monday. Completed forms and requirements are to be submitted or mailed to The Filipino Centre Toronto, RCJ OSA Committee, c/o Tony A. San Juan, Chairman, 4395 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto, ON M1S 1T9 ( TSJ).