PTSA: Poly High School awaits to see who will next be awarded the Honorary Service Awards.
By Caroline Iglesias, Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again, when Poly High School’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) nominates its potential candidates for the Honorary Service Awards. The PTSA is a private, non-profit organization that consists of parents, students, teachers and community members whose goal is to better the lives of the student body through charitable funds and donated time. It is a part of an organization that is at a local, state, and national level.
This year, Patricia Nicholson and Teresa Cisneros shared the position as head of the Honorary Service Awards. The award ceremony for the Honorary Service Awards will take place at Backstreet Restaurant in Riverside on Tuesday, May 31 at 11 in the morning. “Everyone always looks forward to the luncheon each year,” Adriana Katanic-Curiel, President of Poly’s PTSA, said. Nicholson and Cisneros’ job all year is to advertise the process for nominating potential candidates for the Honorary Service Awards.
The Honorary Service Awards consist of six different awards. Each individual award recognizes its recipient for going “above and beyond of what the average volunteer does,” Katanic-Curiel remarked. To receive the award, one does not have to be part of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or the PTSA. The six awards are The Very Special Person Award (VSPA), the Honorary Service Award (HSA), the Continuing Service Award (CSA), the Golden Oak Service Award (GOSA), the Outstanding Teacher Award (OTA), and the Outstanding Administrator Award (OAA).
The VSPA is given by individuals or PTA constituent organizations to recognize an individual or group. The HSA is given to an individual or organization in recognition of their outstanding service to children and youth. The CSA is given to an individual or organization that has displayed devotion to service for children and youth over a long course of time. The GOSA is California’s most prestigious PTA award. The award is given to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the welfare of children and youth in the PTA, school, or community. Laura Robles, last year’s recipient, was thrilled to have accepted the award. “It was truly an honor to be given the highest award for my 15 years of service,” Robles said. The OTA is given to a teacher that has notably made a positive impact in the lives and welfare of children and youth in the PTA, school, and community. Lastly, the OAA is also given as a result of positive contributions made to youth in the PTA, school, and community.
Poly High School appreciates the work of these dedicated parents and is proud to display their recognition through this yearly award.