Mr. William Franklin “Bill” Austin, founder of Starkey Hearing Foundation, received the UST Golden Cross Award, UST’s highest award for individuals who have distinguished themselves in service to humanity, last November 27, 2015 (Friday), in solemn ceremonies at the Blessed Buenaventura G. Paredes, O.P. Building.
A non-Thomasian who is every bit a Thomasian
Prof. Jesus V. Valencia, MD, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, recognized Austin as someone who exemplified the Thomasian values of competence, compassion, and commitment, as demonstrated to his life of entrepreneurial excellence and selfless service to the community.
Valencia, upon informing the community about the honoree’s noteworthy contributions, petitioned the Rector of the University to confer the award upon Austin.
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The Very Rev. Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., PhD, Rector of the University of Santo Tomas, conceded to the petition for the conferment of the Golden Cross Award and extended UST’s thanks and congratulations to Austin and the Starkey Hearing Foundation for all the work that they have done, providing hearing aids to close to 1.8 million people all over the world.
Austin was presented with the Golden Cross medallion and the certificate by the Fr. Rector, assisted by the Very Rev. Fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, O.P., Vice-Chancellor of the University of Santo Tomas and Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines.
I am only a servant
In his address of acceptance, Austin began and ended by thanking the Starkey team and their partners. He underscored the importance of coming together to make a change in the world. He paid tribute to his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father, who were his models in serving the community.
Austin emphasized that his journey made a definitive turn when he embraced the call of the Lord Jesus to serve, and said that he is “only a servant” who wants to try and do good “to reflect His love.” He attributed to the Lord all the ideas that Starkey Hearing Foundation executed and asked everyone else to contribute goodness in his/her own way for the betterment of the world.
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