On April 20, 2017, I was awarded the "Social Contribution" award by the Hansarang Foundation.
When I was first nominated, my response was: "Hahahaha! I won't win, but it is a great honor to be nominated."
It was until I was a finalist that I took it seriously. Then instead of saying "I am honored to be nominated," I wanted to WIN! Which I did!
I was awarded a plaque, 10 million won (about $9,000), and many congratulations from many people (including other awardees that night).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ABH9DEuCxYdSvavRH8akVCKy1SBnLOYeblqsGPjDFDgxWwUHSmtzSD20rs5FNIju-L6aWK-8mHo_bgDMq4KcHipwpNtyhM5KmcX8HZfT0JnUQtefFHcv-vtrLmtuc9EL_gyyjQ/s640/1+Hansarang+Award.jpg)
There was a lot of media coverage of the event.
* Wow TV http://www.wowtv.co.kr/newscenter/news/view.asp?artid=AKR20170421178000014
* Jonnam News http://jnnews.co.kr/news/view.php?idx=195693
* Joongdo News http://www.joongdo.co.kr/jsp/article/article_view.jsp?pq=201704212578
* AFL News http://m.aflnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=130622
*MK News http://news.mk.co.kr/newsRead.php?sc=30000021&year=2017&no=272788
* Time Sisa http://timesisa.com/m/content/view.html?§ion=93&no=16874&category=94
* E-Money News http://www.emoneynews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=45213
* Newstown http://www.newstown.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=283519
Here was the official announcement from Hansarang.
Thankfully TNKR team members captured the moment that I received the award.
When I was first nominated, my response was: "Hahahaha! I won't win, but it is a great honor to be nominated."
It was until I was a finalist that I took it seriously. Then instead of saying "I am honored to be nominated," I wanted to WIN! Which I did!
I was awarded a plaque, 10 million won (about $9,000), and many congratulations from many people (including other awardees that night).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ABH9DEuCxYdSvavRH8akVCKy1SBnLOYeblqsGPjDFDgxWwUHSmtzSD20rs5FNIju-L6aWK-8mHo_bgDMq4KcHipwpNtyhM5KmcX8HZfT0JnUQtefFHcv-vtrLmtuc9EL_gyyjQ/s640/1+Hansarang+Award.jpg)
There was a lot of media coverage of the event.
* Wow TV http://www.wowtv.co.kr/newscenter/news/view.asp?artid=AKR20170421178000014
* Jonnam News http://jnnews.co.kr/news/view.php?idx=195693
* Joongdo News http://www.joongdo.co.kr/jsp/article/article_view.jsp?pq=201704212578
* AFL News http://m.aflnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=130622
*MK News http://news.mk.co.kr/newsRead.php?sc=30000021&year=2017&no=272788
* Time Sisa http://timesisa.com/m/content/view.html?§ion=93&no=16874&category=94
* E-Money News http://www.emoneynews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=45213
* Newstown http://www.newstown.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=283519
Here was the official announcement from Hansarang.
Thankfully TNKR team members captured the moment that I received the award.
The award
Of course, some people were amazed at the 10 million won award. I pointed out to some of them that I could making that per month working as a pundit and analyst in the USA.
I was especially delighted that TNKR students, volunteers and donors came out that night!
I took photos with the other award winners that night
Then it was time for photos with anyone willing to join a photo with me, including some of the VIPs there that night.
It was incredible to honored like that. I have won a few more awards in South Korea since then, but it will be difficult to compare with that one. I have also been nominated for a few but didn't win, which is fine because sometimes it is also fine just to be nominated.