The U-T awards program emerged from the media company’s core goals, which include reflecting the diversity of the county. Latinos make up about one-third of the region’s population. To qualify for Thursday’s honors, individuals had to embody the U-T definition of a Latino champion: “a San Diego County resident of Latino descent who has taken an active role above and beyond his/her paid employment and has made a significant impact on the cultural lives of his/her community.”