FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2022

INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chief Master Al Dilegge
Chief of Staff, Masters’ Council
501-568-2821
al.dileege@ataonline.com

ATA Songahm Masters’ Council Announces Regional Awards Reinstatement and Winners

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS (April 11, 2022) – ATA Songahm Masters’ Council, under the direction of Grand Master Soon Ho Lee, is pleased to announce the reinstatement of 4 regional level awards and their winners. These award winners serve as inspirational leaders to the ATA, they embody the core values of serving students and being committed to Songahm Taekwondo.

The awards are:
• Regional Appreciation Award: Given to someone who selflessly donates their time and attention to supporting their region based on participation at camps, tournaments, etc. This individual leads in a cheerful manner, uplifting his/her fellow students, instructors, and licensees. There are no rank or station requirements for this award and could even be given to a dedicated parent.

• Black Belt of the Year: Given to an adult black belt at least 1BD in rank that demonstrates the outstanding qualities we all desire our black belt students to exhibit. These qualities include participating in most regional events, giving 100% while physically training and being a living example of the Spirit of Songahm. There are no collar or station requirements for this award, however, it is my recommendation that this award be given to a 1st-5th degree black belt based on their performance as a black belt student, not an instructor.

• Jr. Black Belt of the Year: Given to a jr. black belt at least 1BD in rank, age 17 and under, who demonstrates the outstanding qualities we all desire our black belt students to exhibit. These qualities include participating in most regional events, giving 100% while physically training and being a living example of the Spirit of Songahm. There are no collar or station requirements for this award, however, it is my recommendation that this award be given to a 1st-3rd degree black belt based on their performance as a black belt student, not an instructor.

• Instructor of the Year: Given to a certified instructor based upon their leadership as an instructor and participation in the region. The individual receiving this award should participate in most regional events, support tournaments by bringing students and as a judge, and encourage their students to participate in regional events all while embodying the Spirit of Songahm. I believe it should go without saying, but perhaps not, that the recipient should actually teach classes on a weekly basis, either directly to students or their staff, rather than just serving in a licensee capacity.

The award winners are:

• Region 101
Regional Appreciation – Andrew Hoard, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Joey Fradella, 1st Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Ayden Whitmore, 1st Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Master Jonathan Hedrick, 6th Degree Black Belt

• Region 102A
Regional Appreciation – Kyle Cuiching, 4th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Christopher Pajdzik, 4th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Sandra Sue Sager, 2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Eli Combs, 5th Degree Black Belt

• Region 102B
Regional Appreciation – Elizabeth Kafer
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Karmen Hoefelmeyer, 5th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Paul Swonger, 2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Sr. Master Paul Teboe, 7th Degree Black Belt

• Region 103A
Regional Appreciation – Kathy Thomas, 5th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Rosario Cruz, 4th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Luke Knee, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Chris Thibodeau, 4th Degree Black Belt

• Region 103B
Regional Appreciation – Master Wade McCoig, 6th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Taylor Wallace, 4th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Marielle Uy, 1st Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Jacob Kadel, 5th Degree Black Belt

• Region 104
Regional Appreciation – Brooke Trautwein-Bairos, 5th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Rafael Richardson, 4th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Lily Fitzgerald, 1st Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Master Jesse Isaacs, 6th Degree Black Belt

• Region 105
Regional Appreciation – Master Jack Cochnar, 6th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Alyssa Cochnar, 6th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Caitlin Thornhill, 2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Master Rex Willems, 7th Degree Black Belt

• Region 106
Regional Appreciation – Master Jay Martin, 6th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Patricia Mills, 4th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Richard Scott, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Heather Spencer-Ennis, 4th Degree Black Belt

• Region 107
Regional Appreciation – Sr. Master Dane Owings, 7th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Christopher Sheppard, 4th Degree Black Belt

• Region 108
Regional Appreciation – Ch. Master Darrin Palmer, 8th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Kesha Deshields, 5th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Alexis Pieper, 2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Master Mitchell Church, 6th Degree Black Belt

• Region 109
Regional Appreciation – Bryan Fry, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Penny Graves, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Wesley Ingber, 1st Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Sr. Master Joel Bass, 7th Degree Black Belt

• Region 110
Regional Appreciation – Master Maria Jouan, 6th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Dalton Shanahan, 4th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Ulyses Paiz, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Jason Lewis, 4th Degree Black Belt

• Region 111A
Regional Appreciation – Sr. Master Julia Wegmann, 7th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Michael Brown II, 5th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Cheyenne Morgan, 2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Master Max Crucitti, 6th Degree Black Belt

• Region 111B
Regional Appreciation – Sean English, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Julie Yeasted, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Sampadha Shankaran, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Annette Watson, 3rd Degree Black Belt

• Region 112
Regional Appreciation – Sr. Master Dometrius Hill, 7th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Amy Miller, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Kyrene Cox, 1st Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Mary Johannesen, 4th Degree Black Belt

• Region 114
Regional Appreciation – Kenny Peterson, 6th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Marissa Fulkerson, 5th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Zachary Aichele, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Faith Clevenger, 4th Degree Black Belt

• Region 115
Regional Appreciation – Joe King
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Scott Roth, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Ryan Van Horn, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Suneeta Bhavikatti, 5h Degree Black Belt

• Region 116
Regional Appreciation – Debbi Beaujeux
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Reina Dicks, 5th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Caleb Dendy, 2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Jennifer Hoover, 5th Degree Black Belt

• Region 117
Regional Appreciation – Justin John, 5th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Ariel Woldman, 5th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Ryann Hopp, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Aisha Metwalli, 4th Degree Black Belt

• Region 118
Regional Appreciation – Sr. Master Nick Keene, 7th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Gretchen Pahia, 2nd Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – A.C. Pahia, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Sr. Master Lee Feiles, 8th Degree Black Belt

• Region 119B
Regional Appreciation – Master Carson Clews, 6th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Tiffany Miller, 1st Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Amaya Huggins, 2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Chris Kostielney, 4th Degree Black Belt

• Region 119C
Regional Appreciation – Timothy Millard, 5th Degree Black Belt

• Region 119D
Regional Appreciation – Dayna Dawson, 1st Degree Black Belt

• Region 120EU
Regional Appreciation – Jaime Freeman, 4th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Antonio Marques da Cruz, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Rodrigo Garrido, 2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Nuno Tomas Pereira, 3rd Degree Black Belt

• Region 120SA
Regional Appreciation – Rohan Verwey, 6th Degree Black Belt
Adult Black Belt of the Year – Andre Van Tonder, 5th Degree Black Belt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year – Mikayla De Bruyn, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Instructor of the Year – Anecke Viljeon, 4th Degree Black Belt

The regional awards will be presented in person at the winner’s home district tournament. These regional winners will now move on to the pool for international awards and in the weeks to come the Masters’ Council Awards Subcommittee will select the nominees and winners for the international awards.

About ATA International
The ATA was founded in 1969 by Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee. The organization is internationally headquartered in Little Rock, AR and has called the state capital home since 1977. With active membership approaching 300,000 worldwide, ATA is North America’s largest martial arts organization dedicated to the discipline of Taekwondo. ATA is a pioneer in the martial arts industry because of its unique Songahm style curriculum.

For more information about ATA, visit www.atamartialarts.com.