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2024-2025 Regional Award Winners
In 2020, ATA initiated a collaboration with the Master's Council to standardize awards both regionally and internationally. This initiative has enabled us to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of many unsung leaders within the ATA.
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 cheerfully, 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. The award will be the traditional white and silver ribbon pin.
• 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 recommended that this award is given to a 1st-5th degree black belt based on their performance as a black belt student, not an instructor. The regional award will be the original, solid black ribbon pin.
• 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 recommended that this award is given to a 1st-3rd degree black belt based on their performance as a black belt student, not an instructor. The regional award will be the original black with r/w/b stripe ribbon pin.
• 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. We believe it should go without saying, that the recipient should teach classes every week, either directly to students or their staff, rather than just serving in a licensee capacity. The regional award will be the black with 1 red stripe ribbon pin formerly given to regional trainee instructor of the Year.
We are honored to recognize those amongst us who worked so hard last year. Congratulations to the 2024 Regional Award winners!
REGION 101
Regional Appreciation Senior Master Beth Giles
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Mark Bledsoe
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Ali Asgar Chaklasi
Instructor of the Year Mr. Xander Bowers
REGION 102A
Regional Appreciation Ms. Sherleen Candreva
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Mark Snyder
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Parker Harrington
Instructor of the Year Mr. Kris Guerrero
REGION 102B
Regional Appreciation Ms. Beth Whaley
Black Belt of the Year Ms. Shelley Roemer
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Max Husband
Instructor of the Year Master Andy Dixon
REGION 103A
Regional Appreciation Senior Master Henry Park
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Russell Meyer
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Anika Bond
Instructor of the Year Ms. Kelsie Telson Teodoro
REGION 103B
Regional Appreciation Ms. Stephanie Harvey
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Gage Tansill
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Skyler Milner
Instructor of the Year Ms. Berlin Herrera
REGION 104
Regional Appreciation Master Celestino Argudin
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Michael Farrell
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Julissa Broeder
Instructor of the Year Mr. Zachary Thompson
REGION 105
Regional Appreciation Senior Master Rex Willems
Black Belt of the Year Ms. Jenna Lierman
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Lexi Novak
Instructor of the Year Mr. Mark Metsenburg
REGION 106
Regional Appreciation N/A
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Shaun Hiatt
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Gavin Hiatt
Instructor of the Year N/A
REGION 107
Regional Appreciation Ms. Kathy Lesky
Black Belt of the Year Ms. Sheila Yee
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Owen Glasgow
Instructor of the Year Ms. Selena Swan
REGION 108
Regional Appreciation Chief Master Darrin Palmer
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Nicholas Becker
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Aiden Gomez
Instructor of the Year Mr. Tyler Church
REGION 109
Regional Appreciation Master Jon Runge
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Trent Coon
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Ayden Digby
Instructor of the Year Master Kenny Overby
REGION 110A
Regional Appreciation Mr. Chris Delmar
Black Belt of the Year Ms. Donna Carr
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Lara Reilly
Instructor of the Year Mr. Ulyses Paiz
REGION 110B
Regional Appreciation Ms. Laura Bures
Black Belt of the Year Mr. James Ministeri
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Chloe Hatch
Instructor of the Year Mr. Tim-Ming Fung
REGION 111A
Regional Appreciation Chief Master Michael Wegmann
Black Belt of the Year Ms. Cecilia Person
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Katie Tutor
Instructor of the Year Master Jharen Haynes
REGION 111B
Regional Appreciation Mr. Jeffrey Page
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Kevin Xu
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Kevin Watson
Instructor of the Year Mr. Camilo Gonzalez
REGION 112
Regional Appreciation Master Andy Wirtner
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Dylan Joseph
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Jocelyn Hilton
Instructor of the Year Ms. Shaynee Sustaire
REGION 114
Regional Appreciation Ms. Alainna Joly
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Frank Weber
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Kimber Arndt
Instructor of the Year Ms. Stephanie Lang
REGION 115
Regional Appreciation Ms. Sarah King
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Ken Buckholtz
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Emmalyn Bokarae
Instructor of the Year Mr. Casey Kendall
REGION 116
Regional Appreciation Ms. Becky Hammond
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Taylor Thomas
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Shawn Nettles
Instructor of the Year Ms. Jenna Hammond
REGION 117
Regional Appreciation Ms. Deb Bruggeman
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Choi Thomas
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Preston Gehring
Instructor of the Year Chief Master Jason Gehring
REGION 118
Regional Appreciation Ms. Gretchen Pahia
Black Belt of the Year Ms. Jessica Latherow
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Max Azbell
Instructor of the Year Master Seg Jaucian
REGION 119A/B
Regional Appreciation Master John Meyer
Black Belt of the Year Ms. Avery Varnum
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Maclara Mulkey
Instructor of the Year Mr. Justin Patton
REGION 119C
Regional Appreciation Mr. Timothy Millard
Black Belt of the Year Ms. Neha Chumber
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Yasmine Mahdi
Instructor of the Year Mr. David Durkie
REGION 119D
Regional Appreciation Master Kevin Kluckhohn
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Zac Reznik
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. Ethan Weisgerber
Instructor of the Year Mr. Keith Ayers
REGION 120EU
Regional Appreciation Master Pedro Tanger
Black Belt of the Year Ms. Mun Mun Singh
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Ms. Elise Gerard
Instructor of the Year Ms. Chaimae Boumahraz
REGION 120SA
Regional Appreciation Ms. Elzabe Brink
Black Belt of the Year Mr. Phillip Barwise
Jr. Black Belt of the Year Mr. SJ Van Rensburg
Instructor of the Year Master JP Vorster
GET READY FOR WORLDS!
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at the Phoenix Convention Center.
July 22-27, 2025