2019 Honorees
Lilly Wellman
“Through working with numerous people from different backgrounds at Taekwondo, I have found my calling for what I want to do in the future. Taekwondo gives me the gift of interacting with everyone and through this I am inspired to create a career for the purpose of bettering people. Working as an instructor there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the smiles and appreciation of children when I am able to help them learn their curriculum. Though teaching the tenets of Taekwondo to students these ideals continuously are engraved in my character. Seeing children continue to persevere and break the board on multiple attempts inspires me and reinforces the truth that success is almost never immediate. My future is full of unknowns but I know that with my tenets of Taekwondo filled mindset and desire to push others towards success I will be prepared for whatever there is to encounter.”
Chris Ferrari
“As I have finished my first week of college I can tell it will be much different than high school. There will be more work to do and less time to do it in. Taekwondo will help me get through the next few years. Taekwondo's tenet of courtesy will teach me to always treat my professors with respect no matter the circumstance. Self-control will allow me to keep my cool with my peers, indomitable spirit will allow me to do everything with my best foot forward, perseverance has given me the tools to keep my head high and to keep enduring, integrity will keep my honesty and its highest peak when many students succumb to cheating.“
Vincent Le
“I truly cannot envision what my life would have been like without Taekwondo. If I were to have taken a different route in life, I know that I would be a subpar version of myself. This is because training has ingrained the philosophy of Taekwondo into who I am today. From practicing my horse stance as a white belt to competitively training as a black belt, I have grown up with Taekwondo. Time has truly gone by fast and I am in disbelief because of how much I have changed as a person. With my next chapter in life ahead of me, I know that Taekwondo will always be a part of me.”
Lance Ognibene
“The values Taekwondo has instilled in me, specifically courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit will continue to guide me in my next chapter of life. I am looking forward to the challenges and opportunities my senior year of high school will provide. As I move closer to college life, there are going to be bigger decisions and responsibilities that I will be faced with. As long as I stay true to the tenets of Taekwondo, I feel I can face a challenge of any magnitude.”