2025-2026 Regional Award Winners

In 2020, ATA began working with the Masters Council to create a more consistent regional and international awards process. Since then, this initiative has helped us recognize the meaningful contributions of many dedicated leaders who often serve quietly behind the scenes.

This year, ATA also successfully launched Award Force for regional award nominations and regional committee voting. This new software helped streamline the process, making it easier than ever for Masters and Licensees to submit nominations and for regional committees to review and vote.

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 celebrate those who worked so hard throughout the past year. Congratulations to the 2025 Regional Award winners!

REGION 101A

Regional Appreciation              Ms. Brandy Hoard       

Black Belt of the Year               Mr. Andrew Drace                                     

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Ms. Sequoia Charland                                             

Instructor of the Year               Chief Master Choung Soo Ko    

REGION 102A                              

Regional Appreciation              Master Jim Wade                          

Black Belt of the Year               Mr. Greg Shierling                                           

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Ms. Maya Moh                                              

Instructor of the Year               Master Michael Moh                                        

REGION 102B

Regional Appreciation              Mr. Mason Franks                                         

Black Belt of the Year               Mr. Ben Holtz                                 

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Ms. Danielle Crowl                                     

Instructor of the Year               Ms. Stacey Griffiths                                    

REGION 103A

Regional Appreciation              Chief Master Shannon Coffee                                     

Black Belt of the Year               Master Jonah Magness                                       

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Ms. Charlotte Knee                                          

Instructor of the Year               Master Kevin Cano-Koscelek                                    

REGION 103B

Regional Appreciation              Chief Master Kenneth Church                                         

Black Belt of the Year               Mr. Noah Mercado                                          

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Ms. Addison Payne                        

Instructor of the Year               Ms. Alyssa Montalto                                      

REGION 104

Regional Appreciation              Ms. Karina Isaacs     

Black Belt of the Year               Ms. Sarah Reper     

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Mr. Ramesses Carnero   

Instructor of the Year               Ms. Brooke Bairos

REGION 105

Regional Appreciation              Master Lee Wagner                                  

Black Belt of the Year               Mr. Jasaan Cox                                    

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Mr. Preston Hunter                             

Instructor of the Year               Mr. Judah Ekeland               

REGION 106

Regional Appreciation              Ms. Sheree Dunay       

Black Belt of the Year               Mr. Brian Thomas Moberly            

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Mr. Julian Meier                          

Instructor of the Year               Ms. Katrina Nimmo                      

REGION 107

Regional Appreciation              Mr. Christopher Sheppard

Black Belt of the Year               Ms. Michelle Stewart                              

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Ms. Isabella Gimroth                   

Instructor of the Year               Mr. Cory Ball                        

REGION 108

Regional Appreciation              Ms. Bonnie Rhodes                 

Black Belt of the Year               Mr. Alex Law                 

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Ms. Ellie Stone                        

Instructor of the Year               Master Jimmy Bell                          

REGION 109

Regional Appreciation              Ms. Jill Cross                       

Black Belt of the Year               Ms. Bernadette DuBois                              

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Ms. Sydra Swonger                           

Instructor of the Year               Master Christy Overby                               

REGION 110A

Regional Appreciation              Ms. Wendy Collins                        

Black Belt of the Year               Mr. Dalton Shanahan                           

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Mr. Erik Robinson                              

Instructor of the Year               Master Christian Thorne                             

REGION 110B

Regional Appreciation              Mr. Sean McCormack         

Black Belt of the Year               Mr. Brian Bures  

Jr. Black Belt of the Year          Ms. Sofia Kham

Instructor of the Year               Mr. Cody Obropta

REGION 111A

Regional Appreciation                Ms. Deebhanjali Sundar

Black Belt of the Year                 Ms. Jamie Aversa     

Jr. Black Belt of the Year            Mr. Emory Flowers             

Instructor of the Year                 Ms. Lainalee Rambow             

REGION 111B

Regional Appreciation               Master Melynda Cordry            

Black Belt of the Year                Mr. John Mobley Jr.                  

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Mr. Omar Dib        

Instructor of the Year                Mr. Neri Madriaga

REGION 112

Regional Appreciation               Senior Master Laura Zant 

Black Belt of the Year                Mr. Kraig Paul Cox       

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Mr. Charlie Norris      

Instructor of the Year                Chief Master Barbara Sustaire

REGION 114

Regional Appreciation               Ms. Nicole Collins 

Black Belt of the Year                Ms. Kristine Wiersma      

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Mr. Gavin Buseman     

Instructor of the Year                Mr. Jacob Lukkes

REGION 115

Regional Appreciation               Sanjana Bhavikatti           

Black Belt of the Year                Mr. Charles Beckham      

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Mr. Arturo De Los Santos

Instructor of the Year                Mr. Mickey Ingardi      

REGION 116

Regional Appreciation               Ms. Traci McCranie              

Black Belt of the Year                Mr. Quinton Chapple                     

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Mr. Tristan Smith                     

Instructor of the Year                Chief Master Jason Dendy              

REGION 117

Regional Appreciation               Mr. Scott Bruggeman                

Black Belt of the Year                Ms. Valerie Farester                        

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Mr. Luca DiLegge                  

Instructor of the Year                Senior Master Michelle Pavlik                 

REGION 118

Regional Appreciation               Senior Master Jessiah Rueckert                  

Black Belt of the Year                Mr. Patricio Gutierrez               

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Mr. Ethan Tang                              

Instructor of the Year                Mr. Sebastian Healey   

REGION 119A/B

Regional Appreciation               Mr. Thompson Rogers                    

Black Belt of the Year                Ms. Sydney Eldred                     

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Mr. Jesse Dempsey                  

Instructor of the Year                Mr. Justin Patton                         

REGION 119C

Regional Appreciation               Ms. Tiffany John                   

Black Belt of the Year                Ms. Sharleen Singh                  

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Ms. Alexis Wilson                  

Instructor of the Year                Mr. Connor John                          

REGION 119D

Regional Appreciation               Mr. Kevin Kluckhohn                        

Black Belt of the Year                Mr. Zachary Reznik                              

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Ms. Cristina Hernandez                              

Instructor of the Year                Mr. Gaston Calone                              

REGION 120EU

Regional Appreciation               Ms. Carolina Santos                 

Black Belt of the Year                Mr. Xander van Loon                 

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Mr. Duarte Santos                         

Instructor of the Year                Mr. Thomas Bardwell                     

REGION 120SA

Regional Appreciation               Ms. Cornelia Bosch                         

Black Belt of the Year                Ms. Leanri Taljaard                     

Jr. Black Belt of the Year           Ms. Omphile Lekgobo                 

Instructor of the Year                Mr. Jean-Pierre Vorster