Michael Kerns, a 5th grade green belt, was chosen as the Student of the Year for 2014 at the AKS West Virginia Fall Seminar. Michael is a student at Salem Karate Club in Salem, West Virginia under the instruction of John Folsom, 8th dan. Michael started his training with Sensei Folsom in early 2012.

Michael is a very talented and promising martial artist. He is quiet but observant, with a respectful attitude and a strong willingness to learn. He is always open to any suggestions for improvement, and applies those instructions immediately without having to be reminded. Michael is consistent in his attendance and training, diligent, and reliable. He has attended all local AKS Seminars since beginning his martial arts training. Besides being involved karate, Michael also plays on his school basketball team.

Michael Kerns is very deserving of this award by displaying the attitude, and respectful openness to learning that every karate instructor would be proud to have as a student. Congratulations Michael!

Sandra Gore 2nd Dan / American Karate System

The Galicic Family was awarded the 2013 West Virginia Students of the Year at the AKS Fall Seminar on November 2, 2013. The Galicics started karate at Mountaineer Karate Club about a year and a half ago. Ethan Galicic was introduced to the martial arts when he was 13, studying Indonesian Pentjak Silat, where he also studied Arnis. He recently graduated from Colorado Christian University with an Associate's degree in Biblical Studies. Ethan says that Martial Arts has been in his heart from a young age, and that the AKS has opened that door again for his whole family in a great way.

Brandi and Ethan II began their martial arts training with Mountaineer Karate Club. Brandi grew up with horses and loves riding. She enjoys being outdoors, going for long walks, and fishing with her family.

Ethan II is 9 years old and enjoys going to church, playing games, and having snowball fights with his friends. His little sister, Savannah, keeps busy with her toys during class, but occasionally will join us for warm-ups and techniques. The whole family has been involved with the "Meals on Wheels" program in Shinnston, West Virginia for several years; delivering food to the elderly.

The Galicics are very hard-working, dedicated students who love coming to class and working out. They are always eager to learn and help out, always respectful and thankful, and a true pleasure to have in class. They are a very devout, loving family who enjoys working out together because they believe it has brought them closer together as a family.

Congratulations Galicic family!

Sandra Gore 2nd Dan / American Karate System

Jim Carroll started his martial arts career like a number of my Black Belts. He came to class to watch his daughter, Erin. We would talk, I answered questions, it was a very social beginning.

One night almost four yaers ago, Jim told me he was going to begin class with Erin. He thought it would be a great father/daughter activity. As he began training, his enthusiasm and commitment grew. He told me it was great fun to work out with his daughter; better than he had thought.

He also said that he had learned more self-defense in his first six months than he had in 20 years of working at one of Muskegon's correctional facilities. Jim is a correction officer and brings real street level experience to his training. In working with the inmates, he has been attacked several times, in which he successfully subdued the offender.

Jim works hard every class and is always more than happy to work with any student that needs help. He has been an asset to our class ever since he joined. During the past three years, he has had several surgeries, but never missed more than one class in a row. He worked on whatever he could to stay active while his injuries healed.

Jim's dedication and commitment were inadvertently showcased at his Black Belt testing this summer. When performing Cat Form 1, he landed on the edge of his right foot and rolled over on his ankle. I knew it was a painful injury. When I asked him if he wanted to stop, his response was a firm, "no way!" Jim's determination to finishing the test, told me that he had developed a Black Belt attitude.

There is no quitting in Jim Carroll. Congratulations Jim on a well deserved award!

Dave Thomas 8th Dan / American Karate System

Jared Jablonski was presented with the "Toledo Student of the Year Award" for 2013 at this year's Toledo seminar on May 11, 2013.

Jared has always been a student who gives a total effort in whatever is in front of him. Whether it is warm-ups, basic self defense exercises, class drills or competing at a tournament, Jared has trained himself to have total focus and give it his all to make each repetition better than the last. He is definitely one of the best students I have encountered over the years at pushing himself to his own personal limits. He is NEVER satisfied with his accomplishments, and I think it is this characteristic that separates him from others in class.

After every review or testing he promises to do better next time (even though he was outstanding). After every tournament he promises to do better next time (even though he may have placed first in multiple events). After every class he promises to do better next time (even though he may have physically exhausted himself).

Jared has realized at a young age that results may not always be exactly what we want, but that giving our all and realizing that we can always do better is what is most important. He is very successful in tournaments but the results are not that important to him. Don't get me wrong . . . Jared wants to WIN as much as anybody (probably more than most) and is very disappointed when he doesn't, but his very next thought after this is "how can I improve on my performance?" He is someone who realizes that these improvements do not just happen. His approach to a challenge is planning, practice and focus. The ability to recognize this may be his greatest attribute.

I think it is obvious that Jared can and will be successful at overcoming whatever obstacle stands in front of him in the future.

Jared and his family should be very proud of this award. It is well deserved.

Rand Palmer 6th Dan / American Karate System