Gold Star Martial Arts in Crete, Seward and Lincoln has been helping kids learn martial arts while also helping them build confidence, character and focus, and an instructor and student are up for international awards.
Miss Master Alyssa Cochnar has been nominated for International Instructor of the Year along with four others. Cochnar also said student Nick Watenpaugh won Region 105 Junior Black Belt of the Year and is now been nominated for an international award.
“We are so proud of his (Watenpaugh’s) hard work,” she said. “He is a leadership student and on our Legacy Team. As a teenager, he is already learning how to become and working towards being an instructor.”
On top of Watenpaugh’s training, Cochnar said he helps with classes, attends regional trainings and tournaments and is a member of the Gold Star demonstration team, Team Velocity. He is also involved within his community.
Cochnar said each nominee goes through regional nominations first.
“Each ATA region accepts nominees for the following four awards: Regional Appreciation Award, Instructor of the Year, Black Belt of the Year and Junior Black Belt of the Year,” she said. “Once nominations are submitted, the regional committee determines the regional winner for each award.”
Once regional winners are announced, they are narrowed down to five international nominees.
Cochnar said she was shocked to have been nominated.
“I am honored to have been chosen as ATA’s Region 105 Instructor of the Year,” she said. “I was surprised and excited to find out I was up for nomination for the international award.”
The international awards will be announced at the ATA Martial Arts World Regionals in July in Phoenix.
Cochnar said martial arts has always been her passion.
“It’s more than just a sport/activity. It’s a way of life,” she said.
Along with loving martial arts, Cochnar said she loves working with her students, including children, teens and adults.
“At Gold Star ATA, we pride ourselves in being a life skills learning center,” she said. “We want students to become the best versions of themselves in every aspect of their lives. It’s a great feeling to see the changes in students over time.”
