Alaska's tiny town mulls over Taekwondo dojo as potential savior for the local school
Small-town Whale Pass, Alaska, with its less than a hundred residents and no grocery store, has earned a unique title. This remote location offers certified Taekwondo as a school sport, thanks to the determination of one 12-year-old boy. Michael Fanelli, reporting for us, explains how this might just save their school from closing.
Ready, go! Older students grunt, following the commands from their online Taekwondo instructor, Senior Master Dometrius Hill, from Texas. Despite the internet connection issues, Jesse Dempsey, the 12-year-old black belt, understands each command flawlessly.
Jesse's mom, Michelle Dempsey, laughs, "We apologize for the technical difficulties, but this is a day in the life of Whale Pass Taekwondo."
Master Hill took notice of the isolated town's absence in regional Taekwondo competitions. Last year, Alaska never made an appearance on the map due to a lack of participating schools. This year, it does, thanks to the dedication of the Whale Pass kids.
Four of these students bagged first place at a tournament in Idaho last October, catching the attention of the Taekwondo world. It all began when the Dempseys moved to Whale Pass a couple of years ago. Jesse had been training with Hill in Texas and refused to give it up.
"That's who he looks up to," said Michelle Dempsey. "So I wanted to keep that dynamic going for him."
Jesse's peers soon noticed the engaging activity, and he would practice Taekwondo on the school playground during recess. Master Hill invited the other kids to join in on the lessons, forming the only certified Songahm Taekwondo studio in Alaska.
Despite the stark beauty of Whale Pass, Jesse struggles with its isolation and high costs. However, his mother credits Taekwondo for developing his maturity.
The school in Whale Pass faces closures due to low enrollment. If they can't get at least 10 students by fall, they risk losing state funding. To address this issue, they are creating a magnet school to draw students from across the country. With Alaska's only certified Songahm Taekwondo studio, this could be their saving grace.
If they can't maintain the critical enrollment number, the school will close. Meanwhile, the students are preparing for the regional Taekwondo championships in Oregon, starting on Saturday. Stay tuned for more updates from Whale Pass.
Enrichment Data: The population of Whale Pass, Alaska, is incredibly small, with fewer than a hundred residents. This small size, coupled with the isolation and lack of basic amenities like a grocery store, presents challenges for the school and the community. The introduction of Taekwondo as a certified school sport has revitalized the community's spirit and has the potential to attract students from other areas. However, maintaining a critical enrollment number is crucial for preventing the school's closure. The support and resources provided by ATA Martial Arts could be instrumental in saving the school from closure by boosting enrollment and interest in the program.
The Taekwondo studio in Whale Pass, Alaska, serves as a magnet for students, aiming to attract enrollment from across the country to prevent school closure. The small community is eagerly following the progress of their Taekwondo students as they prepare for the regional championships in Oregon. Meanwhile, education and self-development through Taekwondo continues to play a significant role in the lives of its residents, providing news of both general and sports interest. Despite the challenges presented by Whale Pass's remote location, the community's dedication to this martial art might just secure their school's future.
