Prior winners of the US Cup Taekwondo Grandmaster Moo Yong Lee Memorial Scholarship are listed here. To apply for next year’s scholarship, see the Scholarship page.
2024-25 Winners
The recipients of the Grandmaster Moo Yong Lee Memorial Scholarship were Punarvash Mitta, Janze Richardson and Garrett Roach. We congratulate these accomplished students, each of whom received $1,000 for tuition to higher education.
Punarvash Mitta
“Though every day was mentally, physically, and emotionally grueling, I grew as a person. Joining his school helped me deal with bullies and helped me become a person who was always positive in the face of dire challenges. Ever since, I have sought to provide a similar feeling of satisfaction and self-appreciation to others through martial arts.”
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
College: Rice University, Phoenix, AZ
Rank: 2nd Dan
Janze Richardson
“Taekwondo helped me push myself beyond my comfort zone. It taught me diligence and respect. But most of all, beyond all else Taekwondo helped me feel confident, in my strength and myself. Taekwondo helped me become proud of myself”
Hometown: Manchester, CT
College: George Washington University, Washington DC
Rank: High Red Belt
Garrett Roach
“Through the many experiences I’ve had in Tae Kwon Do, the most important thing I’ve gained is a sense of belonging and personal security. That feeling of safety and love has given me the strength I need to make it through life, and the confidence that I’ve gained in becoming a black-belt instructor has taught me that I have what it takes to bring others up, just like my instructor did for me.”
Hometown: Henderson, KY
College: University of Southern Indiana
Rank: 1st Dan
2022-23 Winners
The recipients of the Grandmaster Moo Yong Lee Memorial Scholarship were Lauren Bagshaw of South Windsor, CT and Vivien Jiang of Pelham, NH. We congratulate these two accomplished students, each of whom received $1,000 for tuition to higher education.
Lauren Bagshaw
“Tae Kwon Do has made me physically stronger, faster, and more agile … the regimented aspects of the practice have tested my resilience, built my work ethic, and expanded my understanding of respect and discipline. Tae Kwon Do, as a way of being, has given me the strength to face life’s challenges with a greater awareness and understanding”
Hometown: South Windsor, CT
College: The Hartt School, University of Hartford, Connecticut
Rank: Blue Belt
Vivien Jiang
“Through taekwondo, my Grandmasters taught me lessons about life I didn’t even know I needed to learn, lessons I will forever be grateful for.”
Hometown: Pelham, NH
College: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Rank: Blue Belt
2020-21 Winners
The recipients of the 3rd annual Grandmaster Moo Yong Lee Memorial Scholarship in 2020 were Bennett Ducharme of Windham, NH and Sarah Wilper of Vernon, CT. We congratulate these two accomplished students, each of whom received $1,000 for tuition to higher education.
Bennett Ducharme
“Over the last twelve years, Tae Kwon Do has become a family for me because of the love for the sport, the mutual respect, and the comradery. When I began this sport I was impatient, unfocused, and timid but over the years I began realizing I was able to be myself. I started to enjoy the class structure and began working hard, finding my voice, learning to be calm and more outgoing.”
Hometown: Windham, NH
College: Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
Rank: 3rd Dan
Sarah Wilper
“I learned that focusing on the moment, the breath and the movement in Tae Kwon Do was what I needed to do. I had to be present in my training. That learning has carried into my everyday life.”
Hometown: Vernon, CT
College: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Rank: 2nd dan
2019-20 Winners
The recipients of the 2nd annual Grandmaster Moo Yong Lee Memorial Scholarship in 2019 were Joshua Duvall of Manchester, CT and Rohit Kantipudi of Madbury, NH. We congratulate these two accomplished students, each of whom received $1,000 for tuition to higher education based on their personal character, scholarship, and achievement in Taekwondo.
Joshua Duvall
“Tae Kwon Do is a constant in my life. I began practicing at United Tae Kwon Do when I was four, where I eventually achieved my black belt under Grandmaster Moo Yong Lee. Tae Kwon Do helps shape how I affect the world around me; its tenets encourage me to make a difference when I can. I take the discipline and training Tae Kwon Do instills in me and apply it to everything I do”
Hometown: Manchester, CT
College: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Rank: 1st dan
Rohit Kantipudi
“In my ten years of training, I’ve only missed seeing Grandmaster Park [Park’s TKD, Portsmouth, NH] at the dojang three times. This is a spectacular testament to the benefits of Taekwondo on the practioner. Experiencing the great respect Grandmaster Park wields in the Seacoast area and all the physical benefits he’s gained have made me want to reach higher in Taekwondo.”
Hometown: Madbury, NH
College: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
Rank: 2nd Dan
2018-19 Winners
The recipients of the inaugural Grandmaster Moo Yong Lee Memorial Scholarship in 2018 were Krister DG Barclay of Craftsbury, VT and Leslie D. Hernandez of Manchester, CT. We congratulate these two accomplished students, each of whom received $1,000 for tuition to higher education based on their personal character, scholarship, and achievement in Taekwondo.
Krister DG Barclay
“The sport has taught me the mental aspect that I live by everyday: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, and Indomitable Spirit. Taekwondo has taught me to set short and long term goals, striving to reach excellence in the sport. Setting goals in taekwondo has also taught me to set goals in school, other sports, and other aspects of life.
This scholarship will help me focus more on my major and help me further achieve academic excellence.”
Hometown: Craftsbury, VT
College: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ
Rank: 2nd Dan
Leslie D. Hernandez
“Being a part of the Taekwondo community has helped me make decisions in life as well as help me understand the importance of prioritizing…I’ve gained strength, courage, and a family from martial arts who have helped and supported me.
Ever since beginning my studies at MCC, I have experienced so much and learned so many new things to help me along the way to my degree. Not only my degree, but a way to better my future for my daughter and me.”
Hometown: Manchester, CT
College: Manchester Community College, Manchester, CT
Rank: 3rd Dan