Emissary of the Arts Award - 2022 Never Settle Awards

2022 Never Settle Award recipients & nominees (L - R) Stephen Watson, Dennis Campo, Kellie Thomas, Danielle Mathura-Millholen — Never Settle Award recipients & nominees (L - R) Stephen Watson, Dennis Campo, Kellie Thomas, Danielle Mathura-Millholen

The whistlekick Never Settle Awards grew out of a combination of core concepts fundamental and foundational to the whistlekick brand. Ideas such as “everyone would benefit from six months of traditional martial art” and “you don’t stop being a martial artist when you walk out of the training hall” are common ties among all of the awards. Each Never Settle Award also represents a specific part of what it means to be a Martial Artist. How many parents sign their children up for classes based on ideals such as honesty, integrity, perseverance, and self-respect because that is what they want them to demonstrate on a daily basis? The Never Settle Awards give Martial Artists an opportunity to know not only that they made an impact but that the community around them recognizes and appreciates its importance. Additionally, by sharing these stories, future masterpieces of Martial Arts will hopefully be inspired, created, and ultimately shared.

The Emissary of the Arts Award highlights those who have contributed to the larger community in addition to the martial arts, making the world a better place. Ideal nominees would demonstrate the positive qualities of martial arts and martial artists in ways not directly tied to martial arts. Many martial arts schools use positive character traits as a benefit to be grown from continued training. This year’s nominees demonstrate these qualities routinely beyond the walls of their schools such that people know the nominee based on actions and deeds, not on martial arts rank, ability, or martial arts notoriety. Whistlekick would like to take this opportunity to recognize the other two nominees who placed in the top three during the voting process for the 2022 Emissary of the Arts Award.

Danielle Mathura-Millholen

Danielle Mathura-Millholen is a very humble young woman who does not look for recognition but is deserving of this nomination because of her fierce dedication to Martial Arts. Danielle began her journey when she was ten and has trained every day of every week since. As Danielle’s skills developed, she would willingly help other students who seemed to be struggling with a form or self-defense. She continued this path by teaching students at her Martial Arts Academy, at the Community Center, and for the Capitol Region Education Council Magnet Schools. Danielle prioritized martial arts while recently completing her bachelor’s degree in health sciences and working retail where the positive effect of her training has heavily influenced her ability to focus, to complete large tasks, and communicate with others. She enjoys making others feel confident in themselves and their skills and goes above and beyond for the students she trains.

Mr. Colin Moeller

Mr. Colin Moeller would tell you he doesn’t deserve this nomination. He would tell you to vote for somebody else. That concept embodies the way that Mr. Moeller presents himself as a leader in both martial arts and the local community. Those that have known him for over a decade say that he is never much of a talker, preferring to lead by example. He quietly serves people he meets in such a way that makes others want to work on improving themselves. Mr. Moeller carries himself with a strong character while simultaneously judging nobody for their own actions and decisions. He meets people where they are and connects with them in a way that gently nudges everyone around to want to improve themselves. He would never tell someone he is a martial arts instructor unless explicitly asked, yet always behaves in the epitome of what we would call a peaceful warrior.