2019 AAU Taekwondo Youth Leadership Award Winner - Avery Pardue

01/07/2020


Congratulations to Avery Pardue, this year’s female recipient of the 2019 Amateur Athletic Union Taekwondo Leadership Award.

Congratulations to Avery Pardue, this year’s recipient of the 2019 Amateur Athletic Union Taekwondo Leadership Award.
 
​Meet Avery Pardue who has become an accomplished 2nd Degree Black Belt training with more than 10 years’ experience.  Her AAU competition record is impressive with multiple National and International tournament wins including winning the US Open in 2017. She also is a National Guard scholar athlete and Union Academy Varsity letter in track.
                                             
Avery’s competition history is astonishing having participated and earning bronze in the 2019 French Open.  Besides winning gold at the 2019 AAU Taekwondo International Martial Arts Festival she was an alternate National team member for AAU Taekwondo.
 
Being a champion outside of class, Avery has shown great leadership by becoming an assistant instructor and volunteers at summer camp.  Avery has been an active leader in building her school's participation for helping children in Cote d’Ivoire in Africa.  Together with the WOW students they were able to send 10 boxes of gear to CIV and through that process not only helped many kids over there, but also helped strengthen ties with athletes and coaches that they stay in contact with.  She has demonstrated extraordinary leadership by becoming an excellent role model inside and outside of her martial arts. 
 
Outside of Taekwondo she takes her academics just as seriously.  A scholar athlete award, A & A/B Honor roll, AP participation, National Junior Beta Club and National Junior Honor Society while maintaining a 4.4 GPA.
 
Avery is one of those special athletes that knows how to demonstrate good sportsmanship. She is very coachable and knows how to listen.  She enjoys coming back to the dojang to share her experiences and inspires others while doing so.  Whether she’s competing, coaching or officiating Avery shows everyone she meets why she is special, and we all benefit from knowing her.  Whether it’s sparring at Nationals or organizing a worldwide gear drive to help African athletes or consoling a crying child at camp, Avery shows all the tenets of Taekwondo that she lives by every day.