Karst Receives Recognition for Work With Irmo Youths
A newspaper clipping from a local paper
The Irmo Town Council gave long ,deserved recognition to Irmo resident Al Karst at a Tuesday night meeting of council.
Irmo Mayor David Wright praised Karst for his work with Irmo youths, through his Tai Kwon
Do classes, and for his dedication to the town. "Al Karst has delivered town newsletters ... he has been there anytime the town called on him," said Wright.Wright also read from a statement given to him by the mother of one of Mr. Karst's students. Although she wishes to remain anonymous, she did make the statement available.
Al Karst and his Tai Kwon
Do class are an example and an inspiration to us all. Mr. Karst is retired, and for the boys and girls in the community, it is a blessing to live in his neighborhood because he spends a very large portion of his time sharing his talents with them. He is an ideal example of a role model for us all. To experience the sight of Mr. Karst and his class , out in his front yard, is a real pleasure. It looks like a scene from a movie. Here is a man in his middle sixties who looks and acts like a much younger man., He's a man interested in life and those around him and it shows. He is a disciplined, hardworking man who has brought untold meaning to his life and the lives of the boys and girls he works with. Imagine spending 6 to 12 hours a week, year after year, with the kids in the neighborhood and (receiving) no monetary award. His reward is the pleasure and satisfaction he gets from working with these boys and girls...""The skills involved in this art (Tai Kwon
Do ) require complete self discipline, hard work, and sacrifice. It all helps to build strength of character, mind and body. It provides a deeper and richer understanding of live.""Mr. Karst spends other hours outside of class visiting his students at home, checking on their forms and practices, and schoolwork. Mr. Karst emphasizes schoolwork, working hard and always doing your best. Community service is also stressed. The group spends many hours picking up trash in Irmo, mowing yards and helping those in need."
"The boys and girls that are involved with Mr. Karst have untold opportunity ahead. He is leading them down the path of self-discipline, self pride and self-assurance. toward facing the world ahead. These boys and girls will never be dependent on drugs and alcohol to face life and it challenges. He is equipping them to walk into life straight, true and strong . As a mother of one of the boys Mr. Karst teaches, feel so thankful for my son's involvement with this man. Many boys and girls lives will run straighter, truer and happier because of this man's efforts and time he shares. He has made a difference in the lives of these boys and girls and their families."
"He has also visited Irmo Elementary School and talked to the children about discipline, respect for others, doing homework and staying away from negative substances. He has made a difference in children's citizenship behavior and their acceptance of responsibility. he proves that we can all learn more about self discipline and the doors it opens."
In accepting the award, Mr. Karst turned the focus on the children he teaches, by introducing each of the children to the council and pointing out their individual achievements in Tai Kwon Do and academic areas. he praised the children for their willingness to do public service work and their community oriented spirit, adding that they would grow up to be an asset to the community.
What Mr. Karst didn't mention is that community oriented young people don't grow up to be assets to the community without the positive role models of other community minded people. And Irmo is lucky to have such a positive role model in the form of a certain Tai Kwon Do teacher.
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