Kirk Atchley Memorial Scholarship
Kirk Atchley was born March 16th, 1986. He died from a seizure which stopped his heart on March 30th, 2007. Kirk was a Junior at the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith, Arkansas, majoring in psychology. Kirk’s greatest love, after his family and friends, was the martial arts. He began training at the age of one year. He couldn’t walk very well, but he could kick. By age 5, he was winning tournaments all over the country. He seemed to have a natural ability for the martial arts. He had incredible speed, great balance and agility. He had the warrior spirit. He obtained special compensation at age 15 to be allowed to test for his black belt. He passed the adult test and impressed all on the board with his knowledge and ability. He went on to win the Arkansas State Karate Championships, black belt division three years in a row. He was undefeated. Representatives from the AAU approached him to try out for the 2008 Olympic trials. We were very excited about this opportunity. Unfortunately his death precluded this.
Kirk was a member of the National College of Martial Arts the majority of his life. The yearly event was something he looked forward to. He commented that it was like a giant family reunion, where he always felt welcome. To continue Kirk’s participation in the NCMA and to honor his memory, I have decided to offer a scholarship in his name. It will be a yearly gift to a worthy member of the NCMA. The scholarship will be given to a martial artist seeking higher education, post high school. To qualify, one must be enrolled in an accredited institution of higher learning, such as a junior college, four year college or university, or graduate school. The award will be $1000. The recipient must show success and will receive $500 per semester for two semesters. The eligibility requirements will be listed on the scholarship application.