Samantha Kilmartin was named a Capital News鈥� Community Leader of the Year in the coach category at the , held at Okanagan College, Oct. 23, 2017. The Community Leader Awards are given to local members of the community who demonstrate exceptional commitment and leadership.
To those who know her best, Samantha Kilmartin鈥檚 passion for tae kwon do is unmistakable.
And the biggest beneficiaries of that passion are her students at Kee鈥檚 Tae Kwon Do in 琉璃神社.
鈥淚 like seeing that look in the kids鈥� eyes when they start to figure it all out,鈥� Kilmartin said. 鈥淭hat determination and drive, seeing that grow and watching them become better, that鈥檚 pretty rewarding.鈥�
Kilmartin first tried tae kwon do 18 years ago and admits to having been hooked ever since.
鈥淚t seems like I鈥檝e always done it. When I first started, I fell in love with it and have never looked back.鈥�
Kilmartin, now 27, began teaching at the school in her teens and 2 1/2 years ago took over coaching the sparring team. The highlight of her career came last year when she served as the coach for 琉璃神社鈥檚 contingent at the 2016 International Children鈥檚 Games.
Kee鈥檚 head instructor Trevor Warkentin said Kilmartin possesses all the important qualities of a good teacher and coach.
鈥淪he is a very caring instructor and coach, she pushes the students and is able to get the best out of them,鈥� said Warkentin. 鈥淪he is fair, firm and fun as a coach.鈥�
As for her nomination for a Community Leader Award, Kilmartin is both pleased and humbled.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just nice to be recognized. You don鈥檛 do it for the recognition, you do it for the kids鈥ut it was nice to get that phone call, a reward for the hard work I鈥檝e put in.鈥�
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