PowerUP Scholarship

PowerUP at Plaza Las Americas

Last Saturday afternoon, 17 PowerUP scholars gathered at Plaza Las Americas in Lilburn, Georgia, to demonstrate their Taekwondo skills. This was organized by Warriors Forever Martial Arts, a studio that encourages discipline, respect, and perseverance lead by Taekwondo Master Guillermo Cesario.

This demonstration comes one year after Warriors Forever Martial Arts and PowerUP began our partnership together. Since our partnership began last year I have learned so much from Master Cesario, and his family run studio. They are incredibly generous and hard working people and as a blind Taekwondo master himself, Guillermo inspires each and every one of his students to work hard and never give up because, in his words “nothing is impossible!”

As the music started playing, the scholars lined up in formation and began their demonstration. They were visibly excited to show their families and passersby their skills. Not only were they displaying their precise kicks and punches, the young scholars showed their mastery of the different techniques taught including breaking boards, nunchucks, and sparring.

While the demonstration was impressive, what was most inspiring was the scholars’ dedication to their craft. Many of them had only been practicing Taekwondo for a few months and have already built up enough confidence to get up on stage in front of strangers and show what they can do. Watching the scholars perform was a reminder of the transformative power of practicing martial arts. Through their involvement with the PowerUP Scholarship Fund, these scholars have been given the opportunity to pursue their passions and unlock their potential. They had found a supportive community that encouraged them to work hard and develop our three core skills of self-control, resilience, and respect.

Thanks again to our partners at Warriors Forever Martial Arts and Master Guillermo Cesario for your leadership of our students and dedication to helping kids thrive!

Donate now to help us continue to change lives with Warriors Forever Martial Arts for years to come!

About the author:

Connor Cook
Since 2021, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the inaugural Executive Director of PowerUP Scholarship Fund, where I spend every day empowering kids to thrive through the transformative power of martial arts mentorship.

Mike Gandy Auzenne

Co-founder, Board Director

Mike Gandy Auzenne

Co-founder, Board Director

Mike is currently a senior director in strategic marketing at Buffalo Wild Wings, and Inspire Brands company. Previously, Mike was a consultant for The Boston Consulting Group (“BCG”), and an investment banker at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Mike was matched as a Little Brother by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlanta with Austin in 1997, and has been a Big Brother himself twice. Mike holds a BA from Colgate University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Mike is married, and lives with his wife in the Old Fourth Ward area of Atlanta. He enjoys training for marathons.

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Pradheep Padmanathan

Head of Operations

Pradheep Padmanathan

Head of Operations

Strategy& Operations – Technology

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MIKE GANDY

Board Director

MIKE GANDY

Board Director

Mike is currently a consultant for The Boston Consulting Group (“BCG”). Prior to BCG, he spent several years on Wall Street with Bank of America Merrill Lynch focused on the insurance industry. Mike was matched as a Little Brother by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlanta with Austin in 1997, and has been a Big Brother himself twice. He is also a member of the Young Leaders Council with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. Mike holds a BA from Colgate University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Mike is engaged to be married, lives in the Old Fourth Ward area of Atlanta, and enjoys training for marathons.

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TREY LAMBERT

Sensei and Gym Owner

Donesha Smith

Program Manager

Donesha brings over 25 years of dedicated experience working with youth and young adults. With 18 years of teaching experience both domestically and internationally, she has cultivated a deep passion for empowering students of all ages to reach their full potential.

Donesha proudly serves her country as an Army Instructor and OC/T in the US Army Reserves. She actively supports her community as a Girls Scout troop leader and an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Donesha holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Mercer University and a Master of Science from Walden University. Donesha resides outside of Atlanta with her daughter, with whom she shares a passion for traveling and exploring new cultures.

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RICHARD TRAMMELL

Sensei and Gym Owner

RICHARD TRAMMELL

Sensei and Gym Owner

Richard Trammell is a world champion in Shidokan Karate and Kickboxing. He has won national and international titles in Kickboxing, Judo, and Tae Kwon Do. Richard started Trammell Fitness and Martial Arts in 1999 Shidokan Atlanta in 2001. Trammell Fitness and Martial Arts provides services in fitness and martial arts. Richard has promoted amateur boxing, kickboxing, karate, judo and professional MMA events. Richard is also the author of “How To Be A Champion”.

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JOSHUA WHITE

Sensei

JOSHUA WHITE

Sensei

Joshua White is a multiple time national champion in Judo. He hold black belts in in Judo, Ju Jitsu, and Karate. He is the NFC Welterweight MMA Champion.  He is a volunteer coach for Boys and Girls Club in Atlanta. He has coached kids in national and international championships for Judo and promotes annual youth tournaments.

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YALITZA FREYTES-RUIZ

Project Coordinator

YALITZA FREYTES-RUIZ

Project Coordinator

Project Coordinator

  • Two decades of service
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico
  • Professional counselor
  • Bachelors degree in Psychology
  • Masters degree in counseling
  • Born in Puerto Rico, Moved to US in 20xx
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STÉPHAN DONZÉ

Board Director

STÉPHAN DONZÉ

Board Director

Stéphan is a software entrepreneur with 20 years of experience, first with Exalead (founded in 2000 and acquired by Dassault Systèmes in 2010), and now as founder and CEO of AODocs, a new generation cloud document management platform. Born in France, Stéphan moved to California in 2009, before relocating to Atlanta in 2019. He has two passions in life, entrepreneurship and martial arts, and earned his karate black belt in 2018. His three children are all martial artists as well.

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TOM RAWLS

Board Director

TOM RAWLS

Board Director

Tom spent his legal career in Atlanta focusing primarily in the areas of video entertainment, internet and cable TV law. He retired in 2015 after 30 years as in-house counsel for AT&T and Bellsouth. In addition to his work with PowerUP, Tom serves on the board of Tapestri, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to supporting immigrant victims of human trafficking and domestic violence. Tom also serves as an advisor to New American Pathways, Georgia Asylum & Immigration Network, and Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. Tom earned a B.S. in Management from Georgia Tech and a J.D. from Emory School of Law. Tom is married with three grown children. He enjoys martial arts and is a black belt in Taekwando.

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AUSTIN SCEE

Co-Founder, Chairman

AUSTIN SCEE

Co-Founder, Chairman

Over the past 20 years, Austin has split his time roughly evenly between running software companies in different operating roles and buying software companies. Austin founded Razorhorse Capital in 2012, and since that time has acquired or invested in over 60 companies with several different private equity sponsors. Austin has been a Big Brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program twice and has served on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlanta. Austin holds a BA from Brown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Austin lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and middle-school aged son. He and enjoys martial arts training.

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TOM AVERY

Board Director

TOM AVERY

Board Director

Tom spent his career in investment banking and venture capital in Atlanta. He retired from Raymond James in 2016. In addition to PowerUP, Tom is on the board of KIPP Metro Atlanta (Knowledge is Power Program). KIPP is an open enrollment charter school dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. Tom earned a BS in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Tom is married with three grown children, and lives north of Atlanta. In addition to serving his community, Tom is enjoying traveling the globe with his wife.

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MIKE GANDY

Board Director

MIKE GANDY

Board Director

Mike is currently a consultant for The Boston Consulting Group (“BCG”). Prior to BCG, he spent several years on Wall Street with Bank of America Merrill Lynch focused on the insurance industry. Mike was matched as a Little Brother by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlanta with Austin in 1997, and has been a Big Brother himself twice. He is also a member of the Young Leaders Council with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. Mike holds a BA from Colgate University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Mike is engaged to be married, lives in the Old Fourth Ward area of Atlanta, and enjoys training for marathons.

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