Scholarships awarded to college-bound black belts

Independent Martial Arts School black belts Annika Hayden and Kaitlyn Frye have been selected as this year’s recipients of the Craig P. Hutchinson Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship awards, each in the amount of $10,000, were announced on April 6 at the Independent Martial Arts School Tournament at Bishop Guertin High School.

The Craig P. Hutchinson Memorial Scholarship was established in 1993 to honor an outstanding student and instructor at the Independent Karate School, predecessor of the Independent Martial Arts School. To the great loss of all who knew him, Hutchinson died from complications of mononucleosis during his sophomore year at Carnegie Mellon University.

Students at the Independent Martial Arts School, located at 138 Lake Street in Nashua, are eligible to apply for the scholarship once they have attained the rank of first-degree black belt. Candidates are evaluated on the basis of character, academic performance, and community involvement.

Ms. Hayden and Ms. Frye are graduating seniors at Nashua North High School. Ms. Hayden, a second-degree black belt, is a volunteer writer for 350 New Hampshire and a dedicated runner. Ms. Frye, a first-degree black belt, is a longtime Girl Scout and two-time captain of the Nashua North field hockey team.

“We could not be prouder of these two exemplary students,” noted Michael Susalka, President of the Craig P. Hutchinson Memorial Scholarship Foundation and a headmaster at IMAS. “We know that Annika and Kaitlyn will carry on Craig’s legacy of courage, integrity, and care for others in their future endeavors.”

The Independent Martial Arts School offers self-defense classes for children and adults on Tuesday evenings, Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings. For more information on the school or on the Craig P. Hutchinson Scholarship, see: https://www.imasnh.com/