Tae Kwon-Do World Championship beckons

A local student has qualified for the world Tae Kwon-Do Championship in South Korea along with NINE other Torbay students!

The world of Computing strikes up some stereotypical images of people within it, but one South Devon College student taking a Foundation Degree in Computing has been happy to break the mould. Dean Vannan, from Brixham, has been selected to compete in the England national team in this year’s Tae Kwon-Do World Championship.

Dean is just one of a phenomenal NINE students from Torbay Tae Kwon-Do Club who have been selected to go to South Korea as part of the England team, and they all train at Torbay Leisure Centre, Clennon Valley, in Paignton. The Championship will be held in Chungcheongbuk-Do (Cheongju), Republic of Korea, between the July 4 - 8th, 2010. Dean is a 2nd degree (dan) blackbelt and has been training since 2001. Dean said,

“It felt great to find out that I had been selected to be part of the England team and would have the opportunity to compete in South Korea; the birth place of Tae Kwon-Do. I really can’t wait to compete in early July.”

Dean took A Levels at South Devon College before progressing onto the Foundation Degree in Computing there, in the hope of graduating and becoming a Computer Software Engineer. He is currently in the first year of his Degree course and is planning to take his second year in the new £8million South Devon College University Centre being built to the left of the main campus.

South Devon College’s own charitable trust for students, the Friends of South Devon College, have granted an award of £500 towards Dean’s participation in the ITF Tae Kwon-Do World Championship. College Fundraising Manager Helen Honnor said:

“The Trustees at were very impressed with Dean’s proactive approach to fundraising and they wish him every luck in the competition. They can’t wait to hear how he gets on in July.”

Dean is still actively looking for sponsorship to get him and his Tae Kwon-Do team to South Korea, anyone wishing to sponsor him can contact South Devon College New Developments and Fundraising Manager Helen Honnor on:

t. 01803 540 622

e. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Computer student Dean has also created his own fundraising website for anyone wishing to help fund the team’s trip to South Korea to help fly the flag for South Devon and their country.

This can be found via www.torbaytkd.co.uk