Always good to have an endorsement by the leader of the free world!
The video is from the Chicago 2016 Olympic event at the White House in 2010.
Fencing in the Schools is launching programs with 1500+ students in 6 Harlem schools and we want to help make fencing a regular part of Physical Education in America to help kids lead healthier lives, to instill Olympic ideals and improve educational opportunities.
If you’d like to support us: http://www.crowdrise.com/fencingintheschools2013
I’m very honored to be receiving this award for my service as an Americorps alum through the program Teach For America. While it doesn’t always get as much press as my Olympic fencing career, my work as a teacher and in the field of education serving under-resourced communities is as important to me as anything I’ve accomplished in fencing.
I look forward to representing Teach For America and Americorps as well as the Olympic movement proudly at the White House on Friday. -Tim
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of Communications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2012
White House to Honor AmeriCorps Alumni Member Tim Morehouse as a “Champion of Change”
WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, August 17th, the White House will welcome over 150 AmeriCorps Alumni leaders from 25 states for a day-long briefing. Since 1994, more than 775,000 Americans have served in AmeriCorps, and more than 80,000 will serve this year. The event will highlight AmeriCorps Alumni and public service as a pathway to opportunity and career advancement.
As part of the day-long program, the White House will honor Tim Morehouse as one of twelve AmeriCorps Alums who are “Champions of Change.” These extraordinary leaders demonstrate how AmeriCorps alumni have leveraged their national service experience to become influential in their careers and leaders in their communities. They will have the opportunity to share their stories with Administration officials and AmeriCorps members across the country. The Champions of Change program was created to honor ordinary Americans doing great work in their communities. Each week, a different sector is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.
“President Obama has always been a strong supporter of the AmeriCorps program and the role members play in strengthening communities across our country,” said Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement, Jon Carson. “We’re excited to honor 12 AmeriCorps Alums who are continuing in the spirit of their AmeriCorps pledge to ‘get things done for America’ as leaders in the public, for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and to celebrate AmeriCorps as a pathway to opportunity for those who serve.”
To engage people around the country in the conversation about AmeriCorps and public service opportunities, the White House will host a Google+ Hangout with AmeriCorps members and alumni. The online event will be moderated by CEO of the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) Wendy Spencer will participate in a live Google Hangout event moderated by Macon Phillips, Director of the White House Office of Digital Strategy and AmeriCorps VISTA Alum. People can join the discussion live on Twitter using the hashtag #WHHangout.
Watch the events live and learn more at WhiteHouse.gov/live. Live stream events include AmeriCorps Alumni leaders briefing at 9:30 a.m. EDT, a Google+ Hangout at 12:00 p.m. EDT and the Champions of Change event at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, August 17th. People around the country can join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #WHAmeriCorps.
Tim Morehouse, New York, NY
Tim Morehouse is a New York City native and Teach for America alum. He taught underprivileged students while working with Teach For America, teaching 7th grade at Intermediate School 90 in Washington Heights, Manhattan from 2000-2003 and worked at the organization in New York City from 2004-2008 where he trained and mentored teachers working in the East Bronx. He is an Olympic silver medalist in fencing two-time individual U.S. National Champion, 7-time world cup medalist and #1-ranked U.S. men’s saber fencer from 2008-2011. He is a 3-time Olympic Team member and most recently finished 8th at the London Olympic Games. Morehouse is unique in that he worked full-time while pursuing his Olympic dream. After the 2008 Olympics, Morehouse worked to promote the sport of fencing and established programs to attract new participants to the sport. As a motivational speaker, Morehouse spoke to over 30,000 children and young people in urban schools about his Olympic story. He has also given presentations to Fortune 100 and 500 organizations. He was the youngest recipient of Brandeis University’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2010 for his achievements as an athlete and his work with Teach For America and he was named by Fast Company as one of the most influential alumni of Teach For America. In 2011, Morehouse founded the Fencing-in-the-Schools foundation – a non-profit program dedicated to bringing the sport of fencing to under-served communities throughout the country. He is the author of the book, American Fencer: Modern Lessons from an Ancient Sport (2012), in which he shares experiences as an Olympic athlete and teacher.
Ross Mathew Preparing his Dueling Game Face!
I’ve taught a lot of people to fence, but today was a fun one as I showed Ross Mathews the sport of kings (Sorry Polo but we were here first) for a segment that will air on E News.
We hit on a lot of good topics during the interview including life in the Olympic Village, my upcoming wedding, doing the ESPN Body Issue, but perhaps the biggest question was could he beat President in a duel after our training session?
Well, let’s just say, Ross has some interesting “technique” that might confuse the President…you’ll have to watch the piece and judge for yourself! (Of course, Michelle Obama would beat both of them hands down!)
Teaching President Obama to fence on the White House lawn in 2010
Tomorrow night I will be doing a little fencing with someone REALLY REALLY special. It will be EPIC. Yes, bigger than the time I taught President Obama to fence. Any guesses?
Hopefully, I can get them to come to Fencing Masters also on June 26!
Tuesday morning I’ll be on the today Show Show. We’ll be talking Olympic preparations, Fencing Masters and my book American Fencer. (www.americanfencer.com)
Hope it will help get even more folks to come out and watch us compete at the Fencing Masters on June 26 at Hammerstein Ballroom! Got your tickets yet? www.fencingmastersnyc.com/tickets
But, I’ll be teaching someone even more special to fence tomorrow evening…
hint: bigger than when I taught President Obama to fence! (I think!)
Just ran across this video again and had to riposte (sorry fencing humor) it. He says this about 8 seconds in and you can see him later trying his hand at fencing.
This is one of the most memorable days of my life!
Funny story on a guy teaching kids to lightsaber fence!
There are really only two ways to look at a $300, 10-week class that teaches lightsaber skills to your 6-year-old: 1) Why would I pay that much money so my kid can learn to use something that doesn’t exist?; 2) Where do I sign?
“It really at the end of the day is about armed stage combat,” says Erin Steenson, 33, an Oakton actor who will teach the class at Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo this September. Steenson learned swordplay in April 2009 from Bette Cassatt (the “Jedi Master” who has taught many of Adventure’s lightsaber classes), when she first appeared in Cassatt’s touring adaptation of The Three Musketeers.
At the start of the video President Obama says, “It’s True, I always wanted to Fence!” and then he points at Daria and myself and says, “So, I might get some tips from you two.” Then 42 Seconds in he comes over and learns about fencing from us. (Took me awhile to get this up. Sorry!)
Some Highlights:
1)He “stabs” me with a Light Saber in front of cameras in what would become a picture seen around the world.
2) The President ”pokes” Michelle Obama at one point with a Foam Saber and pretends to fence with her
3) He referees a touch with the panoramic view of the White House behind us. (Amazing!)
4) You can see Michelle trying to check out the Olympic medal twice: First time, President Obama moves it away and 2nd time I thought she was trying to shake my hand! (She finally gives up, sad!)
What a surreal day this was in my life!
