Awards Received by Chris Canning
9/20/85 CHRISTOPHER JAMES CANNING 6/30/01
In just 4 years as a martial artist he was a first degree black belt, member of 11 state teams, won 15 state titles, 3 national titles, an AAU All American, member of the U.S. Elite team at the OTC, invited to the U.S. Gold Team training, ‘99 Illinois’ Athlete of the Year, and five times athlete of the week in three different cities in Central Illinois.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS (14) AND HONORS (3)
*WORLD SPORTS HUMANITARIAN HALL OF FAME HONORS AS
2010 FOUNDER'S AWARD RUNNER UP
*WORLD ORGANIZATION OF MARTIAL ARTS ATHLETES HALL OF FAME INDUCTS WITH
4/29/07 “W.O.M.A.A. LIFETIME NATIONAL COMPETITOR AWARD”
*WORLD MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTS AS
5/22/04 “WORLD’S MOST OUTSTANDING JUNIOR MARTIAL ARTIST”
*WORLD ILDOKWAN FEDERATION INTERNATIONAL HALL OF FAME INDUCTS WITH
4/18/03 “LIFETIME AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT”
*WORLD KARATE UNION HALL OF FAME INDUCTS FOR
6/28/08 “OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE MARTIAL ARTS”
*INTERNATIONAL KARATE AND KICKBOXING HALL OF FAME INDUCTS FOR
11/1/06 “OUTSTANDING DEDICATION, STUDY, & INSTRUCTION OF THE MARTIAL ARTS“
*UNIVERSAL MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME HONORS WITH "PRESIDENT'S MEDALLION" AND INDUCTS WITH
7/24/04 “THE GOLD STAR AWARD OF EXCELLENCE”
7/8/06 “OUTSTANDING JUNIOR MARTIAL ARTIST OF THE PAST DECADE”
*GLOBAL MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTS AS
8/4/07 “NORTH AMERICA’S OUTSTANDING JR. MARTIAL ARTIST”
8/6/11 "THE FALLEN SAMURAI AWARD"
*MASTERS HALL OF FAME FOR
8/16/08 “OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE MARTIAL ARTS”
*USA MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTS AS
4/12/08 “JUNIOR MARTIAL ART’S LEGEND“
*UNITED STATES MARTIAL ARTS INTERNATIONAL HALL OF FAME INDUCTS WITH
7/22/06 “FOUNDER’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE”
*UNITED STATES MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTS AS
8/9/03 “YOUTH OF THE YEAR”
*ACTION MARTIAL ARTS MAGAZINE’S HALL OF FAME & ALAN GOLDBERG INDUCT FOR
1/12/08 “OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO THE MARTIAL ARTS”
*TAEKWONDO HALL OF FAME INDUCTS AS
4/10/09 “OUTSTANDING TAEKWONDO PLAYER”
*TAEKWONDO HALL OF FAME & FOUNDER GERRY ROBBINS HONOR WITH FIRST
4/6/07 “YOUTH EXCELLENCE AWARD”
INDUCTED MEMBER IN U.S., WORLD, AND INTERNATIONAL HALLS OF FAME
ADDITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS' WORLD AND NATIONAL TRIBUTES OR HONORS (43)
*THE WORLD MARTIAL ARTS GAMES AND ALBERTO FRIEDMAN, KARATE OLYMPIAN AND US DIRECTOR, PRESENTED A TEAM WARM UP TO THE FAMILY IN MEMORY OF CHRIS AND PRESENTED THE FIRST “CHRIS CANNING OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL COMPETITOR AWARD” AT THE 4TH WORLD GAMES IN AUSTRALIA
*BOC MARTIAL ARTS WORLD GAMES HONORS CHRIS WITH AN AWARD DURING OPENING CEREMONIES, PRESENTED BY JHOON RHEE, “FATHER OF U.S. TKD” & JOON CHOI, FORMER OLYMPIC / U.S. NATIONAL COACH
*THE WORLD ILDOKWAN FEDERATION HEADQUARTERS, IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, PROMOTES CHRIS TO BLACK BELT-2ND DAN FOR EXCELLENCE ACHIEVED IN THE MARTIAL ARTS
*WORLD LEGEND, SHIHAN FUMIO DEMURA, PAYS TRIBUTE TO CHRIS WITH A RECOGNITION AWARD OF HONOR FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AS A MARTIAL ARTISTS AND PERSON
*WORLD BLACK BELT’S PRESIDENT, BOB WALL, AND PROFESSOR GARY LEE, FOUNDER OF LIVING LEGENDS, HONOR CHRIS WITH “LIVING LEGENDS SIGNATURE AWARD” AND “MEMORIAL TROPHY” AT LEGEND’S BANQUET.
ALSO, WORLD BLACK BELT DOES TWO FEATURE ARTICLES ON CHRIS. ONE ON MARTIAL ARTS AND ONE PERSONAL
*INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MARTIAL ARTS ESTABLISHED AND AWARDED “YOUTH EXCELLENCE AWARD” TO CHRIS AND USES IT AS A BASIS FOR A RECOGNITION AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING YOUTH IN THE FUTURE.
*NICK SCRIMA, FOUNDER OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARDS HONORS
*TEAM OF SHAOLIN WUSHU INSTITUTE OF CHINA PRESENTS TEAM FLAG TO THE FAMILY TO HONOR CHRIS AND CHRIS RECEIVES AMBASSADOR AWARD FOR HIS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM FROM AAU CHNIESE M.A.
*CHRISTINA BAYLEY, PAN AM COACH & ”OLYMPIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR” HONORS HIS LIFE’S ACHIEVEMENTS
*CANADIAN DIVISION / WORLD MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME HAS IMPLEMENTED A SPECIAL WEBSITE TO RECOGNIZE AND PAY TRIBUTE TO CHRIS’ ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND ESTABLISHED AN AWARD IN HIS NAME.
*PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MARTIAL ARTIST HONORS CHRIS WITH “LEADERSHIP AWARD”
*PHIL PORTER, PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. MARTIAL ARTS ASSOICIATION AND THEIR INTERNATIONAL HALL OF FAME AWARD “YUDANSHA TAIGU” STATUS AND HONOR WITH THE “FOUNDER’S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE”.
*15 FEATURE ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN BLACK BELT, TAEKWONDO TIMES, MIXED MARTIAL ARTS, ACTION MARTIAL ARTS, TAEKWONDO TODAY, AND USA TAEKWONDO NEWS DOES COVER AND STORY IN HIS HONOR
*JIM SCHERR, CEO OF THE USOC, PRESENTS AWARD HONORING CHRIS DURING OPENING CEREMONIES OF ’06 SR. NATIONALS. STATING “…GIVEN IN RECOGNITION OF HIS LIVING HIS LIFE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OLYMPIC IDEALS AND FOR HIS PERSONAL, ARTIST, ATHLETIC, AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE”.
*USAT MARTIAL ARTS COMMISSION AND CHAIRMEN, JOON CHOI, PRESENT HIGH HONORS AND DISTINCTION
*THE USAT CEO, STAFF, OLYMPIC / PAN AMERICAN COACHES HONOR CHRIS AND HIS LEGACY AT 2009 NATIONALS
*US OLYMPIC COACHES, JEAN LOPEZ & JUAN MORENO, ALONG WITH 5 TIME WORLD CHAMPION AND 2 TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST, STEVE LOPEZ, HONORED CHRIS BY PRESENTING HIS NATIONAL AWARD DURING THE OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE 2007 US NATIONALS AND JR. OLYMPIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
*USA TAEKWONDO PRODUCES COMEMORATIVE BOOKLET FOR THE 2007 & 2010 US NATIONALS / JUNIOR OLYMPICS IN WHICH CHRIS AND HIS AWARD WERE FEATURED AND THE ONLY MARTIAL ARTIST INDIVIDUALLY HONORED.
*TOKEY HILL, DIRECTOR OF THE ARNOLD MARTIAL ARTS FESTIVAL, DEDICATES A THREE PAGE WRITE UP ON THEIR WEBSITE TO THE “CHRIS CANNING OUTSTANDING COMPETITOR AWARD” ADOPTED IN 2007.
*DENNIS BROWN, DIRECTOR AND FOUUNDER OF NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS KARATE ASSOCIATION, ADOPTS AN AWARD IN CHRIS’ NAME AND PRESENTS AN AWARD TO THE FAMILY IN TRIBUTE AND HONOR OF HIS MEMORY.
*CHICAGO BASED MARTIAL ARTS HONOR GUARD PERFORMS “BROKEN SWORD MEMORIAL CEREMONY” IN TRIBUTE TO WHAT CHRIS ACCOMPLISHED AND REPRESENTED, ALONG WITH A PRESENTATION TO THE FAMILY
PERSONAL AWARDS
Chris excelled in all aspects of his life. In school, he was an honor student, in the choir, and heavily involved in athletics playing football, basketball and baseball as a starter and captain. He carried his energy into to the field of music playing classical piano, drums and guitar. In his community, Chris drove for “Meals on Wheels” and collected food and clothing for the homeless. He loved animals and worked at an animal shelter caring for and finding homes for abandoned animals. His friendship was sincere, he protected weaker kids from the “bullies” at school, and came to the aid of those feeling depressed. Humor was his vehicle to enrich the lives of those he was involved with each day. His greatest satisfaction came from being there when needed and making a difference.
INTERNATIONAL HONORS (3)
*RECIPIENT OF THE “LEGACY OF SERVICE AWARD” GIVEN BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE YOUTH ASSEMBLY AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK. CHRIS WAS THE ONLY FINALIST TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD OUT OF OVER 1,000 OUTSTANDING YOUTH IN ATTENDANCE FROM 63 COUNTRIES.
*WORLD ORGANIZATION OF MARTIAL ARTS ATHELETES HONORS CHRIS' INTERNATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM WITH INDUCTION IN TO ITS HALL OF FAME, WITH THE "INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION AWARD" HONOR.
*MYRON FINKBEINER, FOUNDER OF THE WORLD SPORTS HUMANITARIAN HALL OF FAME, STATED THE INTERRNATIONAL ORGANIZATION CONSIDERED CHRIS THE 2010 FOUNDER'S AWARD RUNNER UP
NATIONAL RECOGNITION (20)
*U. S. PRESIDENT, GEORGE W. BUSH, SENT PERSONAL LETTER OF RECOGNITION AND AWARDED THE STUDENT GOLD SERVICE AWARD FOR VOLUNTEER WORK WITH THE ANIMAL SHELTER
*U. S. SENATOR DICK DURBIN HONORS CHRIS' LIFE WITH SPEECH ON THE SENATE FLOOR IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
*U. S. NATIONAL POINTS OF LIGHT FOUNDATION GIVES PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR HELPING THE ELDERLY & NEEDY
*EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUTH SPORTS PAYS HONOR & TRIBUTE TO CHRIS' LIFE
*U.S. CONGRESSMAN RAY LAHOOD OF ILLINOIS DELIVERS WRITTEN TRIBUTE AND RECOGNITION FOR LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AND CONTRIBUTION
*THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH SPORTS PAID TRIBUTE TO WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED AND REPRESENTED
*WORLD & NATIONAL GOLD MEDAL WINNERS PRESENT THEIR MEDALS TO THE FAMILY IN HONOR AND TRIBUTE TO CHRIS AND WHAT HE REPRESENTED IN AND OUT OF MARTIAL ARTS
*CHRIS CANNING FOUNDATON ESTABLISHED, ALONG WITH CHRIS BEING LISTED ON AT LEAST 50 DIFFERENT WEBSITES ON THE INTERNET (YAHOO-18 AND GOOGLE-32 ), AND HAS A MYSPACE, FACEBOOK, AND YOUTUBE SITE
*CHRIS CANNING SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS HAVE BEEN GIVEN ON THE REGIONAL (2), NATIONAL (2), INTERNATIONAL (3) AND WORLD (2) LEVELS TO OUTSTANING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE ALSO WORLD CLASS MARTIAL ARTISTS THAT HAVE ACHIEVED ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, HIGH PERSONAL VALUES
STATE HONORS AND LOCAL TRIBUTES (35)
*ILLINOIS GOVERNOR, PAT QUINN, HONORS CHRIS WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR HIS LIFE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
*ILLINOIS’ REPRESENTATIVE, BILL MITCHELL, PASSES A RESOLUTION IN THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HONORING CHRIS, HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AND WHAT HE REPRESENTED.
*TRUMAN COLLEGE OF CHICAGO, HELD A SIX-WEEK EXHIBIT IN HONOR OF HIS LIFE ACCHIEVEMENTS. ALSO, CENTRAL ILLINIOS NEWSPAPERS (16), RADIO, NBC & ABC TV DID TRIBUTES ON HIS LIFE ACCOMPLISHMENTS (7)
*SCOT ENGLAND, NBC TV, DOES SPECIAL & FEATURE STORY ON CHRIS’ LEGACY, HONORS, AND ACHEIVEMENTS.
*DECATUR MAYOR WRITES ARTICLE OF TRIBUTE, ISSUES PROCALMATION DECLARING 11/18/06 AS “CHRIS CANNING DAY” & AWARDS THE “STEPHAN DECATUR MEDALLION” TO THE FAMILY, THE CITY’S HIGHEST HONOR
*MAROA'S (his hometown) CITY COUNSEL APPROVES TREE PLANTING AND MEMORIAL BENCH IN CITY PARK AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE “HALFTIME AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR 1ST GRADE THROGH HIGHSCHOOL. CHRIS'
HIGH SCHOOL DEDICATES FULL PAGE TRIBUTE IN 2002 YEARBOOK, HAS TRIBUTE TO HONOR HIM AT GRADUATION CEREMONIES IN 2004, AND ESTABLISHED AN ATHLETIC DISPLAY IN HIS MEMORY.
MAGAZINE ARTICLES (14)
6/30/10 US Nationals and Jr. Olympic Event Booklet, "Chris Canning Excellence in Martial Arts and Life"
Spring, 10 USA Taekwondo News, Feature Article, "2010 Chris Canning Award of Excellence"
July, 09 Vision’s Booklet of 2009 Junior Olympic and National Championships, “Award Winners”
Spring, 09 USA Taekwondo News, Cover & Feature Article, “Pillars Supporting the Legacy”
Fall, 08 USA Taekwondo News, Feature Article, “Chris Canning Honored at the United Nations”
Spring, 08 USA Taekwondo News, Feature Article, “USAT Honors Excellence in Youth”
July, 07 USAT National and Jr. Olympic Commerative Book, “Chris Canning Award”
May, 07 Action Martial Arts, Feature Article, “Christopher Canning Award“
March, 07 Taekwondo Times, News Article, “International Acclaim Continues“
Nov., 05 Taekwondo Times, Feature Article, “Tribute to Excellence, Chris Canning Story”
April, 05 MMA Magazine, Feature Article, “Chris Canning a Supernova”
July, 02 Black Belt Magazine, News Article, “AAU Scholarship Honors TKD Stylist”
May, 02 Taekwondo Times, News Article, “AAU Creates Chris Canning Award”
Spring, 02 Taekwondo Today, Feature Article, “Chris Canning Award of Excellence”
NEWSPAPER COVERAGE (16)
11/25/09 Decatur Tribune, “Chris Canning Receives State Honors”
11/5/09 DeWitt County Constitution, “An inextinguishable light: Teen’s memory continues to inspire”
9/9/09 Decatur Tribune, “Family of Chris Canning presented Team Warm-Up from Team USA”
8/21/09 Clinton Journal, “Martial arts award named for Maroa youth”
8/20/08 Decatur Tribune, “Chris Canning Honored For Humanitarian Efforts”
8/8/08 Clinton Journal, “A legacy of excellence and compassion”
6/29/07 DeWitt County Constitution “Memory of young martial artist lives on”
5/22/07 Decatur Herald & Review “Death left lasting legacy”
11/22/06 Decatur Tribune “International Acclaim Continues For Christopher Canning”
4/30/06 World Black Belt “Where Angels Roam: The Chris Canning Story,”
1/15/06 "Chris Canning"
7/14/04 Decatur Herald & Review “Father receives greatest gift in son’s honor”
9/1/03 Decatur Herald & Review “Halls come calling for Canning”
8/29/03 The Weekender “Chris Canning: A Life Signed With Honor”
6/25/03 Decatur Tribune “Chris Canning Memorial Fund Honors Memory of Maroa Resident”
11/12/01 Decatur Herald & Review “Award established to honor Chris Canning”
TELEVISION (8)
2/18/09 WAND TV, NBC affiliate, does report on Chris and his Legacy
11/18/06 WAND TV, NBC affiliate, covers Mayor’s proclamation and Stephan Decatur Medal
1/8/02 WAND TV, ABC affiliate, does spot on AAU National Award in Chris’ name
Over 4 yrs. NBC/ABC affiliates in Central Illinois names him athlete of the week (5)
PUBLIC OFFICIALS (8)
10/21/09 Illinois Governor Pat Quinn
Proclamation honoring Chris and what he represented
10/14/09 Illinois General Assembly/Bill Mitchell
Passes resolution honoring Chris in General Assembly
11/18/06 Decatur Mayor Paul Osborne
Official Proclamation / Stephan Decatur Medallion
11/1/06 U.S.O.C. CEO, Jim Scherr
Certificate of Recognition and Honor
9/9/03 U.S. President George W. Bush
Letter of Tribute and Recognition
4/1/03 U.S. Rep. Ray La Hood
Certificate of Recognition and Honor
1/30/03 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin
Speech on Senate Floor in Washington, D.C.
5/15/02 Maroa Mayor & City Council
Approved Memorial for Chris in City Park
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (8)
11/6/10 USAT Martial Arts Commission
The President and Board of Directs award high honors
4/7/10 The National Alliance for Youth Sports
Vice President of NAYS honors Chris with tribute
1/26/10 National Council of Youth Sports
Executive Director presents letter of recognition/honor
9/7/09 World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
Runner Up for 2010 Hall of Fame Founder's Award
8/23/09 World Organization of Martial Arts
Gives International honor to Chris Canning Foundation
8/16/08 Secretary General/Youth Assembly/UN
Legacy of Service Award at United Nations
7/10/03 Pres. George W. Bush Humanitarian
U.S. President’s Student Gold Service Award
5/14/03 U.S. Points of Light Foundation
President Robert K. Goodwin gives President’s Award
INTERNET WEBSITES 40 sites about Chris on Google, Yahoo, and Bing, a YouTube site, and My Space Page which has total document production. Site location is myspace.com/520138931 power point presentation w/music