Lauren Noelle Blanks

Lauren Noelle Blanks, 18, is a senior at East Lansing High School.  She is currently in an Advance Placement (AP)/college preparatory curriculum. Her academic honors include two Distinguished Scholar Awards for Academic Excellence, Departmental Academic Achievement Award in English, The Sarah Tarpoff Writing Award, and the Michigan Merit Scholarship Award.  Her activities at East Lansing High School include: Founder and Captain of the East Lansing Elite Dance Team; where she choreographs the routines, member of the National Honor Society (Magna Cum Laude), the Varsity Track Team, and the Black Student Union.

Lauren participated in six summer programs at Michigan State University, of which five were sponsored by the College of Human Medicine. Lauren also participated in two summer programs at the University of Michigan and attended a Computer Engineering program and the LEAD Business Program sponsored by the Ross School of Business at U of M. Lauren plans to attend college and has been accepted at the University of Cincinnati, Michigan State and The Ohio State University.

Taekwondo is Lauren’s God giving talent. She is a third degree black belt and has been training in the Martial Arts since she was five years old. She is a member of the American Taekwondo Association (ATA).  Lauren has currently won six annual World Championships in Sparring and Weapons, two National Championships in Weapons (Double Nun-Chucks) and is an eight time Michigan State Champion in Forms, Sparring and Weapons. For the last ten years, Lauren has ranked in the top ten competitors in her division and has always ended her tournament year ranked number one in Sparring in the country.

Taekwondo is also Lauren’s job.  She is a Level 2 Specialty Trainee Instructor, Chief assistant instructor for the Extreme Martial Arts program (XMA), and leader of the demonstration team for Faett’s Black Belt academy. Upon graduation from high school, Lauren will have completed the requirements to become a fully Certified Level 3 Taekwondo Instructor.  In addition, Lauren was granted permission to test for her fourth degree black belt in June at the World Championships. She is certified in CPR, and numerous weapons.  Her future goals are to obtain a business degree and open up her own Taekwondo school.

Lauren has been a member of Jack and Jill for sixteen years, and a member of Les Meres et Debutantes since the eight grade.  In both organizations, she was a member of the executive board. Lauren is a member of Union Missionary Baptist Church.