The HALO Initiative is happy to highlight the success of Tom Scott, an alumnus, current Karate Instructor, and student mentor at Saint Marks Catholic School in Plano. He is also a 2008 graduate of Dallas Jesuit.

Like HALO, Tom believes in the value and values of catholic education.

We look forward to welcoming him home from Tokyo.

Karate is making its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Summer Games, and a Dallas, Catholic-educated athlete is hoping to bring America its first medal in the sport. Tom is one of the most decorated karatekas in the history of the U.S. He is a 15-time national champion and six-time Pan American Gold medalist, who has been named USA Karate Male Athlete of the Year on five separate occasions. Tom has also become a role model and respected figure across the globe for his character and the demeanor with which he approaches his training, competition, and life outside the ring.

Tom earned a degree at Texas Christian University and a masters degree at UT-Dallas. Throughout all he has accomplished, Tom has always leaned on his religious upbringing as the underpinning of his success in the sport and his reason to compete. “My inspiration comes from my faith, which frames everything in proper order. I work hard to build my relationship with the Heavenly Father, and I study often to further my understanding of what it means to follow Christ,” he has said.

Tom competes for the gold in the Men’s Kumite August 5-7!

To help more children receive the same successful educational and faith formation experience Tom received, the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Dallas has partnered with HALO to launch Halo 139 to bring 139 new students to Catholic education at our five pilot schools this Fall.  Find out more about this unique private-public partnership at www.haloinitiative.org.

“I have always seen my career as a karate athlete as one of my greatest sources of communication with God. Something that’s neat about karate is that the entire sport is built around control… In karate, if you can keep a cool head, it is such an advantage and I think my temperament, a lot that comes from my Catholic faith, helps me to stay so calm.”

From Tom Scott’s Devry University “What’s Your Why” series, which highlights athlete’s individual motivations
that drive them to pursue greatness on their journey to achieve their Olympic and Paralympic dreams.