Snowboarder Choi Ga-on (18) and figure skater Shin Ji-a (18), who competed at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, have received special scholarships from Sewha Girls' High School in Seoul, where they are enrolled.
Ilju Sewha Academy, a school foundation under Taekwang Group, held an award ceremony on March 3 at the school's auditorium in Seocho-gu, Seoul, presenting each athlete with a special foundation scholarship of 10 million won (approximately $7,000).
Choi won gold in the women's snowboard halfpipe at last month's Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, becoming the first Korean athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in a snow sport. Shin competed in women's figure skating singles, finishing 11th. The academy said it awarded the special scholarships to recognize the athletes' contributions to elevating the school's honor and pride.
The scholarship ceremony was held after the school's opening ceremony for the new semester, with school officials and students attending to celebrate. Classmates who were in the same class as the two athletes during their sophomore year took group photos together. Choi and Shin have been assigned to different classes this year as seniors.
"I am truly honored to receive this meaningful scholarship from my school," Choi said. "I will work even harder and always remain humble as an athlete." She added, "It's fun seeing friends again after a long time—some are even asking for autographs. I usually wear casual clothes when I come to school, so wearing my uniform today feels a bit awkward."
Shin said, "My friends reached out a lot while I was preparing for and competing in the Olympics. After my event, they told me 'You were the most radiant and beautiful,' and I was really grateful." She continued, "I was able to come this far because of the teachers and friends at Sewha Girls' High School who always cheered for and supported me. I will continue to do my best and show you how much I grow."
Sewha Girls' High School, part of Ilju Sewha Academy, operates ski, skating, and volleyball teams. Under its scholarship regulations, the school provides full coverage of registration fees, tuition, and school operation support fees for national team student-athletes. "These two students who represented Korea on the world stage are a great source of pride for Sewha," said Oh Sam-chan, principal of Sewha Girls' High School. "We will continue to support them so they can pursue their dreams in their respective fields."