Her dedication to teaching taekwondo spans all ages, from young children to seniors, emphasizing the development of strong minds, bodies, and spirits.
YORKTOWN, VA, December 05, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Master Sang Mee Ko has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected based on current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Ko is a distinguished master in taekwondo. She is associated with World Martial Arts in Yorktown, Virginia, where she has been the manager and head instructor since 2014. Her passion for martial arts is deeply rooted in her family business, which she has helped grow significantly. Ms. Ko's dedication to teaching taekwondo spans all ages, from young children to seniors, emphasizing the development of strong minds, bodies, and spirits. Additionally, she manages an after school and camp program that fosters leadership skills among high school students who assist as part-time staff.
Ms. Ko's expertise in Taekwondo is further highlighted by her sixth-degree black belt certification from Kukkiwon, the governing body of World Taekwondo certification. Her thesis for this achievement focused on integrating autistic students into martial arts, demonstrating her commitment to inclusivity and structured learning environments. She plans to continue her academic contributions with a future thesis on women in Taekwondo as she pursues her seventh-degree black belt. Besides these efforts, Ms. Ko's speaking engagements on leadership in Taekwondo continue to inspire others.
Highly educated, Ms. Ko received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia in 2014 and a Master of Business Administration from William & Mary in 2022. These academic achievements have equipped Ms. Ko with the skills to effectively manage and expand her family business.
Ms. Ko's involvement with professional and civic organizations has included serving as a Taekwondo instructor at the University of Virginia and president of its Taekwondo Club. She also played a key role in founding the Atlantic Collegiate Alliance of Taekwondo and is an active member of Kukkiwon, USA Taekwondo, and World Taekwondo. Earlier, Ms. Ko was an emergency medical technician with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad from 2012 to 2014. This experience has significantly impacted her community engagement and leadership skills.
In light of her accomplishments, Ms. Ko has been recognized through numerous awards, including Distinguished Teaching by Best of Yorktown in 2023 and Best Summer Camp by Coastal Virginia Magazine in 2024.
Ms. Ko's parents' teachings on hard work and resilience have been pivotal in shaping her career path and helping her overcome challenges. Her father, Grand Master Pyong Tuk Ko, is a Kukkiwon ninth-degree black belt, which is the highest rank achievable. Her mother, Sung Hee Ko, propelled her education and interest in child development and business management. She envisions a bright future where she can advocate for women in martial arts. She also hopes to grow her business to provide ample time off for herself and her staff, continuing the legacy of their family enterprise, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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