Paralyzed in Car Accident, Presidential Education Award Winner Sees Wheelchair as "Mobile Battle Armor"

(CNA reporter Chen Chih-chung, Taipei, July 1) Hsu Ya-hui, a recipient of the 2026 Presidential Education Award, was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident. However, she refused to bow to fate, viewing her wheelchair as "mobile battle armor." She has thrown herself into wheelchair fencing training and travels to campuses to give talks on life education, sharing her life journey.

The Presidential Office is scheduled to hold the 2026 Presidential Education Award ceremony on July 3. The Ministry of Education released a press release today introducing the awardees' deeds.

Hsu Ya-hui, a student at Cheng Shiu University of Science and Technology, was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident in 2021. Her life faced severe challenges, but she wiped away her tears and, on the arduous path of rehabilitation, transformed her physical limitations into a thirst for knowledge. In the 113th academic year, she ranked 6th in her class with an outstanding average score of 96.28.

"Although the car accident took my legs, it couldn't take away my passion for life and my expectations for the future," Hsu Ya-hui subsequently engaged in high-intensity wheelchair fencing training and represented Taiwan in the "Hong Kong Para Fencing Satellite Tournament" last year. She aspires to compete in the Paralympics in the future.

Hsu Ya-hui also utilizes her talent for public speaking, serving as a commentator for wheelchair softball games. She actively travels to campuses to give talks on life education, sharing her personal experiences, transforming from a "survivor" of trauma into a warm "encourager."

Gao Tzu-pin, a student at Taipei Municipal Daan Vocational High School, was diagnosed with congenital enlarged vestibular aqueduct at birth and requires cochlear implants. He incurs significant expenses on assistive devices and consumables each year, leading him to jokingly call himself a "man worth 2 million NTD."

Gao Tzu-pin has dedicated himself to swimming, treating training as a way to take responsibility for himself. He intensifies his practice in the mornings and evenings and has represented Taiwan at the World Deaf Youth Games in Brazil. He has also delved into robot assembly and programming. In his two years of high school, he has accumulated nearly 60 certificates.

Pan Tsu-ping, a student at Wenshui Elementary School in Miaoli County, comes from the Saisiyat tribe. He has four siblings, and his father has been in long-term care due to health issues. His mother has cognitive limitations, resulting in insufficient family care resources. As the eldest son, he learned to care for his younger siblings and share household chores from a young age.

Pan Tsu-ping has a dream of playing baseball. In the team, he practices diligently and never gives up easily. In life, he demonstrates responsibility and empathy through his actions. The trials in his life have not made him bow to fate; instead, they have forged a maturity and resilience beyond his years, leading him step by step toward a brighter future.

The "Presidential Education Award" selects recipients based on their spirit of striving upward, fearlessness in the face of adversity, and love for life. A total of 326 individuals were nominated nationwide, with 167 advancing to the second round. Finally, through on-site visits by scholars and experts, 60 individuals were selected to receive this honor. The award ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Presidential Office on July 3. (Edited by Chang Ya-ching) 0701

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