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Immediate Release
July 24, 2012
Contacts:
Joyce Yin, NAKASEC, jyin@nakasec.org | 202-299-9540Youngsun Song, KRC, youngsun@chicagokrcc.org | 773-717-5428 Dae Joong Yoon, KRC, djyoon@krcla.org | 323-937-3718
NAKASEC and Affiliates Announce 5th Annual DREAM Scholarship Fund Recipients
Twelve Outstanding Young Leaders Chosen
Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and its affiliates, the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (KRCC) in Chicago and the Korean Resource Center (KRC) in Los Angeles, are proud to announce the recipients for the fifth annual DREAM Scholarship Fund. The DREAM Scholarship aims to address some of the immediate concerns Asian American immigrant youth face in achieving higher education while also serving as a tool to foster youth leadership and development.
Through generous donations from community members and fundraising efforts led by our affiliate youth groups, Fighting Youth Shouting out for Humanity (FYSH) and Alliance of Korean American Students in Action (AKASIA), we are able to award 12 scholarships at $1,000 each that will go towards higher education expenses. This year, we received applications from California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah and Virginia.
Below is a list of the recipients. Please see the attached sheet for more information on each recipient:
- Marc Banzuela – Worcester, MA
- Hyun Min Chun – Los Angeles, CA
- Mikyung Eum – Chicago, IL
- Jeong Hun Kim – Los Angeles, CA
- Naeyeon Kim – Carlsbad, CA
- Hye Soo Lee – Cypress, CA
- Kim Navoa – Chicago, IL
- Sophia Yaejin Park – Chicago, IL
- Jenny Shin – Corona, CA
- Eun Bi Son – Gainesville, VA
- Su Hwan Sung – Northridge, CA
- Angela Tang – Oakland, CA
This year’s DSF comes on the heels of the June 15th announcement by the Administration on deferred action which will protect undocumented youth from deportation. Although the announcement finally recognizes the significant contributions they make to this country, there are continued and immediate barriers facing immigrant youth in attaining an education.
Jamie Kim, Co-Chair of AKASIA, says “I appreciate the DREAM Scholarship for being there for immigrant Asian American youth like myself, serving as a reminder that there are resources and support out there for young people who strive for higher education in order to reach their dreams.”
“All young people should have the right to access higher education, regardless of immigration status. The DREAM Scholarship award is not only about education, but also empowerment. Our fundraising efforts for the award present an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the accomplishments and resilience of immigrant youth,” adds Carla Navoa, Youth Organizer at KRCC.
The Dream Scholarship Fund was founded in 2007 by a group of Korean American youth from NAKASEC, KRC and KRCC who have tirelessly campaigned over the last decade for the passage of the DREAM Act – legislation that would provide a path to legalization for eligible immigrant students who grew up in the United States. NAKASEC and its centers are the coordinating bodies of the scholarship with local advisory committees that oversee the selection process.
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The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) was founded in 1994 by local community centers to project a national progressive voice and promote the full participation of Korean Americans as a part of a greater goal of building a national movement for social change. NAKASEC is based in D.C. and Los Angeles. NAKASEC also has affiliates in Chicago (Korean American Resource & Cultural Center) and Los Angeles (Korean Resource Center).
2012 DREAM Scholarship Fund recipients
Sponsored by NAKASEC, KRC, KRCC and its youth groups, FYSH and AKASIA
NAME: Marc Banzuela
CITY/STATE: Worcester, MA
SCHOOL: Quinsigamond Community College
MAJOR: Pharmacy/Biomedical Engineering
QUOTE: “The DREAM Scholarship means a lot to me because I proved to myself that I can accomplish goals that I never imagined I could accomplish. It changed the way I look at the barriers in my life. Financial problems are one of those barriers but this scholarship proved to me that there are ways around these problems. With this award, I will use the money to buy books required for my classes and school supplies that I need.”
NAME: Hyun Min Chun
CITY/STATE: Los Angeles, CA
SCHOOL: University of California, Los Angeles
MAJOR: Business Economics
*Photo Unavailable
NAME: Mikyung Eum
CITY/STATE: Chicago, IL
SCHOOL: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MAJOR: Landscape Architecture
QUOTE: “It is odd to be on the receiving end of this process this year because I helped raise this money as a member of FYSH, and for that I am even more proud of and grateful for the work that KRCC and FYSH does for our community. Thank you, staff, volunteers, and friends of KRCC, for this support in continuing my education.”
CITY/STATE: Los Angeles, CA
SCHOOL: Los Angeles Trade Technical College
MAJOR: Business
QUOTE: “This scholarship is going to help me reach my dream goal even further which is reaching out to needy, hungry, poor or whoever is in need of support.”
NAME: Naeyeon Kim
CITY/STATE: Carlsbad, CA
SCHOOL: University of California, San Diego
MAJOR: Life Science
QUOTE: “I cannot simply express how elated I am to have received the scholarship! KRC not only has given me the opportunity to study but motivated to keep pushing forward with everything I do. But most importantly, I aspire to be the helping hand that KRC has been for me in the future.”
NAME: Hye Soo Lee
CITY/STATE: Cypress, CA
SCHOOL: University of California, Irvine
MAJOR: Political Science
*Photo Unavailable
NAME: Kim Navoa
CITY/STATE: Chicago, IL
SCHOOL: University of Illinois at Chicago
MAJOR: Photography
QUOTE: “I can’t even begin to describe how thankful and excited I am to receive one of the DREAM Scholarships. For most of my college career, whether I would be able to return to school each semester was never a guarantee. However, my parents have always emphasized the importance of education and continue to do so today, despite the roadblocks that stand in our way. I’m fortunate enough to have a family that works so hard to put me through school and fills my life with nothing but infinite love and support. It’s scholarships like this that help students like me get the education that I deserve, motivate me to achieve my dreams, and remind me and my family that there are people out there who genuinely care; there’s nothing more beautiful than that.
Thank you, NAKASEC, KRC, and KRCC, from the bottom of my heart for helping me get one step closer to my future.”
CITY/STATE: Deerfield, IL
SCHOOL: Northwestern University
MAJOR: Biological Sciences
QUOTE: “I am thrilled to be receiving the DREAM scholarship this year. While it provides much of the financial support necessary to fund my education at Northwestern, it more importantly signifies the support of the Korean American community of NAKASEC. I wholeheartedly believe that it is necessary that Korean Americans strive for greater voice and involvement in politics and society and I strive to be a Korean American professional in my community that does exactly that. Thank you NAKASEC for your support!”
CITY/STATE: Corona, CA
SCHOOL: University of California, San Diego
MAJOR: Human Biology
QUOTE: “This scholarship means a lot to me because finances have been a daunting aspect of my college education and I feel that I am now one step closer to achieving my academic goals.”
CITY/STATE: Gainesville, VA
SCHOOL: Shenandoah University
MAJOR: Chemistry
QUOTE: “Thank you, DREAM Scholarship Fund, for providing my family this gift of finance to afford my education and to aid my parents’ hardworking and sacrificial lifestyle. I will be spending this upcoming year of 2012-13 paying back my gratitude of DREAM Scholarship via reaching my goals in academics, taking on new opportunities, and reaching out to my community. This scholarship is not only a huge support to continuing my attendance at Shenandoah University, but also a great encouragement for me to achieve the highest caliber of my major studies and passion.
Thank you, Lord, for being here with me through all of the tough times. I am always happy and thankful of your love regardless of my circumstances. But allowing me to receive this scholarship has become another reason to be filled with thanksgiving. Praise unto His name!”
NAME: Su Hwan Sung
CITY/STATE: Northridge, CA
SCHOOL: University of California, Berkeley
MAJOR: Sociology
*Photo Unavailable
NAME: Angela Tang
CITY/STATE: Oakland, CA
SCHOOL: Univeristy of California, Davis
MAJOR: Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior
*Photo Unavailable
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