Yonsei University graduate begins prestigious American fellowship

Woosung Kim

Woosung Kim, the son of Weijen Park and the late Kim Kynseung, has been named a McDonnell International Scholar at Washington University in St. Louis. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Yonsei University, which is one of 15 leading Asian universities partnered with Washington University in St. Louis in the McDonnell International Scholars Academy.

Mr. Kim is pursuing a graduate degree in electrical and systems engineering in the Sever Graduate School of Engineering and expects his study to continue for five to six years.

"We were extremely impressed with Woosung Kim's application to the McDonnell Academy," said James V. Wertsch, Ph.D., the Marshall S. Snow Professor in Arts & Sciences and Director of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy. "He clearly is an outstanding student, and he also promises to develop into one of the global leaders of tomorrow."

The McDonnell International Scholars Academy is both new and unique. Employing an unusual structure and approach, it brings together top scholars from many countries to pursue world-class education and research while forging a strong network with one another. Key to this are partnerships Washington University has established with top universities and corporations around the world with an eye to increasing opportunities for joint research and global education.

The McDonnell Academy Scholars are considered future world leaders in their fields. As such, they are provided not only rigorous graduate instruction, but a thorough cultural, political and social education designed to prepare them as leaders knowledgeable about the United States, other countries, and critical international issues.

Once selected for this highly competitive program, each scholar is matched with a distinguished member of the Washington University faculty who serves as a mentor for the scholar and also as an "ambassador" to the university partner from which the scholar has graduated. The ambassador assists the McDonnell Scholar in academic and professional life and travels annually with the scholar to the partner university to build relationships between the two institutions.

T.S. Park

T.S. Park, M.D., the Shi H. Huang Professor of Neurosurgery and neurosurgeon-in-chief at St. Louis Children's Hospital is Mr. Kim's faculty mentor-ambassador. Dr. Park's clinical interests include pediatric neurosurgery and pediatric epilepsy surgery and craniosynostosis. He received his medical degree and served a neurosurgery residency at Yonsei University College of Medicine.

The McDonnell Academy Scholars receive funding for full tuition, living expenses and travel to and from St. Louis. Most of the scholars reside in two fully equipped and furnished apartment buildings near campus.

Funding is provided through a sustaining endowment gift from John F. McDonnell, vice chairman of the Washington University Board of Trustees and retired chairman of the board of McDonnell Douglas Corporation, additional endowment pledges, and 11 multinational corporate and foundation sponsors. Sponsoring corporations also offer internships and on-site educational opportunities for the Academy's Corporate Fellows.