Atlanta, May 9, 2026— The Great American Scholarship Foundation (GASF) celebrated its third class of scholarship recipients on May 1st at the Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood, awarding five outstanding Korean American high school seniors $10,000 each toward their college education.
The evening brought together the recipients, their families, and foundation board members — roughly 30 guests in all — to honor students who have distinguished themselves not only in the classroom, but in the broader communities where they live and serve.
This year's recipients are:
Ellie Choi – Johns Creek, GA — Georgia Tech
Kaylee Kim – Mt. Juliet, TN — Emory University
Julia Lee – Greensboro, NC — Duke University
Grace Park – Buford, GA — University of Georgia
Sean Park – Suwanee, GA — Duke University
The five were chosen from a pool of 28 applicants. Two of the winners accumulated more than 1,500 volunteer hours over the past two years, a remarkable achievement that reflects the foundation's core mission.
“Become excellent people in all areas, and serve as role models for others,” GASF Founder and Chairman Sunny K. Park told the scholars at the ceremony. Board members echoed the sentiment, encouraging the students to carry their spirit of service into college and give back to their communities as they grow.
What sets GASF apart from other scholarship programs is its emphasis on volunteerism outside the Korean American community. Non-Korean community service accounts for 50 percent of the selection criteria — more than academic performance, financial need, and letters of recommendation combined. The foundation was established in December 2022 with a $1 million personal endowment from Park, with the goal of bridging the invisible divide between Korean Americans and mainstream American society.
“One of the factors that separates the GASF from other scholarship programs is the emphasis on recognizing student hours devoted to community volunteerism,” the foundation noted in its official announcement.
Scholarship funds are sent directly to each recipient's university to cover tuition and legitimate educational expenses. Eligibility is open to Korean American high school seniors who are U.S. citizens residing in one of five Southeastern states: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee.
The selection committee included General Larry Ellis, former Georgia Attorney General Samuel Olens, Paul Kim, Andrew Hong, and Southeast Korean American Association President Ki Hwan Kim.
Now in its third year, GASF has supported students heading to some of the nation's most competitive universities, including Harvard, Stanford, Brown, Duke, Georgia Tech, and UC Berkeley. Two of this year's five honorees — Grace Park and Sean Park — call the greater Atlanta metro area home, a point of particular pride for the region's Korean American community.
For more information or to apply for the 2027 cycle, visit www.GreatAmericanScholarship.org.
