Scholar Spotlight
A prolific writer of poetry and song, Nate is a dynamic speaker and isn't shy about performing in front of an audience.
Scholars in the Arts
"I am fascinated by the breadth of Art History and by how painting teaches a culture about itself."
Joan Kim
“Books have provided me with a crucial tool for achieving success. The knowledge and skills I can glean by simply turning pages is staggering, and strips me of all excuses of why I should not think and dream big.”
- Program: 2009 College Scholarship Recipient
- Resides: Temple City, CA
- Hometown: Temple City, CA
- Age: 20
- Four-year College or University: Cornell University
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Entrepreneur / Independent Business, Languages, Liberal Arts, Literature
- Other Interests: Church / Religious Organization, Foreign Languages / International Study, Performing Arts / Theatre, Sports, Volunteer Work, Museums, Art Galleries, Reading
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Biography
Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: Thanks to the Foundation, Joan Kim had the chance to take lessons with a top violinist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Summer programs brought the California native to the East Coast to study business and etymology in Boston and Washington, DC.
Profile: Joan grew up watching her cousins play the violin. She begged her mother for lessons but it wasn’t until she was nine that serious instruction began. Although that age is considered late to start the process, Joan’s competitive spirit went into overdrive. “I couldn’t stand not being the best and I pushed myself to practice longer and harder.” The persistence, hard work and dedication paid off as Joan became concertmaster of the top youth symphony in Southern California and performed three separate times at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Something else, something devastating, also happened when Joan was nine, shortly after she began her music lessons. Her father became ill and passed away. But somehow her mother made sure that the violin lessons would continue and Joan blossomed into an honor student. She hoped during seventh grade to participate at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth program, but finances were an issue. That’s when the Foundation stepped in and began supplementing Joan’s academic and artistic pursuits.
Inspiration: Joan’s mother “who embodies the very essence of hard work and determination, is my lifetime mentor, teacher, and cheerleader.”
Aspiration: Her goals are still a work in progress. One thing for sure, wherever she goes, Joan will be traveling with her violin case.
Making a Difference: She was concertmaster for the Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra which gives free community performances and concerts to educate youngsters about classical music. She was also a vacation bible school teacher aide at her church.
Accolades: At Temple City High School, Joan was named an AP Scholar, was a member of the National Honor Society and received the school’s Concertmaster Leadership Award as well as the 2006 Outstanding Musician of the Year.
Interesting fact: She can solve a Rubik’s Cube.
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Patricia Boone
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