Steven Benathen

Where do I even begin? I think my heart may have stopped when I saw the Project Bridge flier in my classroom this past October. I had actually always wanted to visit Korea (there’s a subculture of Korea-heads in my school) and seeing that flier was a stroke of luck. I got even luckier when I was offered a spot in this year’s New York City group. I thought I was going to plotz (Yiddish for passing out) when Rebecca called me. Luckily I didn’t and now, if you will, I’ll let you get to know me a little better.

For starters my name is Steven Benathen and I was born in Brooklyn, New York. I have lived here all my life. It’s a real immigrant hotbed, but then again, so is all of New York City. I’m of Eastern European descent (Russia, Belarus, Poland and Hungary) and I’m Jewish, but I’m familiar with the many different types of ethnic groups here in Brooklyn. Just in my high school I’ve come across students from every continent (well, not Antarctica) and many different faiths. We all manage to bond however and I have to say, it’s nothing short of beautiful.

I have a lot of interests that I explore both inside and outside of school. I love to write and would like to make that my career. I work as an editor for my high school’s literary magazine and I have taken some writing classes at school and over the summer. I play golf on my high school’s team. I really like music and I play the oboe and clarinet. I also have an interest in theatre and I’m currently doing some video editing and writing for my school’s spring production, as well as acting in it.

It’s no small coincidence, I think, that many of my interests are also popular in Korea. Golf is huge there. I would like to be a screenwriter and Korea is a true powerhouse (and art house for that matter) when it comes to film.  And did I forget to mention spicy food is my ambrosia?

On a more somber note, I identify with Koreans because of World War II. Being that I’m Jewish I know what it means to have the cultural legacy of being a butchered people. The Japanese massacred the Koreans just as the Germans did the Jews. What unites us is our strength in overcoming these atrocities. Jews and Koreans are both people of great strength who have managed to bounce back from these hardships and develop strong futures for their people.

As I write this, visions of our trip are dancing in my head like sugar plum fairies: except they’re much cooler and are probably more like Samsung-video-phone-using, Hyundai-sports-car-driving, Kimchi-eating fairies. I will reiterate how I feel in a simple sentence: I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS TRIP!

Stephanie Cabral

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”    ~George Eliot

When I wake up every morning there’s only one thing on my mind, my future. It’s a big deal when you’re the oldest of three children and are setting an example. Project Bridge gives me the opportunity to take another step forward, towards my future.

Hi, I’m Stephanie Cabral, and I’m 16 years-old. I’m a junior at the In-Tech Academy. I live in the Bronx, where you can make anything happen. I’m an active member in my community and enjoy helping people in need. Being apart of Project Bridge is an honor. I hope to take this experience with me wherever I go.

Henry Gu

My name is Henry Gu. I was born and raised in New York’s Chinatown. My life mostly revolves around my academics, seeing how it’s the only thing that will grant me a ticket toward a better quality of life and validate the sacrifices that my mom has made for me. My hobbies and interests are endless. It depends on what I’m presented with.  If I’m presented with mathematics, I become interested in how to find a solution to a given problem. If I’m presented with global history, I become interested on why certain things had to happen and why specific civilizations adopted certain cultural traits.

However, I do have strong interests in the following fields: military science, weapons science, political science, international relations, psychology and military sports (sport shooting, archery, etc.). I can be a very outgoing person when I’m familiar with the person or group that I am interacting with.  Usually it doesn’t take long for me to get adjusted.

I applied to Project Bridge because of the experience I gain not just from learning about other cultures, but actually immersing myself in them. In the past I’ve been to Beijing, on mainland China as well as Rome, Italy and Paris, France. Korea will be the best trip experience yet!

Vasudha Gupta

My name is Vasudha Gupta and I hail from Queens, New York. I was born in New Delhi, India, but have been living in New York since I was six.  As a junior in Forest Hills High School, I founded my school’s Math Team and am actively involved in Key Club and bioresearch.  In the future, I hope to go into either biology or economic development, or a combination of them both.  My interests include debating, Kathak classical dance, and running.  I am honored that Project Bridge has given me this opportunity to meet some extraordinary people and learn Korean, which I hope to become fluent in one day.  I will make the most of this opportunity and will remember the experience forever.

Lanna Leite

I’ve lived my life between two cultures. Born and raised in the Big Apple I experienced culture shock when I left this country to live in Brazil for a year and eight months. I left for Brazil when I was around 13, due to certain unfavorable circumstances here in the States. Although my mother is Brazilian, I had never really understood much about the culture or the people since I was involved in the American way of life. Going to diverse public schools, I had befriended other New Yorkers who were Brazilian, yet they were Brazilian people who were doing their best to assimilate to the culture of New York.

While the first months in Brazil were quite tumultuous, it would soon become a place I would call home and a place where I would learn many life lessons. Besides learning a plethora of things in school, and in daily life, I was given the opportunity to teach English as a foreign language in the city of Sao Bernardo. Although I was blessed with certain resources in Brazil, I realized what a vast land of opportunity I had left behind. Upon returning to the U.S., I’ve gotten involved in just about any school activity that deals with social issues, politics or law. I have witnessed too many injustices in Brazil and have seen too much ignorance both there and, surprisingly, here, to refrain from getting involved. I aspire to work in the State Department and perhaps serve as America’s ambassador to a Latin American country.

When I heard about Project Bridge, I was sure that I would fit in with others who are curious and eager to learn about another culture. Being selected as a Project Bridge Youth Ambassador to Korea has been a true blessing. Exploring the topics of race and culture both here and in Korea has opened my mind. I simply cannot wait to step off the plane in Korea!

Alex Muir

My name is Alex Muir and I am a senior at Flushing High School. My school is located in a predominantly Asian area, but students don’t really interact with community members. I chose to apply to Project Bridge because I wanted to know more about the culture I was paying too little attention to, yet one that seems destined for great global influence.

At Flushing High School I am a member of the boys’ varsity basketball team and captain of the mock trial team. I also try to take an active role in my community, Springfield Gardens, by volunteering. I work as an unpaid intern at Councilman James Sanders Jr.’s office and as an usher at Hollis Presbyterian Church.

This is not my first time traveling abroad as I spent fourth grade on the island of Jamaica and have made two trips to Canada. However, it was easy for me to adapt to these two places as they are dominated by American culture and I was surrounded by family. Korea is a new land. I have no connections there, and that only makes it more appealing.

Karla Perez

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "It is not enough to talk about peace, one must live it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it".

My name is Karla Perez and I have made it my mission to "work at it". It may sound naïve and idealistic but I truly believe that peace is a possibility.

Although I was born in New York, I returned to the Dominican Republic early in life. Years later, when my family returned to the United States, I experienced a culture shock as well as an identity crisis. Even though we lived in a largely Dominican community, I had trouble adapting. It wasn’t until we moved to Flushing that I became confident in who I was. Flushing is filled with so many cultures peacefully coexisting. Living amongst that diversity was reassuring. I realized I didn’t have to fit into a single mold. My experience battling cultural schizophrenia, as well as my exposure to such diversity, influenced my decision to pursue a career in international relations.

Alyssa Wheeler

It can be hard to face the future, but once you appreciate the promise that the future holds, it gets easier to make big decisions.  The actions we take now will create the future.  We have to remember that we only live once and that we grow from our mistakes.

These are a few of the maxims I live by.

My name is Alyssa Wheeler and I’m a senior at Franklin K. Lane High School.  I’m easygoing, friendly, outgoing, curious, focused, and outspoken.  I’m the middle child of seven, and my mother has raised me to very open-minded about lives and the beliefs of others.  Though I was born in New York I was raised in California, then I lived in Georgia for two years, and now I’m back in New York.  I am a mix of five different races: my mother is African American, Cherokee Indian, French and Irish, while my father is pure Dominican. I was raised by my mother and I consider myself to be a child of today’s modern world, ready to explore new surroundings.  I value diversity and feel that’s what makes our nation so unique and special.

I enjoy a variety of things. I love tennis, volleyball, debating and helping my peers.  When I’m with my friends I’m the goofy-yet-level-headed one. Sometimes I feel like a preacher.  It’s really hard for me to hang out with friends because I’m always so busy.

I’m definitely going to college once I graduate, but I haven’t decided on a major.  I’m interested in many different fields of study and when I go to college I look forward discovering my true passion. Thank you, Project Bridge for assisting me in looking outside of the box.

Marcus Enfiedjian

My name is Marcus Avedis Enfiedjian. I am 16 years old and attend Torrance High school — as a junior this year. Even though it’s important, school has never been my favorite thing. I love to wrestle, pole-vault, play piano and experiment with photography. My father used to be a professional photographer and he has taught me much of what he knows. From abstract pictures to streaking light, he’s shared it all with me. I not only like photography but I’m very into digital art as well. Editing, rendering, colorizing and experimenting with art could be boring for some but is a great creative pastime for me. I would much rather be creative or constructive than to sit and waste my time on something like television. I love traveling and being a missionary during my summers. I realized that I wanted to incorporate this with other things that I love in life. I have been studying Korean for four-and-a-half years at Torrance High. Using my talents as a photographer I’ve earned a spot on the board of the Korean Culture Club.

I’m a very sociable and easygoing person. I love to have fun and make the most out of my free time. I feel that I have seen what high school has to offer and I am kind of ready to move onto bigger and better things.

Eventually I would like to attend Underwood International College at Yonsei University. There I want to study to teach English in Korea as well as do missionary work there and throughout the world. I feel that I have a solid plan for life after high school; I just need to work hard to get there. A desk job simply isn’t a job for me.

Aneesah Giroux

I’m Aneesah Giroux and I have a personality like no other. I carry a full academic load because I know education will take me where I want to go in life.

I’ve been volunteering at the Huntington Hospital in Pasadena since ninth grade.  I’m the historian of Drama Club, I’ve been in both NHS and CSF for three years and I’m a cheerleader — but don’t hold it against me. I’ve loved traveling since I was three and I love food even more. After all this, though, my activities and academics don’t define me. I strive to be known for my thoughts, ambitions, and goals.

I’m indifferent to most things, but I’m very passionate about how current laws affect the people around me. This is why I’m hoping to pursue a career somewhere in the field of public administration. Whether I’m an immigration lawyer, a politician or a psychologist, I know that wharever I channel my energies, I’ll be creating life-changing opportunities for people.

I know that Project Bridge will provide an invaluable experience, and I hope to gain a better understanding Korean culture, and other diverse cultures.

Hugo Hua

Hi. My name is Hugo Hua and I attend Temple City High School. As a junior there, I’m busily involved in my classes. When I’m not buried under an avalanche of work, I am either hanging out with my friends or playing tennis.

Tennis is my favorite sport. You can always find me on the court. I don’t know whether it is all the pressure of playing by myself or the competitiveness, but every time I step onto the court, a rush of adrenaline charges through my body.

Even more fun than tennis is chilling with friends is the best part of high school. Someone once told me, “a good friend would bail you out of jail, but a great friend would be sitting right next to you.” I know I wouldn’t be able to wake up at 6:30 every morning and endure the monotonous cycle of high school if I didn’t have my friends with me, suffering too.

After high school, all I know is that I want to go to college. But after that, I’m like a little boy lost in a Best Buy after the Christmas sale. That’s why I decided to apply for Project Bridge. Besides meeting cool people and traveling to Korea, I hope to be enlightened about the goals I can achieve and the careers I can work towards in the future. I can’t wait to go to Korea.

Tracy Trinh Luong

Ever heard of the phrase “don’t spread yourself too thin?” Well, I haven’t.
I make an effort to pursue everything I find interesting. Don’t take it the wrong way, I’m no jack of all trades, but just enjoy exploring everything life has to offer. I love playing tennis, performing for speech and debate and being in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America—a national business organization—I serve as their Gold Coast vice president of Special Events.) I also enjoy constant challenges because I see them as an opportunity to learn and grow, though this year I started to feel a bit overwhelmed by my academics. Although I don’t like to admit it, I have limits. I try to subtly keep that in mind, but most of the time I just let my instincts drive me along. I really enjoy all four of my AP courses and activities I’m committed to, but in the wee hours of late nights the pressure starts to mount.
Family is an important influence on my life. Learning through conflicts with my parents, two older sisters and two younger siblings has really taught me many life lessons and how to live life the way I want to. I have an interest in the sciences and want to pursue a career in the medical field. Lately I’ve been thinking about specializing in dermatology. I mean what’s more interesting than what’s covering your body? You might think its boring now, but one day you’ll come looking for me when I find the cure for acne or something.

I’m ecstatic about Project Bridge and what has to offer. I hope it will expose me to more things that I have yet to discover.

Kenneth Park

I’m pretty sure most of you guys started jumping around when you heard that you were selected. I know I was jumping until I started panting for breath. Anyways, back to the topic.

I attend North High School in Torrance. I take a few AP courses, as well as a few honors classes. I am usually a very open person, unless I’m feeling sick, which is very rare. Some of my extracurricular activities include PAVA Jr., VYC, Korean Club and LOVE LA. I enjoy singing, reading, talking, and some other things that I can’t quite think of right now.

I want to be either an aerospace engineer or a mechanical engineer because those two careers use a lot of math and sciences, and I love both math and science. If I have time, I would also like to take up culinary because I love food, and also because cooking gets rid of some of the stress I have. I think Project Bridge will help me build some leadership skills, teamwork skills (these are going to be crucial in becoming an engineer) and presentation skills.
Need I say more? Well, some of the things I might be able to contribute to the group are my diligence, my determination and my gleefulness.

Brittany Rodriguez

My name is Brittany Rodriguez and I was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on July 26th, 1989. I’m half German and half Nicaraguan. I’ve lived in Wisconsin, Connecticut, Florida and California.  From kindergarten to fourth grade I attended a small private school where the student population was roughly 90% African American. I then attended a private, magnet school for the performing arts while I was in grades five through eight, with a 90% Latin population. I was valedictorian of my eighth grade class. Currently I’m attending Marshall Fundamental Secondary School where the majority of the population is Armenian, Latin or African American. Due to the fact that I’ve frequently been in the minority in my schools, I never realized the richness that I’ve been exposed to by being near so many different cultures.

In my free time I enjoy playing soccer and tennis. I am secretary for the Class of 2007 at my school, president of the Drama Club, treasurer/secretary/founder of the Soccer Club, member of the Tennis Club, and a member of the National Honors Society. I am taking three AP courses and I have a 3.8 GPA. I would like to pursue a career in business marketing.

Reco Sanders

Hey everybody, my name is Reco Sanders and this is my attempt to explain my dreams and aspirations in two paragraphs. I have a passion for writing and want to be a professional journalist. Next year I plan to apply to USC, with my communication as my major, to achieve this goal. In school I excel in English classes, but math and chemistry feel like torture rather than enrichment.

I play football, but now that the season is over I’ve been searching for a volunteer program that actually interests me, instead of one that I would do just to get volunteer hours. I know a lot of upperclassmen through football and I have their respect, which in the high school social hierarchy gets me respect from a lot of other people. I’ve never heard anyone say they hate being popular, and I won’t be the first.

When I filled out the Project Bridge application and turned it in, actually getting an interview seemed like a long shot. Once I got the interview the “guy mentality” in me started speaking up. I started telling myself how great I am with people and how impressive I sound to adults — why wouldn’t they pick me? Even after the interview I still never pictured myself in Korea. The possibility of going to Korea seemed far off until Grace called with congratulations.
But after I called everybody I knew and yelled “I’m going to Korea!” and then repeated it myself three times, slowly and clearly, I couldn’t help but see myself there. I played the tearful parting with my parents, as I departed to one of the scariest places on Earth, through my mind.

Project Bridge has already given me so much! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I want to bring my personality and flair to make everyone else have more fun than they’re already having. At the same time I want to take in Korean culture and understand their view of American culture. Five years from now I want to get an assignment to interview a celebrity in Korea, so that when my editor asks if I’ve ever been I can say I didn’t just go, I had the time of my life!

Daniel Stickar

My name is Danny Stickar. I’m 16 years old, and I attend Clark Magnet High School in La Crescenta. I consider myself exceptionally intelligent, though I sometimes tend not to show it. I’m also very artistic. I spend most of my free time drawing. As for my social exploits, well; I seem to spend much less time with my friends than I would like to, outside of school at least, owing to the fact that I have many chores, assignments and sports related activities to do while not attending class. As for my future plans, I hope to eventually find a career that lets me integrate my artistic ability with technology; something like a web or graphic designer, or 3-D character designer.

I entered Project Bridge because I believe it will help me improve some things I’m not so great at. I’m not accustomed to public speaking, and despite the many comments I try to interject into discussions, I’m really quite shy about speaking in front of others and I keep many of my true opinions guarded. I also hope to gain better leadership skills, as I have very little experience in coordinating group activities.

If I can enhance these skills, I’ll be better off in college and in life. Some of the qualities that I hope to contribute to Project Bridge include my artistic knowledge and ability, as well as the cultural awareness I’ve picked up from my diverse family and previous travels. I also believe that my good humor, cheerful personality and ability to think abstractly and creatively will be beneficial to the group, especially during the ten-hour bus rides.

Fernando Cardenas

Fernando Cardenas has spent a majority of his life in Southern California. He originally came to Los Angeles from Peru when he was 10 years old. Since then, he has completed his BA in psychology at UC Riverside, and is going for his MA in psychology at Cal State University, Los Angeles. Fernando is also pursuing certification as a translator and interpreter in Spanish at UCLA.
Fernando is currently working as a research associate at Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles, where he conducts research on issues such as telemedicine, school-based vision screening and cultural values related to participation in research opportunities. He is planning to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology within the next few years. His goal is to continue researching identity development in American ethnic minorities.

This is Fernando’s second year as a Project Bridge group leader, and he is very excited to be a part of the effort. He feels very fortunate to work with such a talented and dedicated group of young people. He feels this will be a great opportunity to learn more about the role of ethnicity in the way that people from diverse backgrounds interact, and to see how young people push themselves to overcome the challenges that a culturally diverse society poses. Lastly, he is looking forward to learning from his fellow group leaders, and from the Youth Ambassadors (in LA and NY) as they go through this amazing opportunity together.

Christine Fryer

Christine Fryer is originally from New Haven, Connecticut. She attended Bates College where she majored in comparative political science and minored in Spanish. Upon graduation from Bates she moved to New York and began a career in social justice, working at the Legal Aid Society’s juvenile rights division.

Continuing her commitment to social justice, Christine attended Rutgers Law School in Newark and subsequently worked as a criminal defense attorney at the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem. Switching gears, Christine became a New York City teaching fellow in 2002, completed her master’s degree in 2005, and has been teaching at Louis D. Brandeis High School for the past four years.
Christine is thrilled to a group leader for Project Bridge. She has had a love of traveling since she took her first trip to France when she was in high school. Her most recent trip was to Japan with the Japan Society Educators Tour. She is excited to teach her students about Korea following her trip.

Grace Yoo

Grace Yoo was born in Incheon, South Korea and at age three immigrated with her family to the United States, settling in Los Angeles.  She is the executive director of the Korean American Coalition in Los Angeles (KAC-LA), a nonprofit community-based organization representing the interests of Korean Americans. As executive director of KAC-LA, Grace works with members of the media and political figures to promote the interests of the Korean American community. Throughout her career, Grace has been a tireless advocate for justice. Grace earned her BA in political science from the University of California at Riverside, where she received the Davis Commencement Award. Grace also graduated from Seton Hall Law School, receiving both the Juvenile Justice Commencement Award and the Center for Social Justice Commencement Award. After graduating from law school, Grace was appointed by the California court system to represent abused and neglected children.

Grace has served as Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), based in Washington, D.C, the nation’s only bar association representing Asian Pacific American attorneys.

When she has time, Grace spends it with family and friends; mostly enjoying delicious food, but every once in awhile taking a walk with a good friend or relieving stress at a shopping outlet.

Rebecca Brabant

Rebecca Brabant joined The Korea Society in 2003 after graduating from Scripps College. Rebecca received a B.A. in anthropology and Asian studies with a focus on China.  She has an extensive background in East Asia, having traveled in the region for over 16 years and resided in Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Harbin, China. During 2002, Rebecca took a yearlong leave of absence from college to pursue an academic scholarship at Hei Long Jiang University in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin.  She is proficient in Mandarin Chinese, Korean and Spanish.

Jungho Kwak

Jungho Kwak was born and raised in Seoul, Korea.  After moving to New York City in 1983, he completed his undergraduate work at the Parsons School of Design in New York.  He received a B.F.A. in 1991.  In recent years, he has worked as a freelance photographer and has exhibited his photographs in Indonesia and the Netherlands.  Jungho has accompanied groups of students and teachers on study tours to Korea under the auspices of The Korea Society for the last several years.

Orientation
December 15, 2005

Workshop 1
January 12, 2006

Workshop 2
January 19, 2006

Christine Fryer, an educator from Louis D. Brandeis High School and the 2006 New York Project Bridge Group Leader, prepared short reading assignments and moderated a discussion on the topics of race and diversity.  Readings included selections from, Race and Membership in American History: The Eugenics Movement, Whitewashing Race: The Myth of a Color-Blind Society and A Puerto Rican in New York and Other Sketches.  To spur discussion, students were given a questionnaire that allowed them to explore their own concepts of race and identity.

Workshop 3 
February 2, 2006

At the third workshop, the students were introduced to Ambassador Donald P. Gregg, president and chairman of The Korea Society, who recounted the history of the Project Bridge program back through its founding as an attempt to build intercultural understanding after the divisive 1992 riots in Los Angeles.

Ambassador Gregg asked the students to share their motives for taking part in Project Bridge and what they hoped to take away from the program. Gregg then discussed important lessons from his years of being an American abroad. He also discussed the changing regional dynamics of Northeast Asia and the current and future role of the U.S. on the Korean Peninsula.

Following their session with Ambassador Gregg, the students, led by group leader Christine Fryer, continued the discussion among themselves. Participants were inspired by the depth of Ambassador Gregg's overseas experience. They discussed their early impressions of Project Bridge and Korea.

Workshop 4
February 17, 2006

Workshop 5
March 2, 2006

Workshop 6
March 11, 2006

Guest lecturer Heinz Insu Fenkl, from State University of New York at New Paltz, joined the group for a Saturday afternoon meeting and discussion.  The lecture included a presentation of selected Korean folktales and a discussion on the importance of folktales in interpreting culture.  Professor Fenkl also offered insight into his personal experience growing in Korea, the hobbies modern Korean youth and the differences and similarities of American and Korean cultures.

Workshop 7
March 16, 2006

Workshop 8: Retreat 
April 24-26, 2006

Each year, Project Bridge participants take part in a two-night, three-day retreat in order to learn more about Korea and one another. This year's retreat was held at YMCA Camp Bernie in northeastern New Jersey.

The retreat's lecture sessions began on Saturday, when guest speaker Shin Hark Suk arrived to deliver an intensive Korean language course. Suk taught the students the Korean alphabet and how to read and write a set of important hangul words. The students also learned the lyrics and rhythm to "Springtime in My Hometown," a Korean folksong they would be required to sing for their hosts during the study tour.

At the next lecture session, students listened to Frederick Carriere, vice president and executive director of The Korea Society, speak on the complex relationship between the United States, South Korea and North Korea. Carriere briefed the students on the North Korean nuclear issues that have garnered so much media attention, as well as attempts to negotiate the situation at the Six-Party Talks. Carriere was followed by Homer Williams, who delivered an overview of Korean history through the twentieth century.

The information was a lot for the students to process. Many were surprised to learn of Korea's important role in developing the printing press. Following the lecture sessions, the students discussed what they had learned and gave presentations on particular Korean research topics they would come across on the study tour. Topics included Korean cuisine, folktales, education, religion, dance and music as well as special Korean sites like Namsan, Changdok Palace and Kyongbok Palace.

The balance of the retreat was spent on recreational activities and team building exercises.

Parent Information Session
April 8, 2006

Project Bridge students arrived at The Korea Society for this meeting with their parents in tow. This session was designed to give parents a better sense of the program and a chance ask any questions they had about the study tour. The Korea Society vice president and executive director Fred Carriere spoke about the Project Bridge program and its goals. Study tour itineraries, a face book with biographies of all participants and a suggested packing list were handed out and the evening was concluded with a question and answer session.

2005 - 2006 Project Bridge Study Tour 
April 11 - April 23, 2006

Workshop 10
May 11, 2006

Workshop 11
May 18, 2006

The students spent this workshop preparing for the final presentation of the Project Bridge 2005-2006 program.  Students coordinated the specific topics which they wanted to present on (they had a having difficulty limiting their presentations to just one topic.) The students also shared photographs to use in their slide show presentations.

Final Presentation
June 1, 2006

An audience of participants’ families, classmates, teachers, mentors, previous Project Bridge participants and Society staff gathered to hear the 2005-2006 Project Bridge participants deliver their final reports.  Prior to the student presentations, Ambassador Donald Gregg gave made remarks on his impression of this year’s group and awarded the participants with certificates of completion.  The students, in groups of two, then gave their final presentation on their experiences in Korea.  The presentation topics included: the Demilitarized Zone, women’s roles in Korean society, environment, business, education, food and religion.  The session was concluded with a student performance of the Korean folk song, “Springtime in my Hometown.”

THE PROJECT BRIDGE PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED BY:

THE KOREA SOCIETY is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corportate members that is dedicated soley to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of The United States and Korea.

The Pacific Century Institute was founded in 1992 as a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster education, policy dialogue and research concerning the whole Pacific Rim region.

THE PROJECT BRIDGE STUDY TOUR IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS:

American Chamber of Commerce
Banpo High School
Dongreyaryu Dance Studio
Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Government
Haja Center
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
Hyundai Motor Company
Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine
Korea Air Lines
The Korea Foundation
Korea International Trade Association (KITA)
Korea Securities Dealers Association (KSDA)
Korean-American Educational (Fulbright) Commission
The National Assembly
Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO)
Poongsan Corporation
Samsung Electronics
Seoul Metropolitan Government
United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission
United States Eighth Army