The idea of studying abroad for an entire semester might be daunting for students, considering the time and money involved, but the International Studies Program has solutions. One of these solutions is the Seoul Women’s University (SWU) Bahrom International Program. This scholarship program gives students the opportunity to spend an extremely structured month during the summer in South Korea, where they attend lectures in English on the culture and history of Korea.
Awards create foreign possibilities
02/17/2005
12:00 am
Contributed Photo. A group of Berry students visit Ansan Mountain while studying in Korea. They saw sights such as Yoido Full Gospel Church, which is the largest church in the world with more than 700,000 members. Several scholarships will be awarded each year to students who want to study in Koea at Seoul University for Women. In return, Berry takes Korean exchange students for a year.
The idea of studying abroad for an entire semester might be daunting for students, considering the time and money involved, but the International Studies Program has solutions.
One of these solutions is the Seoul Women’s University (SWU) Bahrom International Program. This scholarship program gives students the opportunity to spend an extremely structured month during the summer in South Korea, where they attend lectures in English on the culture and history of Korea.
Later, some of the Korean students they meet will get the chance to study in the United States for a year.
Students attend lectures during the morning and field trips in the afternoon, which cover subjects such as Korean history, language, music, dance, art and film.
Activities for the afternoons include Tae kwon do lessons and learning traditional musical instruments and opportunities to select outings on free days. Each student receives 3 credit hours and free tuition.
While the program serves as a vehicle to create world citizens of Berry students, it also serves to prepare students from Korea to attend Berry. Each Berry student is paired with a future exchange student at the beginning of the program and attends a dinner at that student’s home.
These students will then attend Berry for a full year. As well as lectures being taught in English, the style of teaching is focused toward the environment of American classrooms to help Korean students adjust when they arrive at Berry.
The program was initiated and is funded by Sunny Park, a member of Berry’s board of visitors. Park is the president, chief executive officer and founder of General Building Maintenance Inc. in Atlanta.
According to a previous story in Berry Magazine, Park decided to start the program after hearing a student say that she had never been to Atlanta.
“I want to help young Americans be a part of the world community,” said Park.
Since the initial five students went in July 2003, another four students have participated in the program, and on Feb. 7, Park announced that he would continue to give the scholarships to Berry.
The program does not require students to obtain visas, only a passport, and all students are housed on the SWU campus.
Though SWU is a women’s institution, the program is open to returning male and female Berry students with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
The scholarships are awarded through an application process that includes an essay. Previous participant Steven Wagner (year) said that one of his main motivations for applying was his father’s service in the army.
“My father got to see Korea while he was in the army, but I wanted to learn about the people of Korea,” Wagner said.
The essays are a major part of the selection process. The International Programs Committee is made up of 14 members, with Director of International Programs Sarah Egerer as committee chair. The committee reads each essay and makes the final decision on which students are selected.
“I am amazed that all of the students who attend Seoul University come back saying that the experience was life-changing in such a short period of time,” Egerer said.
This year’s application deadline for the five scholarships is March 10, and Egerer said she is hoping for heightened interest in the program.
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