Installation and Awards Banquet
IRVINE, Calif. (May 7, 2024) — Annie Hong and Serapia Hyunmin Kim, first-year students at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, were recognized by the Korean American Bar Association of Southern California (KABA) at its 44th Board of Governors Installation and Awards Banquet on April 25 at the Omni Hotel in Los Angeles. Serapia Kim received the Kenneth B. Chang Memorial KABA Foundation Scholarship and Annie Hong received the KABA Foundation Scholarship.
Kenneth B. Chang Memorial KABA Foundation Scholarship
UC Irvine School of Law 1L
Created in honor of KABA’s inaugural president, Hon. Kenneth B. Chang — who was the first Korean American to be appointed to the Superior Court in Southern California — the Kenneth B. Chang Memorial KABA Foundation Scholarship recognizes outstanding law students who demonstrate a commitment to serving the Korean American community and/or Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
This year’s recipient, Serapia Hyunmin Kim, is a first-year student at UC Irvine School of Law where she serves as a 1L Representative for the Student Bar Association and OutLaw. Prior to law school, she worked for elected officials, including the former Mayor Eric Garcetti, representing Korean and Asian American communities in Los Angeles. She graduated with a B.A. in Political Economy from Williams College.
“I thank KABA and my mentor for their commitment to supporting Korean American attorneys in the making,” said Kim. “I am honored to receive a scholarship dedicated to KABA’s first president, Hon. Kenneth B. Chang. His vision of serving the Korean American communities in Southern California carries on to this day. I am excited to build on his legacy here at UC Irvine through the Korean Law Center where I will be working on a survey project about Korean American attorneys this summer.”
KABA Foundation Scholarship
UC Irvine School of Law 1L
The KABA Foundation Scholarship is funded by the KABA Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides legal, educational, and related services to the Korean American community in Los Angeles. The scholarship is awarded to a law student in Southern California who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to public interest.
Annie Hong, this year’s recipient, is a first-year student at UC Irvine School of Law who assists veterans with family law matters at the Veterans Legal Institute as a pro bono volunteer. She also conducts research for ACLU of Southern California in its efforts to address the rights of the unhoused. Hong is interested in practicing in the fields of white-collar crimes and intellectual property. This summer, she will be externing at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Hong earned her Master of Public Administration and B.A. in Cognitive Science from the University of Southern California. She currently serves in the United States Army Reserve as a Finance Operations and Accounting Officer for a brigade-level theater support command.
“I am deeply grateful to KABA for their generosity in awarding me the KABA Foundation Scholarship,” said Hong. “KABA’s unwavering commitment to service inspires me to continue giving back to our community, and I look forward to beginning my second year at UC Irvine School of Law with the support of my amazing KABA mentors!”
Learn more about scholarship opportunities available at UC Irvine School of Law.
About the University of California, Irvine School of Law
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