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Hana Academy School Alumni Reunite at SUNY Korea to Pursue Global Engineering Dreams Two alumni from Hana Academy School have embarked on their academic journey at Stony Brook University Korea, both choosing to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Soomin Lee joined in the Spring 2025 semester, and Deokwoong Han joined this Fall 2025 semester. Sharing a common dream of becoming future engineers, they discuss their aspirations, what they hope to achieve at SUNY Korea, and their plans for the future. Q1. Why did you choose SUNY Korea? Soomin Lee: For my dream of becoming a global engineer, SUNY Korea was the best place to fulfill my passion and curiosity for advanced science and technology. What really stuck out to me was all the courses held in English and being able to study with students from all around the world. Also, the amount of lab courses to get deeper into my studies made me choose SUNY Korea. Deokwoong Han: The most unique thing that stood out to me was being able to receive the same degree as the home campus. I aspire to pursue a career in the aerospace industry or 3D printing, and since the United States is at the forefront of these fields, I always considered studying abroad and finding a job there. SUNY Korea is the perfect fit for me because it allows me to receive an American degree and it can also prepare me for my future career in this global setting. Q2. What do you like most about SUNY Korea after being accepted here? Soomin Lee: I am very satisfied coming to a campus like SUNY Korea, especially the small student-to-faculty ratio. The close relationship with the professors helps academically because I am able to ask questions immediately. For example, in the Physics Lab class, if I have a question while conducting an experiment, I can ask right away and check if my experiment is going correctly. Additionally, connecting with students from all over the world, such as the United Sates, Canada, India, Singapore, Africa, and many more is something I am very satisfied with. Being able to study with students from all over the world helps me to think more deeply with different perspectives and allows me to brainstorm new ideas together with others. Deokwoong Han: What I like most is that all the classes are conducted in English. Honestly, I wasn’t very confident in English before, and being able to speak fluently in English felt like a distant dream. After attending several classes, I can now understand and communicate more effectively than before. Q3. What are some similarities or differences between SUNY Korea and a private high school class environment? Soomin Lee: When I first came to SUNY Korea, I thought SUNY Korea was a university version of Hana Academy School because of how similarly the classes were conducted in debate- and lab-oriented styles. However, I realized that SUNY Korea has a more interactive and open learning environment. Just as we had the “one student, two activities” approach to arts and culture at Hana Academy, here we can also enjoy various clubs and sports like swimming, volleyball, and dance with international friends, which makes campus life even more fun. Deokwoong Han: I don’t see a huge difference in the academics, but communication between students is much more open here. In high school, the competitiveness often prevented us from sharing information with each other. At SUNY Korea, the community-oriented environment makes it easier to connect and interact closely with other students. Q4. Why did you choose Mechanical Engineering as your major? Soomin Lee: My first encounter in the mechanical engineering field was when I was in 9th grade. I was able to build an Arduino Robot through Python in an Engineering Leader program at school and I really enjoyed this program because I always loved to build Legos or make things with my hands. The moment I wanted to choose mechanical engineering was in 10th grade, when I had the chance to participate in the Hyundai Mobis Junior Engineering Leader Autonomous Driving Competition. I won the competition by building an autonomous car which could be driven. I faced many challenges because I had to also focus on my schoolwork while preparing for this competition, but the joy/adrenaline I felt being able to create a moveable machine made me choose mechanical engineering. Deokwoong Han: I have loved robots since elementary school. When I got my first Power Ranger robot in kindergarten, I didn’t just play with it, I studied how it moved and how it was made. In 2nd grade, I joined a robotics club, which deepened my fascination with the endless possibilities of machines. From that point, I dreamed of studying mechanical engineering when I grew up. Q5. What subject or project did you like the most at Hana Academy School? Soomin Lee: The most interesting subject for me was autonomous driving. This field is special to me because I spent a lot of my time as a child in a car and often hoped for a day self-driving cars would come, especially when seeing my father tired after long drives. At Hana Academy School, I was able to participate in the Autonomous Competition, allowing me to explore deep into this field. Deokwoong Han: I have been interested in 3D printing since middle school and engaged in many related activities. I gave a lecture on 3D printing to the entire school and participated in an International Academic Symposium on 3D-printed food. These experiences helped me develop a clearer vision for the field I want to pursue in the future. Q6. Do you have any special memories with connecting with students here at this international setting? Soomin Lee: I am currently a Resident Advisor (RA), and I manage a dorm floor together with two other friends from Nepal and Nigeria. Together we advise residents and plan events. It was difficult at first to reach out to them, but now we’ve became close friends. One special memory for me was spending half a day in meetings, getting to know each other and learning about their cultures. Deokwoong Han: I haven’t had many opportunities to get to know international friends yet, but something personally that I thought was funny was that I didn’t know if I was supposed to greet them in English or Korean. There are some students at SUNY Korea who look Korean but can’t speak Korean, and there are many international students as well. At first, I would greet everyone in Korean, but now, I feel more comfortable approaching them and saying “hello.” Q7. Is there a unique point/thing you like about SUNY Korea? Soomin Lee: Students at SUNY Korea think of their future career and path seriously. Many have a concrete plan, whether it’s studying abroad, transferring, pursuing a global career, or attending graduate school. This motivates me to study harder, and it is easier to find teammates who share similar goals when working on projects. Deokwoong Han: I found the small campus size to be a major advantage. It’s easy to move between facilities, and the underground connections make it convenient even on rainy days. Except for busy times like the opening ceremony or dorm move-in, parking is also plentiful, which is very convenient. Q8. What is your favorite spot on campus? Soomin Lee: My favorite spot is the stairs in front of the cafeteria. When I look up from there, I can see the clear blue sky along with the SUNY Korea buildings. On windy days, it’s the perfect spot to site and take a break from all my schoolwork. I also use the study rooms next to the IGC Library; compared to the quiet study rooms, the study rooms are a more open space to study in groups. Deokwoong Han: I like the small pond located between the IGC building and SUNY Korea. After 10 PM, I am able to relax from all the stress with the nice quiet atmosphere accompanied by the sound of the frogs. Q9. What has been the most memorable moment of all the moments spent at SUNY Korea? Soomin Lee: The most memorable moment was spending time with my international friends during the Spring Festival. Especially, being able to watch the fashion show organized by the FIT students was a unique experience that I wouldn’t normally have at a university. I also cherished the time spent socializing with the professors at the Spring Festival. Deokwoong Han: My first day of school was the most memorable moment for me. It happened to be a Friday, so many students didn’t have classes, and the school was almost empty; it was so silent I was able to hear birds chirping. The moment I stepped into my first physics class, I thought to myself, “Is this really the first day of university?” The class was small and the atmosphere calm, which was very different from the energetic and exciting start I had imagined. I think that contrast made the day even more memorable. Q10. What are your future plans? Soomin Lee: I want to focus my engineering research on creating social value. My goal is to develop AI-powered autonomous companion vehicles to assist people with limited mobility, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and families with young children. Beyond next-generation autonomous vehicle systems, I hope to contribute to advanced, cross-disciplinary research in areas such as aerospace and underwater technology. Deokwoong Han: I am deeply interested in the aerospace industry and 3D printing. My dream is to integrate 3D printing into aerospace technology, either by working for an international company or conducting research at a specialized lab. I also plan to pursue graduate studies through SUNY Korea’s combined bachelor’s and master’s program. Q11. Are you excited to go to the States in the fall semester of your second year ? Soomin Lee: I am really excited to go to the New York campus since it will be my first time going to the United States. And it’s New York! There are so many things that I want to do while I’m there, and I am a little worried at the same time. One thing I want to do is to rent a car and drive, so I even got my driver’s license. Deokwoong Han: The first time I went to New York was when I was in elementary school, so I don’t remember much. I really look forward to going again. I especially want to visit Times Square at Christmas. I want to go to the States with the friends who joined this fall semester, and after coming back, I plan to serve in the Air Force as an aircraft maintenance soldier. Q12. What advice would you give to students who are considering coming to SUNY Korea? Soomin Lee: SUNY Korea is an excellent environment for gaining diverse experiences and building a global network. You can participate in clubs, projects, and competitions with international peers to broaden your perspective. Don’t only focus on preparing for your exams as a high school student, but enjoy the process of discovering your own path. Deokwoong Han: If you are determined to pursue opportunities abroad, SUNY Korea is a great choice. All courses are conducted in English, and there are many connections to global opportunities, making it ideal for preparing for an international career. Q13. How would you describe SUNY Korea in one phrase to your friends or family? Soomin Lee: “SUNY Korea is like a place where KAIST and Korea National University of Arts come together on one campus.” Deokwoong Han: “SUNY Korea is a place where the elite meet.” Q14. What is SUNY Korea to you? Soomin Lee: SUNY Korea is “Optimum” to me. I define SUNY Korea as an optimum campus, the most favorable environment, because SUNY Korea offers a customized environment to support my dream of being a global engineer as it offers courses in English, friends from diverse nationalities, and hands-on-experience courses. Therefore, coming to SUNY Korea was the best choice I made. Deokwoong Han: SUNY Korea is like a staff on a music sheet. I love music, and the step-by-step process of learning mechanical engineering at university is like drawing music notes on the staff, eventually forming a complete piece. As of now, it is not a finished song, but as I fill in the notes one by one, I believe one day I will be able to achieve a beautiful song – my career. The passion of these two students, which began at Hana Academy, has grown even stronger at SUNY Korea. They are developing into next-generation engineering talents ready to make their mark on the global stage. Each pursues their own path, one as a researcher creating social value, the other as a pioneer in aerospace and 3D printing, and we cheer on their ongoing journey and challenges.
2025.09.22 Hits 1126