The NASA Armstrong Employee Exchange Council has presented its 2015 Joseph A. Walker Memorial Scholarship Award to Ted Kim.
Walker was a former chief pilot who lost his life in an aircraft accident in 1966.
“I am really excited,” Kim said.
A graduate of the class of 2015 at Valencia High School, in Santa Clarita, Calif., Kim plans to major in biochemistry (pre-medical education) at the University of California, Los Angeles, this fall.
Kim has earned a 4.49 grade-point average during his high school career and was ranked 21st academically out of 760 students in Valencia High School’s class of 2015.
The scholarship provides $2,000 per year for up to four years for attendance at a four-year college or university, or $1,000 per year for up to two years for attendance at a two-year community college, providing the recipient maintains a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. Applicants for the annual scholarship are required to be high school seniors whose parents are among the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base civil service or contractor workforce.
Kim is the son of Hyun Dae and Eun Joo Kim of Santa Clarita. Hyun Dae Kim is a senior propulsion engineer at NASA Armstrong, where he is involved in advanced concepts of electric propulsion aircraft technologies.
“It was a great feeling to get the news,” said Kim’s father.
“He did a great job and we are so happy for him,” added Dae.
Kim attended his freshman through junior high school years at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School in Broadview Heights, Ohio. He moved with his family to California and attended Valencia High School for his senior year. At both schools he excelled in advanced placement and honors classes. Kim was heavily involved in numerous school and community activities, receiving Advanced Placement Scholar awards and the school’s Principal Awards for Academic Excellence all four years.
Kim also was recognized on the honor roll for academic achievement and was a member of the National Honor Society. He was first chair cello of the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Chamber Orchestra. Kim has been actively involved in his local churches in Ohio and California, volunteering his time to plan and carry out numerous retreats and leading youth bible studies at the summer vocational Bible school.
Kim participated in school athletic programs and was a member of the freshman basketball team, the varsity football team and the varsity track team. In addition, he was a member of the Chinese Club, Key Club, Red Cross Club, Safe Club and UNICEF. Kim also volunteered his services to tutor students in the open library at Valencia High School.
Exchange Council scholarships are named after former Armstrong employees, with honorees selected on a rotating basis. Scholarship funds are raised from various council activities, including proceeds from vending machine, Armstrong Gift Shop and cafeteria sales and various fundraising events.
For more about NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, visit www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong.
