Lincoln Heights Project Article in The Korean Daily

Lincoln Heights ProjectIn exemplary fashion, a Korean Tutoring Center and a Korean Church work hand-in-hand to provide free educational services to students from lower socioeconomic households.

The Lincoln Heights Project, which was launched in February of 2009 as a joint effort between Elite Educational Institute and Young Nak Presbyterian Church's Education Department, just wrapped up its first stage of services. Many underprivileged students from Los Angeles' Lincoln Heights area were given free SAT preparation, education and college entrance counseling, all the while being imbued with the dream of a college education.

According to Karen Hwang, a Director with Elite Educational Institute, the project was started after learning about the utter lack of resources for college entrance preparation faced by most students in the Lincoln Heights area.

Pastor Yana Ahn of Young Nak Church learned about this need through one of her church members, Connie Yang, who had written a dissertation on the subject while in graduate school at USC. When the news reached the congregants of the church, many doctors and lawyers volunteered their services for the project. After receiving proper training, these doctors and lawyers now volunteer as teachers and counselors to many students from Lincoln Heights.

In addition, many others volunteer as support staff and administrators.

The Lincoln Heights Project recruits 11th grade students during the spring semester to undertake an eight week SAT Preparation Course that gets them ready for the SAT Reasoning Test given in May or June. During the fall semester, college information sessions and UC application workshops are offered in order to assist with the preparation of personal statements as well as the college application process in general. These courses are held every Saturday for four hours, and are limited to 4 to 6 students per classroom.

"This Project aims to prepare each student to meet the standards and requirements for UC admission," said Director Hwang.

In addition, college campus visits are organized to broaden the horizons of the students in terms of their college and future plans.

Pastor Ahn feels that churches have the social responsibility to help the needy within our communities and sees volunteerism as an effective way to foster compassion among people—especially during these dire economic times.

"The mission of the Project is more than preparing students to take the SAT," Hwang said. "It is also to develop a student’s vision, and confidently set goals for the future."

Currently, there are 30 students involved with the Lincoln Heights Project, but administrators see a need for more volunteers as the project grows and would like to see more volunteers step-up from the Korean Community.

Questions: (213) 365-8008, lincolnheights@eliteprep.com

Reporter: Soo Jin Kim

To read the article in Korean, click here.