The weekend of August 16 – 18, 2024 marked the conclusion of the thirteenth Network of Korean American Leaders (NetKAL) Fellowship. The celebration began with a dinner on August 16 hosted by Jim Lee and his wife Jane Lee, both CKA members and NetKAL XIII facilitators from BeSpoke. Attendees included fellows, supporters of NetKAL XIII Shark Tank, and CKA staff.

On August 17, the fellows presented their community projects focused on making a positive impact through their Korean American identity in mainstream society. These projects showcased their problem-solving skills, leadership abilities, and teamwork for the benefit of the Korean American community. Examples include Team Hyodo’s social media challenge to support elders and raise funds for elder care facilities based on “filial piety” or “hyodo,” Team Chuseok’s initiative to host Korea’s Thanksgiving at White House in September to increase awareness about this holiday among U.S government officials ,and Team Seollal’s website offering resources such as an innovative music video related to Lunar New Year celebrations.

At the Shark Tank, a panel of 25 judges, hosted by CKA Board Member Gloria Lee and Rutan & Tucker, LLP, evaluated the proposals based on creativity, impactfulness, and feasibility. After hours of presentations, deliberation, and feedback, the judges submitted their votes, and the winner was announced at the evening’s reception.

The Closing Reception on August 17, hosted by CKA Member Robert Cho and Christina Cho, saw over 100 attendees gather to honor the achievements of the fellows. During the reception, CKA, along with representatives of JP Morgan, Sam Pyo and Felix Yan, announced team Hyodo as the winner of NetKAL XIII. Their team, Senna Bayasgalan, Andrew Ikhyun Kim, and Natalie C., were awarded $10,000 in funding for implementation within the next year.

The final event, Graduation on August 18, gathered the fellows, facilitator Jim Lee, and CKA staff as they spent time reminiscing, reflecting on, and celebrating the fellows’ NetKAL journey and what’s to come. The NetKAL fellowship is just the beginning of the larger NetKAL story!