2019 ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL OF HONOR
Mr. Jonghwan Patrick Park, founder and Chairman of Elite Education Group, has been chosen by the Ellis Island Honors Society to receive its prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
The Ellis Island Medals of Honor are awarded annually to individuals who embody the spirit of America in their salute to tolerance, brotherhood, diversity, and patriotism. Honorees may be native-born or naturalized, but most importantly, they are individuals who have made it their mission to share their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity with those less fortunate.
Joining the ranks of seven U.S. Presidents, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel, Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks, and Bob Hope to name just a few, Mr. Park will be inducted into the Ellis Island Honors Society and receive a Medal of Honor at a ceremony in the historic Great Hall at Ellis Island in New York City on Saturday, May 11, 2019.
Mr. Park’s charitable activities in service of his communities, both locally and internationally, are considerable. Among his recent philanthropic efforts is Elite Education Group’s Refugee Education Project in Bogor, Indonesia. Partnering with the Hope Learning Center, the project has set out to bring educational resources to refugee children in a region of conflict so that they may secure for themselves a better and more stable future. The project utilizes the accredited education model of Elite Open School—a micro-school that offers digital curriculum in blended classroom settings. After its first year of operation, the Refugee Education Project has proven to be an unmitigated success, with students achieving incredibly high marks in an accredited, rigorous, and accelerated curriculum.
“When I came to the United States in 1984 as an immigrant, I never imagined that I would be be able to receive such a prestigious and noble award,” said Mr. Park. “I commend this honor to the glory of God who enables me to live a life of service.”
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor ranks among the nation’s most prestigious awards. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, and each year the recipients are listed in the Congressional Record. More information about the Ellis Island Medal of Honor can be found at www.eihonors.org.