INFAC North America gives scholarship donation to Campbellsville University

Drew October 7, 2016 0 Comments

Original Source – Oct. 7, 2016

man signing document — Ohe Gil Choi, center, chairman and CEO of INFAC North America Inc., and Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, sign a scholarship agreement while Chuck Vaughn, assistant vice president for planned and annual giving, looks on. (Campbellsville University Photo by Drew Tucker)

The ignition switch was turned and the engine was revved recently when Campbellsville University received a $35,000 donation from INFAC North America Inc., a South Korean automotive manufacturer located in Campbellsville, Ky., to establish a scholarship to benefit students who have financial needs.

Ohe Gil Choi, chairman and CEO of INFAC North America Inc., said he wanted to see the university prosper.

“We have to be a good corporate citizen to the community we are belonging to,” he said.

The scholarship donation from INFAC was an example of how a local manufacturing company can encourage the economic development taking place in Taylor County, Ky.

“We value INFAC and what it brings to the community,” Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, said. “To host and have INFAC in our community is significant and very, very important to the economic wellbeing of Taylor County and Campbellsville.”

Ron McMahan, Campbellsville/Taylor County economic development CEO, said, “It’s a great economic benefit anytime you have direct foreign investment in your community.”

There are over 600 international students from almost 50 different countries on campus at Campbellsville University, with several being from South Korea. During his visit, Chairman Choi met and interacted with several of these students who spoke about their lives back home and what they are studying.

group of students and people at a table — INFAC North America Inc. and Campbellsville University signed a scholarship agreement that allows INFAC to donate to CU. From left: front row – Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of CU; and Ohe Gil Choi, chairman and CEO of INFAC. Middle row: Dr. G. Ted Taylor, vice president for University Outreach; Chuck Vaughn, vice president for Planned and Annual Giving; Dr. John Chowning, executive assistant to the president for government, community and constituent relations; Lee Yeji; Park Hyun Yong; Han Dong Jin; Elaine Tan, ethic and cultural instructor and facilitator; and Carrie James, public relations for INFAC. Back row: Dr. Mega Haralu, director of international education; Ron McMahan, Campbellsville/Taylor County economic development CEO; Brian Bland, general manager of INFAC Campbellsville; Jun Kwon Park, director of INFAC; Jay Choi, senior director of INFAC; and Dr. H. Keith Speaks, vice president for communication. (Campbellsville University Photo by Drew Tucker)

YeJi “Summer” Lee, a CU South Korean student, said it makes her and her friends from South Korea comfortable knowing that they can speak to each other and don’t feel so far away from home.

With such a large number of international students, U.S. News & World Report recently ranked CU in the top 10 universities in the south with the biggest international population.

The generous donation from INFAC will enable Campbellsville University to provide additional scholarship money to help all students, including internationals, in the coming years Carter said.

Campbellsville University is widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering over 80 programs of study including 24 master’s degrees, seven postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is Campbellsville.edu.