
The Center for Asian Business at Loyola Marymount University is pleased to award four summer scholarships, named the John P. Daly, S.J. Scholarships for Cultural Immersion Experience in Korea, to Brandon Domingo, Seanna Duong, Alexandra Henry and Victor Labarthe. These students were selected from a pool of applicants to travel to South Korea from June 19 – July 3, 2016.
Brandon Domingo
Brandon Domingo is entering his senior year as a marketing major. The Hawaii native currently serves as vice president of marketing for the Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity. He also works as an operations assistant for the LMU Distribution Center, organizing thousands of pieces of mail for delivery to over 50 locations on campus. Brandon’s interest in Korea started when he discovered a family secret while interviewing his Japanese great grandmother for a school project – his great grandfather was adopted from Korea. Brandon says visiting Korea is a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore his hidden roots and expand his knowledge about the history and culture of this unique country. He also wants to learn more about Korea’s relationship with other countries, especially the U.S. and Japan to gain perspective on his family history.
Seanna Duong
Seanna Duong is entering her senior year as a communications studies major with a double minor in theater and animation. Her work experience at LMU includes resident advisor with the Student Housing Office, programming assistant with the Office of Ethnic and Intercultural Services, and payroll assistant with the Payroll Department. Seanna also volunteers with the Creare Service Organization and serves as club relations chair of Isang Bansa. In 2015, she was selected as the Tomodachi Inouye Scholar in which she traveled to Japan as an ambassador to promote deeper understandings between Japanese and Americans. Seanna is proud of her Chinese and Vietnamese heritage and is eager to learn about other cultures. She has been fascinated with Korea since middle school when she began listening to Korean pop music and is very excited and grateful for this opportunity.
Alexandra Henry
Alexandra Henry is entering her junior year as an art history major with a double minor in African American Studies and Asia and Pacific Studies. Alexandra currently works as a Rains Research Assistant alongside Dr. Melody Rodari for an article on the issues of repatriation. She also serves as president of the Residence Hall Association. Alexandra received the Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship with LACMA where she curated and showcased a virtual exhibition. She hopes to become a curator one day to ensure that all culture, ethnic groups and indigenous populations are accurately portrayed in museum collections. Alexandra has never traveled outside of the U.S. and is looking forward to learning more about Korean art and culture.
Victor Labarthe
Victor Labarthe is entering his senior year as a double major in theological studies and film and T.V. production. He currently works as a cameraman for the ROAR Network on campus and does freelance video production on the side. Victor was born in Los Angeles and raised in Lima, Peru where he discovered a passion for filmmaking after taking a cinematography class at the University of Lima. As a filmmaker, Victor hopes to experience diverse cultures and get inspired to tell stories that need to be heard. He believes that visiting Korea and experiencing the culture firsthand will shape the way he perceives and interprets the world.
About the Scholarships
The scholarships are named in honor of the late Fr. John P. Daly, S. J., former director of the Center for Asian Business at LMU. He worked in Korea as a young Jesuit from 1961 to 1981 to help develop Sogang University in Seoul where he served as president for 12 years. Fr. Daly’s lifelong goal has always been to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of culture and history between Asians and Americans. Korea, especially, is still largely unknown by Americans. Sogang faculty, alumni and other friends have contributed to the endowment as a way to foster the study of Korean culture and history to promote understanding by mainstream Americans.
The scholarships, which began in 2006, have helped send 34 LMU students to Korea to date. The scholarships provide an opportunity for students to learn Korean history and to experience the culture and respond positively with respect and sincerity. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of the students qualifying application, including an essay, GPA and interview by the selection committee. Scholarship winners spend two weeks in Korea, and on return will turn in a report on the cultural differences they experienced. The students will receive partial round trip airfare. Accommodations and travel arrangements in-country are included in the scholarship. A coordinator from Sogang University will supervise the program in Korea.
Sogang University
Jesuits from the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus at the request of the Korean Bishops opened the first Catholic University in Korea in 1960. It currently enrolls 13,500 students and another 3,000 in graduate programs in six colleges –Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Economics, and Business Administration.
Center for Asian Business
The Center for Asian Business in the College of Business Administration at Loyola Marymount University was established in 1995 to promote understanding between Asians and Americans through multiple channels, including an international business course with a two-week overseas experience, faculty research grants, student scholarships and special lectures and movie screenings.