Scholarship Recipients

Hye Ri Lee

2012 Inaugural International Center Scholarship Recipient

University: University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Education level: Sophomore
Major: Psychology
Home country: South Korea

Hye Ri is studying Psychology at the University of Utah. After researching different universities in the United States with her mother, she decided to study at the University of Utah because of the possibility of research and how beautiful the campus was. Hye Ri appreciates all her professors, especially one of her teaching assistants who advised her to “not let your language block your future”. Hye Ri has taken this advice to heart and is taking advantage of every opportunity she can at the University of Utah. Currently, she is researching healthy vs. unhealthy food on campuses. After graduating, Hye Ri plans to become a practicing psychologist. She wants to help individuals work through their struggles, serve others, and see them happy. She believes the more she serves her community, the more she learns about herself.

Hye Ri currently serves her community by volunteering at the gift shop at the University of Utah Hospital and participates in the International Student Council as the website coordinator and helps to organize the weekly Friday International Café.

Additionally, Hye Ri wants to continue to help international students at the University of Utah and help them seek volunteer opportunities. She believes many international students are afraid to get involved because they are afraid to make mistakes when speaking English. However, as her teaching assistant advised, she does not want others to be limited because of their language ability. She will continue to talk to international students and help them have a positive and happy experience while studying at the University of Utah.

In her spare time, Hye Ri loves to listen to music, cook Korean food, and watch action and romantic comedy movies. She loves Salt Lake City and particularly enjoys shopping at City Creek and using TRAX and UTA. She loves to hike with her friends in the mountains and loves how close nature is to Salt Lake City.

The International Center Scholarship will help Hye Ri immensely because her family is currently struggling financially and is unable to help her with her studies. When Hye Ri first learned she received the International Center Scholarship, she could not stop smiling. When she told her mother she received the scholarship, she cried and was very proud of her daughter. Hye Ri is forever grateful that the International Center believed she is a high achieving student to deserve this scholarship.