Jiyeon Park: Outstanding Graduating International Student

Jiyeon Park of Incheon, South Korea, is the Outstanding Graduating International Student in the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. Park, who is majoring in electrical engineering technology, enrolled at the University of Maine in fall 2022 after graduating from Eastern Maine Community College. During her senior year, she helped upgrade the paper-making equipment at UMaine’s Process Development Center. She also served as a teaching assistant in spring 2023 and has volunteered at various events during her college career, including engineering career fairs and an engineering expo. In the summer of 2023, she interned with RLC Engineering and plans to continue working for the company while pursuing a graduate degree at UMaine. During her time at UMaine, she received the International Presidential Scholarship and an electrical engineering scholarship. 

Why did you choose to come to UMaine?
I thought the University of Maine was a great place to have lots of opportunities and visions. My decision to attend the University of Maine was a careful consideration of how the university would support my academic and personal growth.

How would you describe the academic atmosphere at UMaine?
Faculty and peer students are supportive and passionate about what they are doing.

Have you worked closely with a mentor, professor or role model who made your time at UMaine better, and if so, how?
Working closely with supportive professors has been instrumental in my academic journey. Their guidance, coupled with my invaluable experience as a teaching assistant, has spurred my consideration of pursuing graduate school opportunities.

Did you have an experience at UMaine that shaped or changed how you see the world?
UMaine broadened my perspective through diverse experiences. These experiences have empowered me to approach the world with a more open mind and a greater sense of empathy.

Describe UMaine in one word and explain your choice.
Under the mentorship of my academic adviser, Jude Pearse, I adopted her principle of “integrity.” During my time at UMaine, I not only gained academic knowledge and skills, but also a culture emphasizing honesty and ethical behavior. This emphasis on integrity helped me to cultivate trust and respect and shaped me and my peers into conscientious leaders with positive contributions to our society. So, if I describe UMaine in one word, I would say “integrity.”

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu