Hongyoon James Jang

Associate in Business

In 2013 Hongyoon “James” Jang made the decision to leave South Korea and study internationally. Drawn to Washington by the allure of major employers such as Microsoft and Amazon, James began to look for opportunities to attend a community college. When he learned of the student housing available at Yakima Valley College he decided enroll. “As an international student having on-campus housing was very important to me. I knew that I wanted to study business with more American students as I felt it would provide me with a better cultural mix that would benefit me while earning a degree in business,” he stated.

After spending a short time at YVC, Jang was required to return home to enlist in military service. The Korean culture requires all 18-year-old males to join a branch of the service for terms of 21-24 months. James enlisted in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces as a Specialist. His tour of duty focused mainly on office work and communication reporting. Once his service was up, Jang decided to return to the United States and continue his education at YVC.

A dedicated student, James has excelled in his coursework while maintaining a part-time job as a custodian in YVC’s Student Residence Center. He is also the Vice-President of the Business Club. As a member of this club he has had the opportunity to compete in a business competition at the University of Washington and participate in trips and campus events. “The Business Club has been a great opportunity. It has provided me with leadership experience and helped me get closer to my goals,” he continued.

He will graduate in the June of 2018 with an associate in business degree from YVC. He then plans to transfer to a four-year university in Washington state and study business and finance. He hopes to eventually live in Olympia or the surrounding area and work in the financial field.