Bob Jones High School, James Clemens High School, Madison, News, RSS Facebook, RSS General, RSS Twitter, Schools
 By  GreggParker Published 
8:03 pm Monday, February 16, 2015

Korean students visit Madison families in AKEEP initiative

Sangyeon Lee, from left, Columbia sixth-grader Kyle Bratt , Jimin Choi, Bob Jones freshman Courtney Bratt, Song Seung Min and Bob Jones junior Ryan Bratt enjoy a walk on a Madison neighborhood trail. (CONTRIBUTED)

Sangyeon Lee, from left, Columbia sixth-grader Kyle Bratt , Jimin Choi, Bob Jones freshman Courtney Bratt, Song Seung Min and Bob Jones junior Ryan Bratt enjoy a walk on a Madison neighborhood trail. (CONTRIBUTED)

Wongi Kim, at left, and Chaneong Oh, at right, say goodbye to host student Allen King, at AKEEP's graduation ceremony at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. King, a senior at James Clemens, is AKEEP president. (CONTRIBUTED)

Wongi Kim, at left, and Chaneong Oh, at right, say goodbye to host student Allen King, at AKEEP’s graduation ceremony at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. King, a senior at James Clemens, is AKEEP president. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Twenty high school students from South Korea visited peers at Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools with the Alabama Korean Education and Economic Partnership (AKEEP).

AKEEP involves a joint partnership with the Alabama State Department of Education, Korean government and Korean State Department of Education. In summer 2014, Madison students Allen King, Amy Elizabeth Zari and Juhi Patel visited South Korea with program’s global leadership training.

“AKEEP is unique to Alabama (and) provides an amazing cross-cultural experience and leadership training,” James Clemens senior and AKEEP President Allen King said. “I’m proud to have been a part of this program for the last three years.”

The Korean teenagers arrived in Atlanta on Jan. 29 and toured Alabama sites including Camp Chandler in Wetumpka, Montgomery landmarks, Auburn University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and arrived in Madison on Feb. 7.

To host the visitors, Madison families opened their homes for the weekend. The Korean students visited Bob Jones and James Clemens on Feb. 9. Then, they attended Space Camp through graduation on Feb. 11 and returned to Korea.

“We were very excited to be part of this cross-cultural exchange. AKEEP is a vital part of our learning experience at James Clemens,” Principal Dr. Brian Clayton said.

“One goal of AKEEP is to promote and coach diversity education, acceptance of different cultures and to broaden lifetime networks,” Bob Jones Assistant Principal Jason Quick said. “I witnessed several instances of the two cultures blending into one.”

Except for the language barrier, the visiting Koreans were “typical teenagers,” sharing many similarities with Madison teens, Quick said.

Korean students’ school day stretches from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Many live at school, returning home only two weekends monthly.

 

Ryan and Courtney Bratt, a Bob Jones junior and freshman, respectively, served as a host family. “The Korean students were very polite and lots of fun. They jumped right in to whatever we were doing,” Ryan said. “They loved the burgers at Five Guys.”

For more information, visit akeep.org.

Also on The Madison Record
Election forum moves to new community center for Aug. 19 event
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Staff Reports 
July 30, 2025
MADISON – A planned forum for candidates in the 2025 municipal election for the city of Madison on Aug. 26 has changed locations. League of Women Vote...
Jamie Hill leaves positive legacy in Madison City Schools
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 30, 2025
MADISON – When students return to Discovery Middle School on Monday, there will be one very noticeable difference -- a new head principal. Longtime ad...
Absentee voting is now open for Madison
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Staff Reports 
July 30, 2025
MADISON - Planning to be out of town or unable to vote in person in the upcoming Aug. 26 election? Qualified voters can apply now at the Madison City ...
Madison City Schools selects ParentSquare for new choice in school-to-home communication
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 30, 2025
MADISON – As students return to campus for the 2025-2026 school year, personnel in Madison City Schools will use a different tool called ParentSquare ...
New school year brings new administrators and teachers
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 30, 2025
MADISON – When a new school year starts, administrators and classroom teachers often have received promotions, accepted lateral transfers or transferr...
MCS kicks off new school year with wireless device ban
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
July 30, 2025
MADISON – One of the most notable changes on Madison campuses this school year, is a new policy directed at cell phone use. Madison City Schools has a...
Kate Wade promoted to Principal at Discovery Middle School
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 30, 2025
MADISON – Discovery Middle School has a ‘new’ principal, but the school population will not consider this administrator as ‘new.’ Dr. Kate Wade has ac...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *