PSU Magazine Winter 1995

Korean Studies owes roots to Portlander Jay Lee ine hours across the Pacific lie outh Korea-a country that has become O regon's fou rth largest trading partner and increasingly important to the state's business and cu ltural commun ity. Approx imate ly 20,000 Korean-Americans live in O regon . PSU' Korean Studie program ha kept pace with this growing Korea-Oregon relationshi p th anks to lu ky cards and fo unding suppo rt from Portl and businessman Jay Lee. Lee, pres ident of United Industri es, made his fir t gift to the U ni versity in l972 under.unusual circumstances: while play ing ca rds with C harlie Whi te, a profe sor of history who had recently been appo inted director of Summer ess ion and Internati onal Educa tion. Both men we re intere ted in eei ng Korean language courses offe red at P U. In a good mood from a winning streak, L e asked how much money it would co~t to offe r Korean at Portland tate fo r a year. Whi te qui ckly calculated a fig ure, which Lee wrote on a check to the Uni versity. Korea n language had already been schedu led F amily and fr iend of Trena G illette '93 hope to keep her memory and ~c hola rl y ded ication alive through lasting gifts to the Korea n tudi es program. 16 P u Magaz ine fo r th e 1972 Summer Session , and Lee's pontaneous gift enabled Ko rea n to be offered fa ll, winter, and spring terms that year. During the nex t decade, Lee was re ponsible fo r introducing Ko rean scholar to Portland State and helping to establi h relati onships with Yonse i and Ewha Uni versiti e in Seoul. In 1984 through a generous gift, he established the Korean tudies Endowment. That gift helped found today's mu ltiface ted program of courses in Ko rean history, soc iety, cul ture, contemporary affa ir , and language; tuden t exchange in Ko rea and at P U by Korean tud ent ; visiting scholars from Ko rea; impress ive book and periodica l collect ions in the Millar Li brary; int rnational confe rences foc u ed on Korea; and the publishing of the prestigious journ al Asia Perspectives at PSU. When asked wh y h h as given to the University, Lee ment ions the hosp itality and uccess he has enj oyed in this country, and hi s confide nce that the U n iversity wi ll fos ter better understanding and encourage closer ties betwee n the people of the United States and the people of Korea. Gillette, an Internati onal tudi e major who was f1u ent in Korean , di ed before graduating in pring 1993 . A degree was awarded to her posthu– mously during June commencement that year. G illette, 27 , died ofbrea~t cancer, and those who knew her want the books purchased in her name to remind future Korean tudi es tudents of her hard work and never-give-up attitude. "Educa tion was so important in her life that she dragged herself to schoo l when most people would have already give n in to the pain," ays her mother, Kimhee McKinney. G ifts in Trena G illette's memory can be given to the PSU Foundation, P.O. Box 243, Portland OR 97207-0243 . Tribute to Barbara Roberts Gov. Barbara Robens rece ived tribute fo r her long ca reer in pub lic service at a tatewide recognition dinner held in her honor at the Portland Convention enter Dec. 15. The event was co-sponsored by the P U Foundation and proceed went to the Frank L. Roberts ommunity ervice cholarship. More than 1,000 busine , community, environment, and public se rvice leaders attended the dinner. en. Mark Hatfield introduced Roberts, who was honored fo r her ervice on schoo l and community college boards, as a state legi lator, as O regon ecretary of tate, and most recently as governor. PSU President Judith Ramaley also spoke at the eve nt. Proceeds from the dinner we nt to a scholarshi p fund in memory f Barbara Roberts' late h usband , Frank Roberts, who was one of the first faculty at Portland State. Frank Roberts went on to a caree r in public ervice as a member of the O regon House and enate. The scholarship is available to P U tudents on the bas i of financial need and to those who have demonstrated a track record of community service and involvement. The tri bute to Gov. Barbara Robert was co-sponsored by Bank of America, Fred Meyer Inc., Intel Corporation , Georgia- Pacific Corporation, Pac ifiCorp, Portland General Electric, and ony Corporation. Have a hand in history A nd help Portland State prepare for its 50th anniv rsary celebrati on. Volun teers are needed to transcribe ral intervi ews with notable men and women invo lved in PSU 's early years– fac ulty, legislators, and prominent citizen . Volunteer must be able to use a computer and a dictaphone. The project will aid PSU in preparing fo r it 50th anni ver ary in 1996. Intere ted volunteer hould contact Jim trassmaier, O regon Hi torical ociety, at 306-5246.