By Lori BODNAR, intern

Crescenta Valley High School 2020 graduate Jiyoun Roh was one of 11 Milken Scholars award recipients. Milken Scholars was founded in 1989 by Mike and Lori Milken to honor and give financial assistance to exceptional students based on academics, community service, leadership and the ability to overcome obstacles. (See the Aug. 20 CV Weekly article about Milken scholarships.)

While attending CV High School, Roh completed several science projects opening the door to a possible future in science.

“In my junior year, I took a class called ‘Science Research,’ which provided resources and support for my ecology-related project: Preventing Eutrophication With an Organic Fertilizer Made of Dark Chocolate, Coffee Grounds and Banana Peels. I took this research to the LA County Science and Engineering Fair (LACSEF) and the California State Science Fair. The following summer, I worked in a cancer research lab at the City of Hope hospital studying ovarian cancer. I presented my project, ‘Quinacrine Induces Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization (LMP) and Enhances Sensitivity for TRAIL, an Anti-Cancer Agent’ at the LACSEF.”

Roh also has a passion for community service – a passion that started with installing smoke alarms.

“I was actually dragged out of bed at 6 a.m. for my first community service event. It was early, it was cold and I absolutely didn’t want to spend my Saturday installing free smoke alarms in vulnerable communities,” she recalled. “However, as my group and I progressed through the streets, knocking on doors and offering smoke alarms and disaster preparedness education, I was overwhelmed by how much I liked this feeling of giving and the knowledge that I was making a positive impact on a stranger’s life. This experience inspired me to sign up for more service events – mostly Red Cross events such as Sound the Alarm, puppet shows and blood drives, as well as ROTC events such as making care packages for veterans, and local events like Oktoberfest. Over time, I began to lead these volunteer events and take on more positions so that I could encourage other students to serve.” 

Roh was the Los Angeles Region field ambassador for the American Red Cross, supporting more than 100 clubs in Southern California and planning regional events. She organized a Youth Preparedness Fair that drew 300 students, organized blood drives and collected clothing and other items for families displaced by fire. The Red Cross recognized Roh with a National Spotlight, Humanitarian Youth Certificate, and Executive Excellence Gold Award.

“It’s the little things,” she said of her fondness for community service, “the sleepy but hopeful energy in the morning of a service event, connecting with volunteers, the smiles of kids enjoying the puppet show, handing cool water to exhausted runners, and a thousand more. There’s something about community service that pushes me to go back again and again. I think it has something to do with seeing problems that I could help solve the next time I volunteer – kind of like cracks and holes that I feel a responsibility to fill. Also, I’m someone who has time and am an able body; why not use both to volunteer?”

Roh was also the president of the Academy of Science and Medicine at Crescenta Valley High School.

“The Academy of Science and Medicine was essential to my growth as a person and a student interested in science. The Academy gave me my first experience in a lab setting through biotechnology,” she said. “It also provided me with science-related resources through lunch presentations, field trips and internship suggestions. Most of all, the Academy gave me a community of like-minded and amazing mentors, officers and fellow students.”

Roh is a National Merit Commended Scholar and an AP Scholar with Distinction. She also received the Elks Most Valuable Student scholarship, the Best Editor of the Year Award from the Korean Daily newspaper, and the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Roh was also selected as a SoCal BioGENEius Scholar.

As a member of the National Honor Society, she volunteered at the Montrose Oktoberfest, Special Olympics and toy and book drives. Roh also taught English to elementary-age students in Cambodia over video conferencing and, if that isn’t enough, she plays the cello.

As president of the CVHS Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) Kitty Hawk Air Society she would lead drills and plan team-building events such as the winter ball and spring picnic, as well as collaborated with Operation Gratitude and the Veteran’s History Project. She has earned many AFJROTC honors, including the George C. Marshall Award for Academic Excellence, Reserve Officers Association Award, Pritzker Citizen Soldier Award, and National Society United States Daughters of 1812 Award.

Roh plans to go into the medical field.

“I’m planning on majoring in molecular biology or public and international affairs. In college, I want to get a feel for studying or serving abroad so that I can take my experiences to medical school and beyond,” she said of future plans. “My main reason to enter the medical field is that I love engaging in service, especially medical service. I think it’s one of the purest forms of service there is. Additionally, my exposure to presentations given by medical professionals and classes that gave me more and more glimpses into the scientific world helped solidify my interest. Medicine is a field that combines hands-on volunteering with science, and I’m excited to explore it further.”

Each Milken Scholar is awarded a $10,000 scholarship and mentoring and career resources.

“I’ll be using the scholarship towards my education,” she said of the financial award. “This includes textbooks, technology, transportation, writing supplies and more.”

She will be attending Princeton University.

  Lori BODNAR