Kayong Park Memorial Scholarship for Cancer Research

Established 2024

Description:

Kayong Park’s husband (Keundo Park, UIUC BS EE ’95) and their children (Chris and Sara) established the memorial scholarship to fund cancer research or related projects with the ultimate goal of early cancer detection and determining the efficacy of chemotherapy earlier in the patient’s treatment plan.

In January 2023, Kayong was diagnosed with stage IIIA vulva cancer; a very rare cancer with no clear treatment regimen. She pursued the best available options enduring 3 surgeries, 30 radiation treatments, and 20 chemotherapy infusions. She bravely and optimistically battled the cancer for 1.5 years but ultimately, her body could not match her fighting spirit and passed away in July 2024.

Kayong’s family understands the anguish of waiting weeks to determine if a treatment plan is viable. Knowing the efficacy of chemotherapy earlier in the treatment plan would give families options on the best course of action. When the prognosis is measured in months, patients and families cannot afford to wait weeks for results.

Requirements:

The recipients must be undergraduates in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who are participating in cancer research or other related projects. Selection will be based on academic merit.

Past Recipients of the Award