Belhaven To Honor Graduating Class of 2017

Sunny K Park • December 5, 2024

November 27, 2017 (Jackson, Miss.) - Belhaven University will honor its December graduates during commencement on Saturday, December 16, 2017. The Jackson Commencement Ceremony will start at 9:30 a.m. in Thalia Mara Hall, 255 East Pascagoula Street.

The special commencement speaker will be Mr. Sunny K. Park. He is the CEO of Global Sun Investments, Inc., CEJ of General Building Maintenance and board member of Brand Bank.

A native of South Korea, he served as commissioner of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and vice chairman of Georgia Ports Authority. Mr. Park immigrated to the United States in 1974 with no money and now he has successfully achieved his goal of paying $1 million in annual income tax. Mr. Park is the 2000 USO Patriot Award recipient and one of Most Influential Atlantans by JAMES Magazine and Atlanta Business Chronicle for multiple years.

Mr. Park also serves on several nonprofit boards: National Guard's Youth Foundation, USO Georgia, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Carter Center Board of Councilors, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Rotary Club Board; WABE Atlanta Public Broadcasting, Advisory Board of Kennesaw State University and emeritus board member of Berry College.

He served as president of the National Korean American Federation and was chairman of the 1992 Overseas Korean Conference in Berlin, Germany. In 1996, he founded the American-Korean Friendship Society to strengthen the relationship between the two nations. Mr. Park founded the Good Neighboring Foundation. With his own program “If Sunny Can, I Can,” he mentors high school dropouts at the National Guard's Youth Challenge Program.

Mr. Park is a laureate of Atlanta Business Hall of Fame of Junior Achievements and KATUSA Hall of Fame in Korea. He was decorated with the People's Merit of the Republic of Korea; Service Award by the President of the U. S., Americanism Medal by the Daughters of American Revolution, Patrick Henry Trophy by National Guards, Small Business Person of the Year by Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Youth Foundation in 2007 and the VanLandingham Commitment to Economic Education Award by Georgia State University. He studied at information technology at the Institute of Korea, Indiana University, Purdue University at Indianapolis. Mr. Park and his family attend Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga.


source: https://www.belhaven.edu/news/2017/belhaven-to-honor-graduating-class-of-2017-2017.html

Speech on General Mike Scaprrotti’s Liberty Award celebration 10 Dec 2025

By Sunny K Park • January 3, 2026
Sunny K. Park, President, American Korean Friendship Society Good evening! I would like to express my gratitude to ICAS and Dr. Kim for granting me the opportunity to offer remarks about tonight's honoree. General Scaparrotti's distinguished military career is widely recognized for its exceptional achievements. I first met General Scaparrotti in Korea at his change of command ceremony; an event officiated by General Dempsey. At the time, I attended as a guest of General Thurman, the outgoing commander, while General Scaparrotti assumed leadership of US Forces in Korea. In subsequent years, specifically from 2022 to 2024, I had the privilege of working alongside General Scaparrotti during his tenure as Chairman of the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA), where I serve on the Advisory Board. Upon taking on this role, General Scaparrotti promptly initiated a conference call with me to gain comprehensive insight into KDVA’s operations. Our conversation lasted over an hour and encompassed both the organization's history and strategic direction. As you can tell, I was one of about 2 dozen leaders of KDVA. I found General Scaparrotti’s genuine commitment to effective leadership and organizational excellence particularly noteworthy. I wish to highlight several personal anecdotes shared by his Korean colleagues. Throughout his nearly forty-year service, he demonstrated unwavering respect for fallen soldiers by displaying their photographs in his office and providing continued support to their families. Notably, in 2015, following an incident in which two Korean Army sergeants were injured by a landmine, General Scaparrotti was the first to visit them in the hospital, encouraging their recovery. Under General Scaparrotti's leadership, KDVA has flourished, further reinforcing the US-Korea alliance. His exemplary leadership and selfless dedication have significantly enhanced the strength and vitality of this crucial partnership. It is my honor to congratulate General Mike Scaparrotti on receiving this year’s ICAS Liberty Award—a recognition that is truly well deserved.

Iconic Sculpture Honoring Veterans’ Sacrifices to be Dedicated at Sandy Springs Park

By Sunny K Park • July 11, 2025
The newly opened Veterans Park is located on the parcel of land between Roswell Road, Johnson Ferry Road, and Mt. Vernon Highway.

The Ellis Island Honors Society honors the importance of immigration to America’s prosperity

By Sunny K Park • March 11, 2025
The Ellis Island Honors Society honors the importance of immigration to America’s prosperity and celebrates the contributions immigrants and their progeny have made to our nation. In 1986, Ellis Island Honors Society founded the Ellis Island Medals of Honor to commemorate the indefatigable spirit of those who immigrated to the United States during the Ellis Island era.  The Medal is presented annually to those who have shown an outstanding commitment to serving our nation either professionally, culturally or civically, among other criteria.