International Foundation for Ewha Womans University Launched a Commemorative Ceremony Celebrating Its 50th Anniversary
- 작성처
- Date2021.05.17
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International Foundation for Ewha Womans University Launched a Commemorative Ceremony Celebrating Its 50th Anniversary
The International Foundation for Ewha Womans University (hereinafter “IFEWU”) launched a commemorative ceremony marking its 50th anniversary on April 23.
The IFEWU is a non-profit organization established in 1970 by the American and Canadian friends of Ewha, Christian groups including the National United Methodist Church, and Ewha alumnae in North America and their family members with the aim to financially support the school, promoting various activities that encourage cooperation between North America-based organizations and Ewha alumnae, while also providing active sponsorships for improving the school’s educational environment and facilities and scholarships over the last 50 years.
The IFEWU originally planned to host a commemorative service and dinner event to celebrate its 50th anniversary in April last year, but the offline event was canceled due to COVID-19. Instead, an online commemorative event was held in April this year. The event, conducted as a gratitude worship service, started with an opening prayer by former President of IFEWU Bishop Ann Sherer-Simpson and welcoming remarks by President of IFEWU Marc Mullinax, followed by congratulatory remarks by President of Ewha Kim Eun-mee and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a keynote speech by former President of IFEWU Bishop Sharon Rader.
Image Caption: President Kim Eun-mee and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivering congratulatory remarks
President Kim Eun-mee remarked, “On behalf of all members of the Ewha community, I would like to express our deepest gratitude for your prayers, love, and encouragement that contributed towards establishing today’s Ewha.” Former Secretary Hillary Clinton, who has been continuing her relationship with Ewha as a Distinguished Honorary Ewha Fellow since her last visit in 2009, also celebrated the event, remarking “I would like to congratulate the IFEWU’s 50th anniversary and I believe that the foundation will play an even greater role for women’s education worldwide.”
Meanwhile, in a keynote speech titled Remember, former President Bishop Sharon Rader emphasized, “We gather today not only to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the IFEWU but also to remember those who fought for women’s education, the crises they endured, and the accomplishments achieved by the IFEWU.” She also added that, “I hope we all remember the history of Ewha in growing from a women-only school to a world-leading women’s university and that of the IFEWU in sparing no efforts and dedication in the process of Ewha’s development.”
The speeches and remarks were followed by the screening of celebratory and commemorative video clips for the IFEWU’s 50th anniversary and the introduction of the 50th Anniversary Hope Fund and Online Book to promote activities performed by the IFEWU and encourage the participation of a broader following. Among them, the Hope Fund is a newly launched scholarship program that supports foreign students from developing countries to study at Ewha. The IFEWU has been supporting the academic achievement of all enrolled students at Ewha through various scholarship programs and plans to expand its support by sponsoring women’s education worldwide with the new Hope Fund.
The event, held as a webinar through Zoom and live-streamed on YouTube, was attended by about 200 participants including former and current board members, donors, alumnae, and scholarship recipients. Congratulatory messages are also continuing to be posted in the Online Book. The entire event can be viewed at the IFEWU YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/S3QG4Xdswjs).