Myung Kim

Myung Kim’s journey with Richland started with his wife, Ki. When campus was located in the old Millikin National Bank building downtown, she worked as a trust officer across the street. At the end of the day, she walked over to teach accounting and various business classes. When Richland moved to a rented business space in Park 101, she followed the college there. Ki soon came across another opportunity for the college: a permanent location. “My wife was managing farmland for a client," Myung said. "The client decided to sell the farmland, so the family and the bank decided to auction it off. They held the auction one night in the old Holiday Inn [now, the Decatur Conference Center & Hotel], and Richland outbidded everybody and bought the land. In the back of my wife’s mind, she thought, ‘I’m glad Richland was able to secure the farmland.’ Because she knew they were going to build a campus here.” From there, Ki continued serving the Richland community, convincing some of her clients to donate money to build the Schrodt Health Center.

Ki passed away in 1998. For a few years after that, Myung had no connection with the college. In 2004, Foundation Executive Director Carol Condon and Foundation Board Chairperson Joan Wolf contacted Myung to see if he would be interested in joining the Foundation board. “Realizing what [Ki] had done and what she had gone through for the school, I thought, ‘I will do that in memory of her and all the work she put in.’," he said. During his six-year term, Myung worked on multiple projects for the Foundation. He was even asked to work on outside projects. As Foundation directors left the college, he stepped in to assist new directors. Eventually, he was named an Honorary Director for the Foundation.

Financially, Myung has played a role in providing a proper learning environment for students. He established the Myung C. Kim Endowed Scholarship, which goes to a student enrolled in health professions, business, or engineering technology programs. Myung has also invested in building upgrades at Richland, contributing to the capital campaign for the Teaching and Learning Center. With all of these efforts, Myung is continuing the legacy that started with Ki, making Richland Community College a place for students to thrive. “As long as I’m here and I’m able, I’ll continue to do that. I will support Richland and the Foundation.”