 Lee Yong-jun, center, a Seoul National University student who died while doing volunteer work in Tanzania, poses with villagers there in this file photo. He will be given an honorary diploma from the school at a graduation ceremony on Feb. 25. / Yonhap |
By Han Sang-hee
A Seoul National University (SNU) student who died from a heart attack while he was doing volunteer work in Tanzania will receive an honorary diploma from the school.
SNU said Monday it will give Lee Yong-jun the diploma during its graduation ceremony scheduled for Feb. 25.
``He always did his best in everything and had his own perspective when studying architecture. We believe that the diploma would be the last gesture of gratitude the school can do for Lee,’’ said Prof. Park So-hyun from the department of architecture at SNU.
Lee enrolled in SNU in 2006 to study architecture and left for Tanzania four times since he was a freshman.
His volunteer work was mostly focused on the young and poor students in Tanzania, including making wells, installing solar panels and teaching kindergarten students. With his architecture expertise, he also designed a cafeteria for an elementary school in a small village called Boma Ngombe.
He left for Tanzania once again in July last year to finish designing a middle and high school that had 15 classrooms and a library in Boma Ngombe but died from a heart attack after swimming.
After his death, the villagers in Enkatani buried Lee near the kindergarten and held a funeral at the very cafeteria he built for them with his family.
Lee was also chosen as the recipient of the Korea Young Talent Award by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology last October for his volunteerism.
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