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The Spectator
Harry Jung '10 Embodies the Ideal Student-Athlete
by Cooper Creagan '13Sports Writer
October 02, 2009
One of the most respected athletes on campus, Harry Jung '10 has made huge strides in both football and academics since his freshman year on the Hill. His capacity to balance both school work and sports help him to embody the idea of a true scholar-athlete.
Last year's winner of the Bankert Scholarship for greatest academic improvement, the defensive lineman has learned quite a bit about managing the competing demands of school and sport. At high school in Long Island, Jung became interested in criminal law courses and the mock debate club. He pursued these interests in college, and now he is completing a government and anthropology double major. Fulfilling the requirements of all that coursework while being a varsity athlete has not proven an easy task. Jung claimed that he was able to find relief in art.
Jung credits Professor Katharine Kuharic for helping him express his more creative and artistic side as a means of taking from the seemingly endless papers required for his majors. By taking a break and painting for a few hours every once in a while, his work became more manageable – a major factor in his impressive academic amelioration. This freedom, the ability to explore other subjects like painting (and also a bit of theater) in addition to the social sciences, is something that makes Hamilton truly special to Jung.
However, football, art and government do not begin to comprise all of Jung's activities at Hamilton. He also has served as an Orientation Leader, is a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity and participates in the Hamilton Alumni Leadership Training (HALT) Committee.
To him, the campus environment is one where, "if you're strong willed, Hamilton allows you to do what you want to do. No one is going to stop you."
The goal-oriented Jung is a pure example of this sentiment. He came to Hamilton because he felt he could be serious about athletics, without sacrificing a quality learning experience.
What are Jung's future plans when he leaves the College at the end of this year? He claims that if it had not been for his football talents, he would have gone to the military after high school. Now, with the good foundation from his four years at Hamilton, Jung again sets his sights on service.
Jung has a long lineage to live up to as every male in his family has been in the military, and though he claimed that he was not directly pressured into serving himself, the topic of military service is a frequent one among family members. The idea has been a key part of his life, especially because he is the only grandson in the family.
Having taken all these factors into account, "I chose to go with that path," Jung said.
To Jung, the military is another opportunity to strive higher. He plans to attend Officer Candidate School for the Air Force, and through the Air Force, attend law school.
"I try to utilize every possible measure to reach my… goals," said Jung, likening this admirable mindset to that of the College.
After law school, Jung, who also speaks Korean, hopes to exercise his bilingual abilities overseas in Korea, his grandfather's country of origin. The College will suffer for the loss of such a driven and strong-willed student, and we are definitely fortunate to have him with us, both on and off the field, for one more year.