Hyun Seung 'Oliver' Yoo
A direct progression from compulsory education to the college or university experience is not every student’s choice or opportunity. Hyun Seung Yoo, a native of Busan, the second largest city in the Republic of Korea, is prepared to receive his Associate of Applied Science degree from Ferris State University in Manufacturing Technology (MFTE). He has the Fall 2022 commencement date marked as Saturday, Dec. 17, in Jim Wink Arena on the Big Rapids campus. His journey to this moment has included various destinations that distinguish him from classmates in his program.
Yoo, also known as “Oliver,” came to the United States in 2019 with the basics of the English language and other experiences to give him confidence in a new environment.
“We are taught English in Korean schools from our earliest years of instruction,” Oliver said. “I began my time in higher education with a year of university-level studies in Korea, then decided to complete the two years of military service required of young men there. During that time, my father launched Shinwon USA, an auto parts manufacturing operation in Livonia, Michigan.”
Yoo was in the English to Speakers of Other Languages program at Grand Valley State University during the Fall 2019 semester, then transferred to Ferris in the Spring 2020 semester, which found him completing his classes online because of the advance of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Because I was already past the age when most young people are out of college and
beginning their careers, we as a family decided a two-year degree in Manufacturing
Technology would be best for me,” Oliver said. “That process began and will finish
with my earning my Manufacturing Technology degree from Ferris.”
Having made friends with Ferris-Grand Rapids students in the city while attending
his previous institution.”
Following up on a recommendation from one of his father’s business associates made choosing Ferris’ Manufacturing Technology program easy for Oliver.
“I took a break from school for one year because of the pandemic. Then I returned to the United States for the Fall 2021 semester,” Yoo said. “I have attended Ferris in Big Rapids since that time.”
He also realizes his situation is different than his classmates in that he studies the industry his family has joined. He plans to be part of their team in U.S. plants, as they have an injection molding facility in Charlotte, southwest of Lansing.
“We do not have a required internship for the Manufacturing Technology program, but I worked at a Shinwon plant in Korea, where we do molding and injection work to manufacture components,” Yoo said. “My studies included programming for Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), which is an advanced Computer Numerical Control (CNC) process. I have also worked with milling equipment and lathes since my father wanted me to be well-versed in the operational elements of our business. If I need to work on a line, that is something I would be capable of doing and happy to be part of that team and operation.”
Oliver has been a very focused student at Ferris but has found time to make acquaintances through groups and other interactions.
“During my time at Ferris, I spent little time with other international students but
decided to make lots of American friendships through Real Life and my classmates in
the Manufacturing Technology program,” Yoo said. “I also stayed close with some of
my first acquaintances from my ELS studies in Grand Rapids.”
Knowing that Michigan is where he will begin his career, Oliver plans to live in Howell
and continue to build on the experiences that a northern climate can offer. Being
in Michigan, I can enjoy certain freedoms that would not be possible for me if I had
stayed in the Republic of Korea and taken up this level of education there.”
Yoo added, “Busan is not a snowy place, but I have seen plenty of snow in my time in Big Rapids. We have resorts with artificial snow in the ROK, but I look forward to skiing on real snow. My class schedule would not allow me to join with Office of International Education students when they hosted ski trips at nearby resorts.”
While his time in Big Rapids was relatively brief, Yoo made a real impression on the Manufacturing Technology faculty and with teaching assistants on the laboratory floor with him. Associate Professor Louis Nemastil said Oliver was a very driven student, so he wanted to ensure that the learning and experience in Manufacturing Technology were meaningful.
“Oliver came to us with Catia, a 3-D manufacturing engineering software application on his laptop,” Nemastil said. “We were able to help him learn a great deal about its use during his time in our classes. It will be a real asset in what Oliver intends to do. I was so impressed with his understanding of what he wanted to get from our program and how to manage his time well.”
“I agree that one of the main things I took from my curriculum was how to be efficient in my work,” Woo said. “I feel the Manufacturing Technology program will greatly benefit me as I apply my skills to our operation in Livonia.”
Ross Meppelink, of Zeeland, is a teaching assistant in the Manufacturing Technology program and a Mechanical Engineering Technology student. He said he enjoyed his time in the lab with Oliver and being part of his broader social opportunities, including traveling with Yoo to a Detroit Pistons game against the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
“I was proud of being part of the connection Oliver made here,” Meppelink said. “He pushed for all he could learn in project development as part of our coursework.
Oliver made a metal representation of the Republic of Korea’s flag. It was no small task to program all the cuts that put the circular design in the center (known as a Taegeuk) and the intricate slots for trigrams in each image quadrant. When other students saw how he worked to turn out something like that, it raised the bar in terms of everyone’s efforts in the lab, and they all gained from experience.”
As he prepares to graduate and take his place among the staff at Shinwon USA’s Livonia plant, Oliver clearly understands how their production will advance in this country.
“Our moldings are made in Korea and shipped to our Livonia plant, where final adjustments are made when needed,” Yoo said. “That facility can also handle contract work to update tooling or molding materials for other manufacturers. In addition, our corporation’s injection work is done at our Charlotte facility.”
Yoo added, “Obviously, with a family business before me as a professional opportunity, I will do everything I can to help it be stable and successful. If that means returning to earn a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology through Ferris or another school to improve my situation or continue my career, that is what I plan to do.”
While Yoo also appreciates there is value in creating a work/life balance, he knows that his chapter as a Ferris student is at its end, with the next step directly before him.
“I made the choice as Finals Week began to go through commencement,” Oliver said. “My family visited me during my ELS studies in Grand Rapids, but with restrictions and other considerations for international travel in the last few years, they have not been to Big Rapids and will not be at the ceremony. I am thankful for what I have learned at Ferris and the people who helped me achieve my goals in learning here. I look forward to helping our company succeed and enjoying what Michigan and my friendships and acquaintances have brought me.”
Ferris hosts commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 10 a.m. (College of Business and College of Health Professions) and 1:30 p.m. (College of Arts, Sciences and Education, the College of Engineering Technology and the Doctorate in Community College Leadership) in Jim Wink Arena.