2023 William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award Nomination - Taekwan Yoon

Taekwan Yoon is one of the recipients of the 2023 William Muir Edwards award.

Taekwan Yoon sees citizenship as a call to action. His dedication to service, both in and outside of Faculty of Engineering where he is studying computer software engineering, is fueled by empathy for the less fortunate and a desire to engage with — and uplift — the diverse communities he serves. 

Taekwan’s passion for volunteering has led him to take on a variety of roles on and off campus, including volunteer coordinator with Campus UNICEF, teaching assistant for Korea 101,102 and 201, and VP Finance for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), where his dedication to global healthcare embodied in the values of the organization helped to extend the MSF’s growth and outreach.

“I have been inspired by the resilience and determination of the individuals I have encountered in various volunteer and leadership roles,” says Taekwan. “Witnessing the difference that our collective efforts can make in the lives of others has strengthened my resolve to continue my pursuit of making the world a better place.”

His eagerness to take on leadership roles, especially within his own community, is evident in his three year commitment to the Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation of Edmonton, where he designed and evaluated application packages, organized scholarship ceremonies and advocated for the importance of education through various events such as career fairs.

Taekwan also served as the Committee Lead for the Edmonton Korean Lions Club, where he helped secure government grants and establish a program to financially support high school and undergraduate students with their living expenses.

“I had the pleasure of working alongside Taekwan,” says Daniel Park, a fellow committee member for the Edmonton Korean Lions Club. “His commitment to this project was exceptional, and he worked tirelessly to ensure that everything went smoothly, from organizing the program to coordinating with volunteers and raising funds. Thanks to his efforts, the program was a huge success and provided much-needed relief to many students from low-income families.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taekwan volunteered as a screener and wayfinder at the Misericordia Community Hospital, helping individuals navigate the hospital. He says these experiences instilled a deep sense of responsibility towards the health and safety of his community.

As a budding software engineer, Taekwan’s work on projects such as Vib: Wearable Directional Assistant and Spot the Dog smartphone app demonstrates his commitment to using his engineering skills to create meaningful solutions for real-world problems. 

Vib clinched 1st place in the Innovative Design Category at the U of A’s Engineering Competition, 1st place at the Western Engineering Competition and 3rd in the Canadian Engineering Competition.

“These projects not only allowed me to develop my technical skills but also taught me valuable lessons in teamwork, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the importance of considering the end-user's needs when developing new technologies.”

A well-rounded student, Taekwan served as section leader for the University of Alberta Mixed Chorus for three years, leading section rehearsals and playing a crucial role in ensuring seamless choir performances. He says this experience was one of his favourites, because of the capacity of music to provide solace during challenging times. 

Taekwan says his motivation to be an active citizen and community builder is deeply rooted in his family and personal life experiences, which engendered a sense of empathy and a desire to create positive, lasting change. 

"I am honoured to be nominated for the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award and feel privileged to have the opportunity to share my story,” he says. “I have dedicated my time and energy to making a difference in my community and I hope to continue fostering this spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility, inspiring others to join me in creating a brighter future for us all."

Named in honour of the Faculty of Engineering’s founding professor, the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award recognizes Engineering at Alberta undergraduate students who have made exceptional contributions to society. It’s a celebration of citizenship and of engineering students who go to extraordinary lengths to make our world a better place. Special thanks to the David Morris Family Foundation for supporting our students and making the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Awards possible. 

Do you know an undergraduate student whose volunteerism, contributions, and efforts, both on-campus and off-campus, work to make the world a better place? Learn more about the nomination process here.