Ethan Kim

Ethan Kim

Varsity baseball captain at Irvine High School, class of 2027, headed for sports medicine.

One pitch is coming. Hit it, then round the bases to meet me.

Pitch instead

Ethan Kim

Varsity baseball captain at Irvine High School, class of 2027, headed for sports medicine.

Ethan at Irvine High SchoolAdd photos/1a.jpg
Irvine High School

Home of the Vaqueros. I graduate in June 2027.

Ethan studyingAdd photos/1b.jpg
In the classroom

3.70 GPA, with AP Physics 1, U.S. History and World History.

Ethan with an awardAdd photos/1c.jpg
Class of 2027

Varsity Athletic Award, four years running.

First base

Student first

I'm a student-athlete at Irvine High School in Irvine, California. I've played varsity baseball all four years and I captain the team. In college I plan to study sports medicine and keep playing.

  • 3.70 GPA unweighted, with AP Physics 1, U.S. History and World History
  • Varsity Athletic Award four years running
  • Principal's Honor Roll three years
  • English and Korean, both fluent

In the classroom

GPA

3.70 unweighted

AP courses

Physics 1, U.S. History, World History

Graduating

June 2027

Languages

English and Korean, both fluent

Honors

2024 to 2027

Irvine High School Varsity Athletic Award four years running

2023 to 2025

Irvine High School Principal's Honor Roll three years

2023

President's Education Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement

2017, 2014

Bethel Korean School Hangul Day Writing Competition award and Award of Merit

Ethan in his Vaqueros uniformAdd photos/2a.jpg
Vaqueros varsity

Four years on varsity, and team captain.

Ethan playing for the SoCal BirdsAdd photos/2b.jpg
SoCal Birds

National showcases with Five Tool and Perfect Game.

Ethan coaching younger playersAdd photos/2c.jpg
Coaching the Colts

A year as assistant coach for two Colts teams.

Second base

On the field

I practice 30 to 35 hours a week and keep up with every class. Baseball is where I learned to lead a team, coach younger players and plan ahead.

  • Irvine Vaqueros Varsity team captain, four years on varsity
  • SoCal Birds national showcases, recognized by Five Tool and Perfect Game
  • Irvine Colts assistant coach for two youth teams

Teams

Aug 2023 to now

Irvine Vaqueros Varsity Baseball team captain

Four years on varsity. I managed the program's money and spending for two years, and I work with teammates and coaches to plan the best outcome for the team.

June 2025 to now

SoCal Birds Baseball team member

National-level showcases against top players from around the country. We've won championships and earned recognition from Five Tool and Perfect Game. I work with coaches and scouts to plan my baseball career.

Sept 2023 to Sept 2024

Irvine Colts Baseball Organization assistant coach

Helped the head coach run two Colts teams, adapted my coaching to each player's skill set, and talked with parents about their kids' strengths and weaknesses.

Sports cards from EK CollectiblesAdd photos/3a.jpg
EK Collectibles

I handle the sourcing, inventory and sales myself.

The OFFSCHOOL Authors booksAdd photos/3b.jpg
OFFSCHOOL Authors

Two books published. The sales paid for relief donations.

A graded cardAdd photos/3c.jpg
On Whatnot

Where I sell: $100,000+ in the last year.

Third base

Off the field

I started a sports card business, researched the grading industry behind it, and helped publish two books that raised money for relief work.

  • EK Collectibles LLC founder: $100,000+ in sales and 6,000+ transactions in a year
  • Research paper on whether card grading is worth the investment
  • OFFSCHOOL Authors treasurer: two books published, about $4,000 donated
  • Omega Construction summer intern

Business and research

Nov 2024 to now

EK Collectibles LLC founder

$100,000+sales in the last year
6,000+transactions

I sell sports cards on Whatnot and handle the sourcing, inventory and sales myself. I track market and sales trends for individual players and have built relationships with many buyers and sellers.

Oct 2026 to now

Research paper Is Grading Worth the Investment?

A study of third-party authentication and grading for trading cards and memorabilia. I researched the past decade of Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), including its lawsuits and controversies, and concluded that grading still holds value and credibility but isn't fully trustworthy because of security and antitrust issues.

Leadership and work

Sept 2026 to now

OFFSCHOOL Authors treasurer

We wrote and published two books in three years. Sales funded donations of $500 a year for two years to Africa, $1,000 to Afghanistan and about $2,000 to LA wildfire relief. I also organize the publishing ceremonies.

June to Aug 2026

Omega Construction intern, Fullerton

Social media management, website development and documentation.

Aug 2025 to Aug 2026

Social Media Marketing Club treasurer

Planned and hosted fundraisers, managed the club's money, and reached out to nonprofits with the president and vice president to coordinate events.

The youth baseball clubAdd photos/4a.jpg
Youth baseball club

The club I started at Irvine High. We meet every month.

Ethan raking a field at Irvine PonyAdd photos/4b.jpg
Field crew

Dragging and raking the fields between games.

The beach cleanupAdd photos/4c.jpg
Beach cleanup

Huntington Beach. It paid for our Cooperstown trip.

Home plate

Giving back

Every kid should get to play on a clean field. That idea is behind most of the volunteering I do.

  • Baseball Development for the Youth Club founder and president
  • Irvine Pony Baseball grounds crew volunteer since 2023
  • Beach cleanup with the Colts in Huntington Beach
  • Away from the ballpark: sports cards, saxophone, hiking, road trips

Community

Aug 2023 to now

Baseball Development for the Youth Club founder and president

A club I started at Irvine High. We meet monthly to organize volunteer hours at Irvine Pony and Northwood Little League, and help students earn hours toward a Presidential award.

May 2023 to May 2027

Irvine Pony Baseball grounds crew volunteer

I drag and rake the fields at my park between every game, and teach younger players how to look after a field.

Dec 2021 to Jan 2022

Irvine Colts beach cleanup Huntington Beach

A full-day team cleanup that raised money for our trip to the Cooperstown tournament in New York.

Away from the ballpark

Interests

Sports cards, saxophone, hiking, the beach, road trips

Tools

Google Sheets, Google Docs, Adobe Photoshop, video editing

Email Ethan