Ethan Kim
Varsity baseball captain at Irvine High School, class of 2027, headed for sports medicine.
Throw three strikes. Each one opens a part of my story.
Ethan Kim
Varsity baseball captain at Irvine High School, class of 2027, headed for sports medicine.
Add photos/1a.jpgHome of the Vaqueros. I graduate in June 2027.
Add photos/1b.jpg3.70 GPA, with AP Physics 1, U.S. History and World History.
Add photos/1c.jpgVarsity Athletic Award, four years running.
Strike one
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
3.70 unweighted
Physics 1, U.S. History, World History
June 2027
English and Korean, both fluent
Honors
Irvine High School Varsity Athletic Award four years running
Irvine High School Principal's Honor Roll three years
President's Education Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement
Bethel Korean School Hangul Day Writing Competition award and Award of Merit
Four years on varsity, and team captain.
National showcases with Five Tool and Perfect Game.
Pitching for the Irvine Vaqueros.
Strike two
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
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.
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.
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.
Add photos/3a.jpgI handle the sourcing, inventory and sales myself.
Add photos/3b.jpgTwo books published. The sales paid for relief donations.
Add photos/3c.jpgWhere I sell: $100,000+ in the last year.
Strike three
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
EK Collectibles LLC founder
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.
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
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.
Omega Construction intern, Fullerton
Social media management, website development and documentation.
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.
Add photos/4a.jpgThe club I started at Irvine High. We meet every month.
Add photos/4b.jpgDragging and raking the fields between games.
Add photos/4c.jpgHuntington Beach. It paid for our Cooperstown trip.
Ballgame
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
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.
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.
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
Sports cards, saxophone, hiking, the beach, road trips
Google Sheets, Google Docs, Adobe Photoshop, video editing