Honoring roots

James Yoon is heavily involved in volunteer efforts when he's not in class at the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry.

"Coming from Augusta, being a hometown boy, the older I get the more I appreciate everything the community has done for me," said the 24-year-old first-year dentistry student. "Now, being a pre-professional student, I feel as though I'm in a position to help out others and give back."

Since August, Mr. Yoon has volunteered his time at the Boys & Girls Club-E.W. Hagler Unit.

There he teaches a boxing class and often gives the children oral hygiene lessons.

He also organized an Oral Health Awareness Month in October at the club, where he and his classmates from the dental school gave in-depth presentations on oral hygiene.

Mr. Yoon is a "natural teacher," said Deborah Presnell, a VISTA member assisting with the Boys & Girls Club volunteer program.

"Our volunteers are meant to be role models and contribute to the environment of the Boys & Girls Club," she said. "James definitely does that. He has an ability to teach kids of all ages and keep them focused. They really look up to him, and you can tell that he enjoys working with them."

Mr. Yoon also helps out at a soup kitchen and organizes volunteer opportunities for his dental school class as its volunteer coordinator.

"Whatever skills I learn in my life, I want to use them as a venue to help people," he said. "Whether it's through martial arts and boxing or becoming a dentist, I want to use it to reach out and help my community."

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.