Daniel Ha is a high school student at The King’s Academy in California. He is passionate about community service, research, and international relations.
Leadership and Community Service
Daniel founded The King’s Academy chapter of the National Council for Social Studies. The chapter serves more than 582 high school students. He also serves on the executive board of the International Young Leaders Council. In this role, he has organised international outreach efforts to support communities in countries such as India and Ukraine.
Additionally, Daniel has raised funds for children in need. He has performed piano concerts in his community to benefit Ohmatdyt National Specialised Children’s Hospital.
Soap Made with Hope: Supporting Children’s Hospitals
Daniel also runs a philanthropic initiative called “Soap Made with Hope.” Through this social enterprise, he makes organic soaps and sells them at local farmers’ markets. He dedicates all proceeds to Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (LPCH) to support children with cancer.
His efforts led to the official approval and listing of LPCH at Shop for Packard. Moreover, Daniel expanded the initiative internationally. He established a Korean chapter that directs all proceeds to Seoul National University Children’s Hospital to support paediatric causes.
Research in International Relations
Daniel is particularly interested in how nations maintain treaties and manage political tensions. For example, he examined how South Korea’s recent presidential change affected its security relationship with North Korea.
His research resulted in a peer-reviewed publication titled “Impact of the Recent South Korean Presidency Change on Security Relationship with North Korea” in the Journal of Student Research.
Daniel also studied Korean clay art for a year. He conducted interviews as part of this project and later published a book titled “Clayarch: The Fusion of Korean Art, Ceramics, and Architecture.”
Research on NATO Enlargement and Nuclear Proliferation
At CCIR Academy, Daniel conducted a research project titled “Navigating the Post-Cold War Disorder: Examining NATO Enlargement and Nuclear Proliferation.”
His paper explores the relationship between NATO enlargement and nuclear proliferation after the Cold War. In particular, he examines how NATO’s expansion may relate to nuclear proliferation and broader geopolitical changes.
The paper was accepted at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Great Plains Political Science Association (GPPSA). This recognition marks an important milestone in Daniel’s research journey.
Daniel’s CCIR Research Journey
Daniel recently appeared on CCIR Academy Student Spotlights. During the episode, he shared insights from his research experience. He also expressed gratitude for the guidance of his professor and the support of CCIR Academy.
Congratulations to Daniel on his achievements!
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