Blossoming Bonds: LEE Alumni Reunion in South Korea, Spring 2024

The spring of 2024 marked a memorable reunion of alumni from the Laboratory for Environmental Engineering (LEE), gathered amidst the breathtaking cherry blossoms of Seoul, South Korea. In a testament to the lab's growth, an inside joke amongst the group involves assigning seasons to different periods in the lab. This spring, the reunion saw the return of "Season 1" characters of LEE: Eugene Esparcia Jr., now a PhD student at (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) KAIST; Karl Adrian Gandionco, pursuing his PhD at Seoul National University (SNU); and Jethro Pascasio, currently a PhD candidate at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST). They were among the Prof. Ocon's earliest MS students when the lab lacked essential equipment, marking a poignant journey from humble beginnings to remarkable achievements.

The reunion was further elevated by the presence of Errol Saluta and Nomer Arriola, PhD students from Hanyang University and PSYSC orgmates of Prof. Ocon, adding to the camaraderie and shared experiences of the day.

Article by: Mecaelah S. Palaganas