From Emory University Athletics

Former Emory University baseball player NJ Kim (Plano, TX) has been named a spring recipient of the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, bestowed upon student-athletes who excel academically and athletically, while also serving as leaders in the community. The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, a $10,000 award will be applied towardthe graduate degree program of Kim's choice

Emory has been awarded 118 postgraduate scholarships over the school's history, and its 101 since 2000 is second only to Stanford University for the highest total by any NCAA member. 

A four-year (2016-19) member of the Eagles' program, Kim appeared in a total of 92 games, 36 as a starter during his career.  He posted a batting mark of .257, scored 38 runs, totaled 22 RBIs and stole 11 bases.  As a sophomore, he drew starting nods in 20 of his 29 appearances and ended that campaign hitting .270 (20-of-74).  The following season he hit a career-best .317 (13-of-41), crossing the plate 11 times while driving in nine runs.  Emory posted winning records in each of his four years, compiling an overall mark of 101-63, and made trips to the NCAA D-III Tournament on two occasions.

Kim is the fifth player in program history and first since Kyle Monk (2017) to have been awarded the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Kim graduated summa cum laude as a biology major in 2019, with an outstanding grade-point average of 3.96.  He was a Dean's List honoree on six occasions and was a member of a number of premier academic organizations such as Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Sigma. Named the athletic department's Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2019, NJ was recognized as an Emory Senior Honorary, recognizing the most 100 outstanding seniors in the undergraduate schools, and who made a significant impact on the Emory Community through academics, athletics leadership, volunteerism and personal relationships such as mentoring or helping other students.

Active on many fronts, Kim was chosen to serve as a one of 24 national representatives to serve on the Division III NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, just one of four University Athletic Association student-athletes ever to earn that honor. As Executive Board – Vice Chair, he was as a liaison between the University Athletic Association and the Liberty League and national committees, working on policy implementation and addressing student-athlete issues and concerns.   He was the campaign initiator for the NCAA Mental Health Social Media Challenge which launched in May. At Emory, he was the baseball representative on the SAAC, holding down Co-President and Executive Board assignments as well has serving as Community Service Chair. He spearheaded annual equipment drives to the Dominican Republic, partnered with Special Olympics to host events and implemented the Mental Health Education/Workshop & Follow-Up Care Project.

Kim is currently working at the Georgia Health Policy Center as a research assistant focusing on behavioral health and Systems of Care with government agencies, including the US Department of Justice, SAMHSA, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and US Health Resources and Services Administration. In addition, he has been building his nonprofit organization called Tellmystory Challenge Foundation, commemorating the life of a close teammate who passed due to mental illness. Kim has acquired valuable experience volunteering as a medical assistant intern at the Good Samaritan Health Center in Atlanta.

As for his future graduate studies, NJ will attend a MD/MPH program.

Emory Baseball NCAA Postgrad Scholars
2020- NJ Kim
2017 - Kyle Monk
2006 - Justin Gordon
2003- Kyle Foster
2002 - Tim Hobbs