The mission of the Korean American Students Conference (KASCON) is to create a forum in which undergraduates, graduates, and young professionals can examine pressing social, political, and economic issues of importance to the Korean American community. KASCON is the largest ethnic conference in the nation and the largest student conference in North America. The conference features various workshops and forums where the students can network with peers and prominent leaders who have and continue to make outstanding contributions to their communities.

This year, KASCON will be celebrating its l5th anniversary. Utilizing resources of exceptional community leaders and professionals, KASCON XV will be engineered to motivate students to actively participate in their communities. Over l000 participants are expected from over 200 college campuses throughout the country.

KASCON was founded in l987 by a group of Princeton University students in order to discuss Korean American social, political, and economic issues. The Career Fair provides an open forum for businesses and students to network with one another. The annual Culture show exposes students to traditional Korean and modern Korean American modes of expression through professional and amateur performances and artwork. The seminars examine past struggles and experiences, empoweriing students with the knowledge of history and culture.

The heart of the theme "A Coming to Consciouseness: An Endeavor Toward Progress" is the vital link of renewed knowledge and perspectives to the pursuit of progress. This theme is dedicated to exposing the participants of KASCON to undiscovered realities and in turn channeling these realizations into a commitment to pro-actively harness their convictions to improve themselves and their community. In order to make significant progress, it is necessary to understand the past that gave rise to our present situation. And the present situation is what enables us to strategize for the future. This theme is aimed at educating second generation Korean Americans of their struggle for progress in mainstream society, and to challenge Korean Americans to gauge and then capitalize their political, social, and economic leverages that will ultimately lead to progress.

Part of the conference will be dedicated to deconstructing all the different perspectives on the present situation and position of Korean Americans on an economic, political, and social level. What are the community? greatest strengths and strides thus far and what are the major obstacles that block our path to progress?

The Exhibition will be the highlight of the conference. The Career Fair will showcase community organizations, both national and regional, and will provide students with information regarding their operation as well as internship opportunities. In addition, Korean student organizations on campuses all over the country will set up a booth to display their past year? activities and events.

The event will be co-sponsored by UCLA? Hanoolim, a student organization on campus which will perform skits and traditional and modern dances at UCLA? annual Korean Culture Night (KCN). This event will expose students to traditional art, such as pul-mul (traditional Korean drumming) and modern hip-hop dance.

Each seminar will have a panel of speakers to address a particular issue. KASCON XV will explore the issue of identity in the seminars. They will first address their individual identity and then will draw from their own experiences and attempt to answer the question of what shapes their individual identity as an ethnic minority living in the United States. The second seminar will address our community identity, where we explore how the experiences of our past and the status of our present shapes our community. Some of the issues that will be explored will be reunification, LA riots (sa-ee-gu), Korean American history, the role of the church, political activism, and our portrayal by mainstream media.

Each seminar will be followed by workshops. Each workshop will elaborate on the issues raised during the seminar. Following the first seminar, issues concerning Korean American adoptees, homosexuality, inter-racial dating/ marriage, and gender roles will be discussed.

The career workshops will cover various fields such as Art and Design, Social Services, Entertainment, Law, Media/ Journalism, Politics and others. Two to three prominent members of different facets of the community will explain their respective occupations and field and answer questions.

Every year KASCON invites influential politicians, dignitaries, artists, corporate and community leaders to inspire Korean Americans in pursuing their dreams. These leaders are selected to give speeches as well as conduct seminars and lectures.