Sen. Shin honored with Ellis Island Medal of Honor

OLYMPIA – Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, was presented with an Ellis Island Medal of Honor – an award presented to Americans with diverse heritages for their contributions to American society.

Shin grew up on the streets of Korea after his father abandoned him and his mother died. He later became a house boy for the U.S. Army, and was adopted by a dentist from Salt Lake City. Shin went on to become a college professor at Shoreline Community College and a Washington State senator.

“I went from my ABCs, to my GED, to my PhD,” Shin said. “My kind of story happens only in America.”

The Ellis Island Medal of Honor was created in 1996 to pay tribute to those who celebrate their ancestry and use their ancestry to strengthen and enrich our country. Past honorees have included U.S. presidents, Nobel Prize winners, industry leaders, and especially-gifted artists, performers, and athletes.

“I am proud of my Korean heritage, but I am most proud to be an American.” Shin said. “Apple pie, baseball, and me. We all fit together, and that is what is great about our country.”

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