Carnegie Mellon University
September 21, 2017

Volunteer of the Week

Karen Fung Yee

By Jay Farrell

Karen Fung Yee has taught Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arrangement, at Osher at CMU since the summer of 2007. She loves sharing with her students the natural beauty she creates with just a few flowers, branches, and leaves.

She likes volunteering with Osher because it enlarges horizons for both student and teacher. Karen also volunteers at the Chinese room at Pitt’s Nationality Rooms, Women’s International at Pitt, and OCA Pittsburgh.

Karen is a retired caseworker with the Pennsylvania Welfare Office; her deceased husband, Fred Yee, was a championship-winning basketball coach at Schenley and Brashear High Schools. Though she graduated from Pitt, Karen holds a special place in her heart for Carnegie Mellon, where she started college.