60 Years Later, the Yim Legacy Continues at Baylor

When Spencer and Charlie Yim stepped onto Baylor’s campus for the first time as students, it wasn’t just the beginning of their college experience. It was the continuation of a family story that began more than 60 years earlier.

Their grandfather, Nelson Yim, M.S. ’63, left Hong Kong in 1959 to pursue a graduate degree in chemistry at Baylor. That decision not only shaped his future, but laid the groundwork for where his grandsons are today.

“I remind myself of Grandpa’s journey often,” Spencer said. “He came to this country not really knowing what to expect. My brother Charlie and I are incredibly grateful to be walking in his footsteps.”

Nelson first heard about Baylor through his high school principal at Pui Ching High School in Hong Kong. The principal had an honorary doctorate from Baylor, and as is true today, the university had a strong reputation in Christian academic circles. During Nelson’s senior year of college, Baylor’s graduate dean visited Hong Kong, and the two were introduced. That conversation led to a scholarship and a new beginning.

“When he offered me a scholarship to come to Texas, I knew it was an open door,” Nelson said. “I had studied English, but all of my classes had been in Chinese. Everything about life here was unfamiliar. Western food, living in a dorm, and classes in English. It was all new.”

Nelson earned his master’s degree in 1963 and went on to work as a medicinal chemist, securing nearly 30 patents throughout his career. He also met his wife, Maria (Chang) Yim, MS’62, also from Hong Kong while they were both students at Baylor and credits the university for helping him grow both professionally and personally. 

“Thanks to Baylor, my grandpa was able to meet my grandma, get a degree, and strengthen his faith,” Spencer said. “That changed our family’s journey.”

For Spencer and Charlie, Baylor wasn’t the obvious choice. Spencer, Student Regent and an Honors College sophomore studying political science, economics, history, and Chinese, said it was the last school he applied to. Charlie, a business major focusing on accounting, had other universities in mind, too. 

“After hearing Grandpa’s story and how God used Baylor in his life, I knew I seriously needed to check it out,” Spencer said. “When I visited, I saw firsthand Baylor’s caring community. I fell in love with Baylor’s medium-sized student body, Christ-centered commitment, and location in the heart of central Texas. The opportunity to continue grandpa’s legacy was a bonus.”

Both brothers say Baylor’s spiritual environment has helped them grow in ways they didn’t expect. Having grown up in a largely secular town in Connecticut, they found Baylor to be a welcome change. 

“The faith element at Baylor is profound in almost every aspect, from the classroom to personal conversations with friends or professors,” Charlie said. “Being able to surround myself with brothers and sisters in Christ has allowed me to grow in my own faith.”

For Nelson, seeing both Spencer and Charlie choose Baylor brought everything full circle.

“I’m very proud of my two grandsons for choosing Baylor,” he said. “The world has changed so much and in many ways not for the better, but Baylor University has grown stronger.”

As they look toward graduation, Spencer plans to pursue a career in public service, while Charlie is preparing for a future in business. 

“Grandpa never feared being the first,” Spencer said. “He was the first in his family to go to college, the first to come to the United States, the first to experience Baylor.  I hope to continue grandpa’s legacy of trailblazing for others, charting new paths, and discovering more and more of God’s plan.”