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Scholar Stories

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Lessons from Ghana: Building a More Integrated Africa

Published 06/03/2026 in Scholar Travel Stipend
Written by Gumana Elrufai | 06/03/2026

As the African Union reassesses the implementation of the Kampala Convention – a treaty that addresses internal displacements caused by conflict, natural disasters, and development projects in Africa – I came to realize that our actions today in the status quo are critical opportunities to elevate the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ (ACHPR) role in ensuring displaced individuals are not only protected but fully integrated into the societies in which they now reside. Ultimately, empowering the ACHPR to play a more active role in overseeing integration will contribute to building a more inclusive, unified, and rights-protecting continent. This task is not just a legal obligation; it is a moral imperative.

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lesley1

From Spirituality to Traditional Medicine: Observing Holistic Healing in Seoul

Published 05/28/2026 in Scholar Travel Stipend
Written by Lesley Yupa | 05/28/2026

Growing up in an Ecuadorian home, I always heard my grandmother talk about herbs, home remedies, and the importance of spirituality. Coming from an indigenous Kichwa background, she would share her familiarity with plants and ancestral practices, including energy cleanses, and they coexisted with modern medical interventions throughout my father’s health recovery process.

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Mapo Learning 3

Learning Beyond the Classroom: Public Wellness, Education, and Community Spaces in Seoul, South Korea

Published 05/26/2026 in Scholar Travel Stipend
Written by Karen Garcia | 05/26/2026

While walking within the crowds of Seoul, everything moves quickly. Trains arrive in minutes and people sprint to their next destination, all while historic buildings lie next to modern glass towers. At first, the city’s pace seems to reflect efficiency and productivity. Coming from New York City, I first felt a sense of familiarity in the city’s personality. But during my time in Seoul, I became most interested in the places where the city asked people to slow down: a public library at the center of the mall, a restored stream sprawling at the center of downtown, and shared spaces where learning, wellness, and community intersect.

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Scholars at GC2

Milken Alumni Scholars at the 2026 MI Global Conference

Published 05/26/2026 in Program Updates
Written by Reyes, Natalie | 05/26/2026

From conversations on ethical AI to discussions about closing healthcare disparities, Alumni Scholars joined global leaders at the 2026 Milken Institute Global Conference to help shape conversations about the future of innovation and impact. Conversations centered on impact investing, the future of AI, and leadership in an ever-changing world.

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lina 111111111111

The Glow Offensive: How K-Beauty Became Korea's Softest Export

Published 05/20/2026 in Scholar Travel Stipend
Written by Lina Lin | 05/20/2026

The amber glow of Olive Young storefronts followed me everywhere through Myeongdong, day and night, relentless and warm. Korea's dominant health and beauty chain operates over 1,380 stores across the country (CJ Olive Young, 2025), and walking through Seoul's main shopping district, I believed every single one of them. The lighting was engineered to make your skin look like it needed fixing, and everyone around me seemed to already have the answer.

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Penn Sandra Cheah MS 23 Clarke Dickens MS 22 Samuel Sosa Sanchez MS 24 Steven Li MS 23 and Jahin Rahman MS 21 with Plaque at Penn

Milken Scholars Mentorship in College and Beyond

Published 03/31/2026 in Program Updates
Written by Reyes, Natalie | 03/31/2026

At the heart of the Milken Scholars Program is a commitment to building a supportive community that evolves with Scholars at every stage of life. For many, that journey begins in their first year of college, when freshmen are paired with mentors who help guide their transition. More often than not, these relationships grow far beyond their initial purpose to become lasting friendships that shape the college experience and beyond.

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mainmayowa

Morocco's Cultural Identity in Relation to the African Continent

Published 03/30/2026 in Scholar Travel Stipend
Written by Mayowa Jolayemi | 03/30/2026

Morocco has always fascinated me. We often hear the classification “sub-Saharan Africa,” which has been political science’s nomenclature for “everything that is not North Africa.” As a Nigerian, growing up, I did not quite understand it - what was the reason we grouped North Africa as separate, when West, East, Central, and Southern Africa were lumped into one big category?

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