Scholar Stories

Lessons From Colombia

Published 12/11/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Chase Lin | 12/11/2025

When my plane landed in Bogotá, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had come to Colombia hoping to understand the local culture and societal infrastructure. What I discovered was how young people find purpose when opportunity is scarce, and what structures help them stay in school. What I discovered over the next two weeks, traveling from Bogotá to Medellín to Cartagena, went far beyond classrooms. My discoveries ranged from observations of the walls of the city, the rhythm of its streets, and in the choices people make when life demands creativity to survive.

The Colombian Conflict: Women Survivors. A discussion on the normalization, revictimization, and postmemory of gender-based violence.

Published 12/10/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Julissa Mendoza | 12/10/2025

The armed conflict in Colombia was a nightmarish period that has lasted 60 years, leaving a dark stain and puzzle in the minds of thousands of civilians. With the UN Resolution 1325 and the Colombian government’s admission of the disproportionate violence women endure in conflicts, an enormous bottom-up feminist movement has fought to address the violence women still face in the country. However, there are still effects that are not widely discussed. The Colombian armed conflict played a significant role in the formation of patriarchal systems that, especially with a negligent state, have worked to normalize gender-based violence and revictimization cycles. This has generated a distinct intergenerational trauma.

Vietnam and the Philippines: A History of Resourcefulness

Published 12/10/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Dana Hua | 12/10/2025

According to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) which considers a nation’s overall economic growth, life expectancy, health, education and quality of life, both Vietnam and the Philippines are considered to be developing nations. This comes as no surprise once we consider their turbulent paths towards national sovereignty with neither country achieving true independence until the mid to late 20th century. However, despite their difficult beginnings, both nations have successfully harnessed their pasts to bolster national economic growth and provide their citizens with productive and satisfying lives by opening up their past historical landmarks for tourism.

Beyond Frivolity: Making the Most of a Brief Stay in Japan

Published 12/10/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Lena Jones | 12/10/2025

To celebrate graduating in May 2025, I went to Japan. Three friends and I crammed all that we could into one week, separating the trip into three cities: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. Since we had a limited time to internalize the people, personalities, food, scenery, and experiences of these locations, we tried to make our intentions clear. For every piece of frivolous fun, we bore a deeper analytical purpose in mind.

Fall 2025 Campus Visits

Published 11/25/2025 in Program Updates

Written 11/25/2025

This Fall 2025, the Milken Scholars Program continued its tradition of visiting current Scholars in-person at their different college campuses throughout the country.

Tea, Tradition, and Healing: A Wellness Journey Through Morocco

Published 12/11/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Simrankaur Wahan | 12/11/2025

This past month, I had the privilege of visiting Marrakech, Morocco: my first time traveling to Africa. The journey was more than a trip: it was a deep exploration of culture, wellness, and connection. I immersed myself not only as a traveler, but also as a lifelong learner, curious about how Morocco’s culture and healthcare values intersect holistic wellbeing.

CJ Cultural Foundation’s Impact on Cultural Enrichment and Diversity in South Korea

Published 11/03/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Sally Williams | 11/03/2025

This summer I had the wonderful opportunity to be a Global Intern at CJ Cultural Foundation in South Korea. My research was on the unique work that could be done by a corporate foundation, defined by the Council on Foundations as “philanthropic organizations that are created and financially supported by a corporation…Companies establish corporate foundations and give programs to have a positive impact on society.”

Alumni Scholar Spotlight: From Panic to "Playing Attention" – How Nick Mosca, MS ’02, Is Revolutionizing High-Stress Preparation

Published 10/29/2025 in Alumni Features

Written 10/29/2025

In a recent conversation with Nick Mosca, MS ’02, we asked him to share what a day in the life of an Ivy League college admissions consultant looks like. Nick, a Harvard graduate, former Georgetown Alumni Admissions Representative, 20-year college admissions consulting veteran and mindfulness educator is able to bring together his passions, personal and professional experiences together to his current work.

Two botanists converse: Memory, science, and the Cold War

Published 10/10/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Kathleen Gutierrez | 10/10/2025

On an August morning on the patio of an Italian deli, two retired scientists met with me to talk of the past. Domingo Madulid, a historical botanist of the Philippines, and Hermes Gutierrez, expert on the Philippine Dipterocarpaceae family, have been colleagues since the 1960s. Over hot black coffee, the two detailed their experiences collecting plant specimens, their collaborations with foreign scientists, and their musings on the current state of genetic mapping and systematics.

Milken Scholars at the Grand Opening of the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream

Written by Torres, Evelyn | 10/03/2025

After more than a decade in the making, the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD) opened its doors to the public on September 20, 2025. MCAAD, a part of the Milken Institute, is a cultural institution dedicated to sharing stories and illuminating pathways to opportunity for all.

Learning and Leadership at the Crossroads of Medicine and Culture in Ghana

Published 09/19/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Elizabeth Abatan | 09/19/2025

This summer, I had the chance to travel to Ghana, a place that felt both familiar and new. With West African parents, I grew up hearing stories and watching movies about the markets and cultures within various communities.

A Journey Through Barga, Italy: Community, Culture & Continuity

Published 09/12/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Mattie Isaac | 09/12/2025

In early July of 2025, my grandmother, mother, and I traveled to visit my mother’s friend in Barga, a small medieval town tucked into the hilly folds of Tuscany and an hour outside of Pisa. After over an hour of jolting twists and turns up a mountain, my family and I trekked further up sleek stone slabs, passing through narrow streets and towering sunset color buildings to make it to our home for the next week.