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Scholar Stories

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2026 Milken Scholars Summit: Leading in a New Era

Published 08/19/2026 in Program Updates
Written by Reyes, Natalie | 08/19/2026

With nearly 40 years of impact nationwide, the Milken Scholars Program now supports over 600 young leaders originating from Los Angeles County, New York City and Washington, D.C. Aside from receiving financial assistance, a strong support system, and professional opportunities, Scholars come together every summer to connect, learn and reflect at the Annual Summit.

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Accommodation, Health, and The Mexican Culinary Experience

Published 08/12/2026 in Scholar Travel Stipend
Written by Natural Premier | 08/12/2026

Quick, name 3 Mexican dishes without cheese or meat! If you struggled, it may have been because of the reductive commercialization of Mexican food in the US. Though Mexican dishes like the taco and nachos have been popularized in America, a variety of other Mexican flavors, ingredients, and cooking traditions have not been able to successfully make it into the American mainstream. Many of the dishes that do make it are dramatically oversimplified, being reduced to a few simple ingredients (Quesadillas need cheese + tortilla) or becoming flexible enough to have any ingredients alongside 1 key ingredient (anything can be called a taco if it has a shell). The only way to truly access and understand traditional Mexican cuisine is through authentic restaurants or home cooking.

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Field Research into Mexico City’s Urban Health Revolution via Transportation

Published 08/12/2026 in Scholar Travel Stipend
Written by Callaway Pate | 08/12/2026

In the global discourse on public health, infrastructure and transportation are often relegated to the background. Seen merely as the stage upon which medical interventions occur. However, as the world approaches the mid-point of the decade in 2026, Mexico City has emerged as an interesting case study for how infrastructure and transportation closely correlate with the health of the city’s residents. For the Milken Foundation, whose mission is to accelerate measurable progress in worldwide public health, this represents a compelling investigation for how the evolution of transportation and its electrification can serve as a crucial instrument of public health.

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Rwanda and the Africa CEO Forum

Published 08/12/2026 in Scholar Travel Stipend
Written by Mayowa Jolayemi | 08/12/2026

This past May, I traveled to Kigali, Rwanda to attend the Africa CEO Forum. Founded in 2012, the Africa CEO Forum remains the largest private sector convening on the African continent. As part of my role at the UN Global Compact, I organized a convening focused on harnessing the power of the African private sector to increase intra-African trade and make the AfCFTA a reality.

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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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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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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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