Scholar Stories

Staged Realities and Symbolic Infrastructures: A Visual Reflection on Development and Representation in Southern Morocco

Published 08/19/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Ayan Rahman | 08/19/2025

Towards the end of May, I traveled to Marrakech, and, from there, to the edge of the Zagora Desert on a guided tour offered to tourists from all over the world as a cultural experience -- a curated crossing through kasbahs, ancient caravan routes, and the diverse terrains of southern Morocco. I took my camera with me, but not with the intention of documenting for the sake of documentation. I was more driven by my curiosities about what would emerge visually on this well traveled corridor. What types of spaces would be framed? What experiences would be emphasized as distinctly Moroccan? And, importantly, how would I, as a participant in this tour, be positioned within it all? These were questions I wanted to explore through this one of a kind experience.

Mexico City, Museums, and Memory

Published 08/19/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Ashfah Alam | 08/19/2025

In my final spring semester at Columbia University, I took a course titled “Archival Photography” where we explored how photographs taken in eras preceding ours contributed to the development and remembrance of historical events and understanding. The course itself raised many questions about what is preserved, what is omitted, and why. In particular, I was interested in how the archives can frame and reframe memory.

Paris: A Trip To Expand my Global Perspective

Published 11/03/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Anthony Sarceno | 11/03/2025

As a prospective Global Affairs major, having a broad yet sharp understanding on economic, cultural, and historical instances is important. So, I chose Paris as a country, and even continent, I have never been to deepen my understanding of multiculturalism.

Eleven $10,000 Milken Scholars Awards Go to Standout LA County Students

Published 07/10/2025 in Program Updates

Written 07/10/2025

2025 class members embody “Lifelong Leaders for a Better World”

Five $10,000 Milken Scholars Awards Go to Standout NYC Students

Published 06/25/2025 in Program Updates

Written 06/25/2025

2025 class members embody “Lifelong Leaders for a Better World”

Four $10,000 Milken Scholars Awards Go to Standout Washington, D.C., Students

Published 06/10/2025 in Program Updates

Written 06/10/2025

2025 class members embody “Lifelong Leaders for a Better World”

Spring 2025 Campus Visits

Published 05/28/2025 in Program Updates

Written 05/28/2025

Spring 2025 Campus Visits included check-ins with 70 Current Scholars at 22 universities across 12 states.

Milken Alumni Scholars at the 2025 MI Global Conference

Published 05/09/2025 in Program Updates

Written 05/09/2025

A record number of 53 Alumni participated in the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference and attended over 100 panels, private sessions and evening receptions centered on innovation in fields ranging from health, technology, finance, and so much more.

The Future of Sustainable Vehicles in Vietnam

Published 04/24/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Brandon Quach | 04/24/2025

VinGroup is a multi-sector conglomerate and the wealthiest company in Vietnam. Its most recent venture is VinFast, a fully electric vehicle (EV) company—and the first mainstream automotive manufacturer founded in Southeast Asia to compete with major global EV brands. I traveled to Vietnam to learn more about VinFast’s rapid rise and to investigate whether its pledge to promote a more sustainable energy ecosystem holds up in practice.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi: Oil, Glamor, and The Future

Published 04/24/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Steven Li | 04/24/2025

Dubai was the city of the biggest, grandest, tallest. It started with the Emirates plane — the world’s largest passenger plane — on the way to the UAE. Stepping out of one of the world’s few double decker planes, we arrived at one of the world’s largest airports.

Exploring Education Beyond the Classroom in Korea, Japan, and Brazil

Written by David Maemoto | 04/24/2025

Education is a powerful catalyst for breaking down barriers, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and enabling innovative solutions to global challenges. Reflecting on my recent journey to Korea, Japan, and Brazil, I found that this pursuit of education extended beyond traditional classrooms into the rich landscapes of cultural heritage, collaborative design, and engineering innovation.

A glimpse into the future of the Milken Scholars Class of 2021

Published 04/16/2025 in Program Updates

Written by Reyes, Natalie | 04/16/2025

College seniors across the country are currently preparing for life after graduation. It has been a long, yet formative journey for the 2021 Milken Scholars Cohort. Here are some of our seniors’ reflections on their time as students, now eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.