2025 Milken Scholars Holiday Dinners

Published 01/07/2026 in Program Updates

Written 01/07/2026

Continuing our cherished tradition of bringing loved ones together during the festive season, the Milken Scholars Program hosted annual Holiday Dinners for Alumni and current Scholars in Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C.

In Los Angeles, Scholars gathered with Co-Founders Mike and Lori Milken for an evening of connection and conversation, accompanied by special guests from across the Milken community. Director of the Milken Scholars Program, Dr. Jane Foley welcomed leaders from the Milken Family Foundation, the Milken Institute, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and the Milken Institute School for Public Health at George Washington University, who joined along with long-time friends and supporters of the Program. During the evening, Scholars reflected on ways they have grown academically, professionally and personally, and how participating in various Milken-associated opportunities, both throughout the United States and internationally, have broadened their horizons.

The celebrations continued in New York City, where Scholars and Alumni from across the founding Class of 1989 through 2025 came together to reconnect and celebrate the end of the year. Director of the Milken Scholars Program, Evelyn Torres, welcomed guests to reconnect, and Director Emeritus Mariano Guzmán shared a history of the Program, reminding everyone of the importance of sharing their own stories. As Alumni reminisced about shared experiences, they also offered encouragement and guidance to current Scholars who are using their winter break to recharge and prepare for the upcoming semester. The intergenerational nature of the evening served as a reminder of the lifelong bonds formed within the Program.

In Washington, D.C., Director of the Milken Scholars Program, Evelyn Torres, welcomed guests to the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), host of the Milken Scholars Holiday Dinner in 2026. Scholars and guests were joined by Washington D.C. partner for the Milken Scholars Program, Simone Joy Friedman from EJF Philanthropies, who invited Scholars to be a source of light and steadfast support for one another through life’s highs and lows. Highlighting the significance of MCAAD, Simone encouraged guests to cultivate deeper connections, come together in shared reflection, and carry forward the most meaningful lessons and moments of the past year as they look ahead to 2026. Also joined by esteemed colleagues representing the many different pillars of the Milken Institute, the evening was filled with meaningful dialogue, laughter, and a strong sense of community, embodying the fellowship that defines the Milken Scholars Program.

Across all three cities, the Holiday Dinners felt like a family reunion gathering over 200 participants reflecting on the strength, warmth, and enduring connections within the Milken Scholars Program, furthering fostering a sense of optimism toward the opportunities of the year to come. To view photos from our recent Holiday Dinners, please click here.