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.
The vision behind the five restructured historic buildings, now joined to become one magnificent treasure on Pennsylvania Avenue just steps from the White House, was born from Mike Milken’s belief that no matter who you are or where you come from, you should have an equal opportunity to succeed. Milken Scholars were invited to join the festivities in Washington D.C. and tour the Center along with their loved ones, which we hope becomes a home for them to visit when their travels bring them to the nation’s capital.
The stories brought to light at MCAAD are focused on four pillars: Health and Medical Research, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Education and the Educator, and Access to Capital and Financial Empowerment. With over a dozen Milken Alumni Scholars highlighted in a variety of exhibits throughout the Center, MCAAD is already a home for them and their families. One of these stories is that of Gil Hernandez, MS ’89, who attended MCAAD’s grand opening accompanied by 10 friends and family members from New York. When asked what this meant to him, he said, “Through adversity comes opportunity,” and he went on to explain, “Being there [this past weekend] was a reminder that you can’t always control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond. Being there with my family was incredibly special, especially with my wife & kids, and appreciating the journey it has been living out my American Dream.”
Dr. Joelle’s Simpson’s, MS ’95, parents and extended family also traveled from New York to see her story now shared with millions in such a beautiful space, “From the amazing tree display at the entrance to the museum, to the compelling pictures with narratives, and various presentations on each floor, we were totally in awe. It was beyond what we expected in a positive way. Thank you, Mr. Milken and team, for memorializing these Scholars in such an interesting manner.”
Beaming with pride were Morris Vanegas’s, MS ’08, parents who traveled from California to see his, their story, unveiled at MCAAD. He describes his experience as, "It brought me closer to my parents, reminding me that the American Dream is never a solo journey but one carried by many lives. I placed a photo of my immediate family beside mine so others could see that one portrait holds not just a face, but an entire story, woven into a tapestry of 100 different dreams. While people looked at me, I looked at my parents—I saw the two kids who, 44 years ago, made a choice that led us all here. And I cried tears of joy, grief, pride, and love—tears for what was lost, tears for what was built, and tears for a dream I get to advance."
Being a part of this project for Scholars who met Michael Milken more than 35 years ago when he and Lori Milken founded the Milken Scholars Program, was a reminder of the journey they’ve had through this Program, which in turn has become a family of their own. The weekend was filled with tears of joy, but also a lot of laughter and hugs as MCAAD’s grand opening served as a reunion for the group of 20 Milken Alumni Scholars who traveled from near and far to step through the doors of the Center as Julie Hoyte, MS ’89, shared, “Reuniting with my ’89 classmate after 36 years felt like stepping back in time and forward all at once. Seeing my story displayed alongside Mr. Rogers, my childhood hero, and Oprah, the ultimate trailblazer, was surreal and deeply humbling. It’s more than a personal milestone; it’s a living testament to my parents’ words, now inspiring others who will walk through the center doors.”
We invite you to take a walk through those doors and visit MCAAD to be inspired as you continue pursuing your dreams. You can learn more about the Center, plan your visit and reserve your tickets here.
