Scholar Stories

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.

Thoughts on Taiwan

Published 03/31/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Hansub Kim | 03/31/2025

Recently (over the past couple years), I have been trying to undo the cultural assimilation I’ve had to undergo as a result of immigrating to the US and making a greater effort to reconnect with the history of my roots in East Asia. I have been embarking on a series of trips to Asia in order to learn more about my cultural heritage from a social, economic, and linguistic perspective.

Travels in Morocco: Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future

Published 03/26/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Marcela Correa | 03/26/2025

For our little family of three, travel is a pathway to a meaningful life. While providing us with adventure, entertainment, and many unforgettable experiences, travel also sheds light on global issues. For our end-of-year vacation, we chose Morocco as our destination. Morocco attracted us with its diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture.

Beyond the Clinic: How Science, Charity, and Community Unite in London’s Cancer Fight

Published 03/26/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Karen Garcia | 03/26/2025

I walked through London’s world famous Portobello Road Market, lined with local vendors and quaint shops selling everything from antiques, vintage fashion, books, trinkets, and street food. I was struck by one store in particular, with a multicolored dotted logo of the letter C, and alongside it was the name CANCER RESEARCH UK. I was confused for a moment, because this store was not a clinic or a hospital–it was a thrift store. Throughout my time in London, I was surprised and impressed by the city’s diverse efforts to treat this disease.

Researching Public Perception of Nuclear Energy in Bangladesh

Published 03/26/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Ashfah Alam | 03/26/2025

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) is the first nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. As the country seeks to transition toward a more sustainable energy future, understanding the public perception of nuclear energy is crucial. My research examines how the tangible economic benefits of RNPP such as job creation, infrastructure development, and regional economic stimulation shape public support for nuclear energy.

Milken Scholars Globe-Trotting for Research

Published 03/17/2025 in Program Updates, Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Reyes, Natalie, Torres, Evelyn | 03/17/2025

The Milken Scholars Program is committed to being a community of Lifelong Leaders for a Better World. With this in mind, Program founder Mike Milken created the Travel Stipend in 2012 to further support Scholars as they research the most pressing issues in their fields, with a global perspective.

From the Milken Institute’s 2024 Global Conference to the Artic Circle

Published 03/14/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Marisol León | 03/14/2025

This past winter, I had the extraordinary opportunity to visit Finland, a trip that deepened my understanding of climate change, indigenous knowledge, and Arctic ecosystems. My journey was inspired by discussions at the Milken Institute’s 2024 Global Conference, where experts emphasized the Arctic as ground zero for climate change.

The Stark Reality of Wealth Inequality in Pakistan: A Tale of Two Worlds

Published 03/08/2025 in Scholar Travel Stipend

Written by Farwa Batool | 03/08/2025

Wealth inequality in Pakistan is not merely an economic statistic—it is a stark reality that shapes the daily lives of millions. The gap between the wealthy elite and the struggling lower classes is not just wide; it is deeply entrenched, manifesting in every aspect of life, from access to quality healthcare and education to housing, transportation, and job opportunities.

Using my MD for Mental Health Advocacy

Published 02/12/2025 in Alumni Features

Written by Mabel Bongmba | 02/12/2025

Prior to med school, I dedicated two years to health promotion and education in underserved communities. I worked with a non-profit to support outreach and harm reduction efforts targeting women living with HIV, grant writing and co-leading maternal health classes at a public health clinic, and volunteered as a health assistant in rural Belize. This was a welcomed change of pace after spending countless hours in laboratories as a student at UC Berkeley!