Jessica Luna, of the University of Southern California and a graduate of Larchmont Charter School, was among the 12 students from Los Angeles County chosen to be a Milken Scholar. (photo courtesy of Milken Scholars)

The Milken Scholars, a joint ini­tiative of the Milken Institute and the Milken Family Foundation, has chosen 12 students from Los Angeles County for its 2022 schol­arship program after a rigorous nomination, application and inter­view process.

Open to college-bound high school seniors in Los Angeles County, Washington, D.C. and New York City, Milken Scholars are selected based on academic performance, community service, leadership and their ability to per­severe in the face of personal chal­lenges. Past recipients include inaugural poet Amanda Gorman; Ruben Harutunian, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Minsk, Belarus; Dr. Joelle Simpson, chief of emergency med­icine at Children’s National Hospital; and award-winning entrepreneur and author Ali Kriegsman.

The 2022 Los Angeles Milken Scholars are: Favour Akingbemi, George Washington High School (Yale University); Enzo Banal, North Hollywood High School (Northwestern University); Patricia Rose De Leon, Downtown Magnets High School (University of California Los Angeles); Dulce Gonzalez, Canoga Park High School (Harvard University); Dong gun (Kevin) Kwak, Harvard-Westlake School (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); Jessica Luna, Larchmont Charter School (University of Southern California); David Maemoto, Palos Verdes High School (Stanford University); Camilla Martinez, North Hollywood High School (Harvard University); Alejandro Quiroz, Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School (Claremont McKenna College); Katy Shin, Golden Valley High School (Stanford University); Jaden Stewart, North Hollywood High School (Princeton University); and Isamar Zhu, Mira Costa High School (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

Mike Milken and his wife Lori founded the Milken Scholars Program in 1989 to promote and assist young people as they navi­gate the transitions from high school to college and from college to graduate school or the world of work. Recipients receive a $10,000 scholarship, and more importantly, gain a lifelong sup­port system that includes ongoing career-related counseling, assis­tance in securing internships, opportunities for community ser­vice and a fund to assist their pur­suit of post-undergraduate career goals.

“Lori and I continue to be impressed, year after year, by the remarkable accomplishments and enthusiasm of all the Milken Scholars,” Milken said. “These amazing young men and women represent the very best of America.”

This month, the Los Angeles Milken Scholars will attend a four-day summit in Los Angeles with over 150 Scholars including new Scholars from Washington, D.C. and New York City, undergraduates and alumni facilitators.

For information about the Milken Scholars Program, visit milken­scholars.org.