Ralph Finerman, left, senior vice president and treasurer of the Milken Family Foundation, joined Milken Scholars Program co-director Jane Foley and co-founder and Milken Family Foundation trustee Lori Milken at the July 27 ceremony, as well as L.A. Milken Scholars Angela Yang, Sofia Williams, Samuel Sosa Sanchez, Anthony Sarceno, Charlry Kamara, Daniel Hong, Rayhan Haque and Natalie Garcia, program director emeritus Mariano Guzmán and co-director Evelyn Torres. (photos courtesy of the Milken Family Foundation)

Eight exceptional high school graduates from across Los Angeles County have received 2024 Milken Scholars Awards.

The scholarship program, a joint initiative of the Milken Institute and the Milken Family Foundation, honors high school seniors in Los Angeles County, Washington, D.C. and New York City each year with a $10,000 cash prize and lifelong access to college advising, career counseling, internship assistance, community service opportunities and a fund to help with graduate school applications, unpaid internships, study abroad programs and costs associated with pursuing careers.

The 2024 Los Angeles Milken Scholars are Natalie Garcia, a graduate of the Maywood Center for Enriched Studies who is attending Stanford University; Rayhan Haque, of Larchmont Charter School, who is attending Columbia University; Daniel Hong, a graduate of the North Hollywood High School attending Rice University; and Charlry Kamara, of Leuzinger High School, who is attending Emory University. Milken Scholars awards were also presented to Anthony Sarceno, of Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy, who is attending Yale; Samuel Sosa Sanchez, of Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School, attending university of California, Berkeley; Sofia Williams, a graduate of Mira Costa High School who is attending Stanford University; and Angela Yang, of Granada Hills Charter High School, who is attending Harvard.

Established in 1989 by Mike and Lori Milken, the Milken Scholars Program is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. After completing a rigorous nomination, application and interview process, recipients are selected based on academic performance, community service, leadership and ability to persevere.

“In its 35th year, as the Milken Scholars Program approaches a total of nearly 600 remarkable young men and women representing more than 80 nations. Lori and I never fail to be amazed and gratified by their achievements,” Mike Milken said.

The scholars were celebrated at an annual recognition ceremony on July 27 and will attend a three-day summit in Los Angeles with over 100 scholars from Washington, D.C. and New York City, as well as undergraduates and alumni facilitators. For information, visit milkenscholars.org.