The Milken Scholars receive a cash award and access to career guidance. (photo courtesy of the Milken Institute)

Ten college-bound students across Los Angeles County have been named as Milken Scholars, earning individual $10,000 awards for their dedication to academics, extracurriculars and community service. As the 2026 Milken Scholars class, they will unlock a lifetime of valuable support in college, career and life.

The scholarship program, a joint initiative of the Milken Institute and the Milken Family Foundation, honors high school seniors in Los Angeles County, New York City and Washington, D.C. The awards include 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 other costs associated with career preparation.

The 2026 L.A. Milken Scholars are Brandon Chang, of West Ranch High School, who is attending Harvard; Adrian Drouin, of Harvard-Westlake School, who is attending Columbia; Rachel Hang-Rothman, of Mira Costa High School, who is attending Cornell; Noa Jacoby, of Milken Community School, attending Vanderbilt University; and Gabrielle Kadouri, also of Milken Community School, who is attending the University of Texas at Austin. Also awarded are Jianing “Jackie” Li, of Walnut High School, who is attending Northwestern University; Jaiden Nwabuzor, California Academy of Mathematics and Science, attending Yale; Valeria Urbalejo, of Harbor Teacher Preparatory Academy, also attending Yale; Brendon Wu, of Alhambra High School, who is attending Stanford; and Andrea Yang, of Diamond Bar High School, who is attending MIT.

The Milken Scholars Program was established in 1989 by Mike and Lori Milken. After completing a rigorous nomination, application and interview process, Milken Scholars are selected based on academic performance, community service, leadership and ability to persevere in the face of personal challenges. Past recipients include inaugural poet Amanda Gorman; Ruben Harutunian, treasurer of the board of the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt and minister-counselor for public diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo; Dr. Joelle Simpson, chief of emergency medicine at Children’s National Hospital; and award-winning entrepreneur Emanuel Yekutiel.

“The members of the Milken Scholars Class of 2026 remind us that the future belongs to those who never stop learning,” Mike Milken said. “In a world being reshaped by new technologies and new opportunities, they have already demonstrated a record of achievement and intellectual curiosity that will serve them well throughout their lives. Lori and I are proud to welcome them into the Milken Scholars community and look forward to the contributions they will make in the years ahead.”

The L.A. Milken Scholar Alumni and community members will gather later this month to celebrate the 2026 L.A. Scholars at an annual Recognition Ceremony. At the end of July, they will attend a three-day summit in Washington, D.C., where they will join the full class of 2026 Milken Scholars as well as undergraduates and alumni facilitators in fields across all industries.

For information, visit milkenscholars.org.