WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 19, 2026 –– Two BASIS Washington, D.C. graduates, Jenny Chen and Jasmine Egamberdieva were recognized at the 2026 Milken Scholar Award recognition ceremony held in Washington, D.C. at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD) on Aug. 1, 2026.
Award recipients are selected after a rigorous nomination, application, and interview process. Selection criteria included academic performance, community service, leadership skills, and the ability to persevere through personal adversity.
The Complete List of 2026 Washington, D.C., Milken Scholars:
- Jenny Chen, BASIS Washington, D.C., Yale
- Jasmine Egamberdieva, BASIS Washington, D.C., University of Virginia
- Ethan Michel, Maret School, Yale
- Dave Miguel-Contreras, Benjamin Banneker High School, The Catholic University of America
- Efraim Weaver, McKinley Technology High School, MIT
Jenny Chen, Yale
BASIS Washington, D.C. graduate, Jenny Chen, carries a passion for civic engagement which has inspired her to serve as youth delegate to the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia High School Advisory Council. During her time at BASIS Washington, D.C., Jenny was a nationally recognized AP scholar and received academic awards in STEM, World Languages, and Humanities. As a young youth advocate, Jenny organized several community service initiatives through her roles in the National Honor Society and Youth Volunteer Club. Jenny studies Economics at Yale and hopes to pursue a career in law.
Jasmine Egamberdieva, University of Virginia
Jasmine Egamberdieva, 2026 BASIS Washington, D.C. Graduate, is deeply devoted to supporting underserved communities. With Jasmine’s benevolent spirit, she fostered meaningful social impact to fundraise and support local women’s shelters with necessary hygiene products. Under Jasmine’s leadership, she was able to facilitate thousands of donations by raising awareness to menstrual equity. While attending BASIS Washington, D.C., Jasmine was recognized as an AP scholar, American College Foundation Visionary Scholar, National Honor Society member, and earned a place on the Distinguished Honor Roll. Jasmine studies business and economics at the University of Virginia and hopes to pursue a career in investment management.
Last month, the Washington, D.C., Milken Scholar Alumni and community members celebrated the 2026 Milken Scholars at an annual Recognition Ceremony. There, the Scholars attended a three-day summit, where they joined the full class of 2026 Milken Scholars as well as undergraduates and Alumni facilitators in fields across all industries. Access to such resources creates a setting that prepares these exceptional youth to achieve their personal, academic and professional goals and, in the process, become “Lifelong Leaders for a Better World.”
To read more about the 2026 Milken Scholars, click here: https://www.mff.org/newsroom/press-releases/view/2026-dc-milken-scholars
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BASIS Charter Schools is a network of award-winning, tuition-free public charter schools serving grades K–12. With 40+ campuses across Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, and Washington, D.C., we empower each student to reach their full potential and succeed at the world’s top colleges. Find a school near you and learn why BASIS is the top-ranked school network in the nation.
As a public charter school network, we are open to all students, with no entrance exams. Applications for the 2027–28 school year opens Oct. 21, 2026. Visit our Enrollment Guide page for more information.
