Milken Educator Awards
Often hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching,” the Milken Educator Awards have changed the way America views the profession. Since 1987, more than 2,600 outstanding K-12 educators have been surprised with individual, unrestricted financial awards of $25,000 during all-school assemblies filled with students, colleagues, officials and media. These very public events spotlight the vital role of educators and inspire young people to consider the adventure of teaching. Recipients become part of the Milken Educator Network, working to shape the future of education. Visit the Milken Educator Awards website to learn more.
TAP™ and NIET
Recognizing that sufficient numbers of quality teachers would never result from current education practices, Lowell launched TAP™: The System for Teacher and Student Advancement in 1999 as a comprehensive research-based strategy to attract, develop, motivate and retain high-quality teachers for America's schools. By creating an environment with powerful and sustained opportunities for career advancement, professional growth, teacher accountability, and competitive compensation, TAP™ has expanded dramatically to diverse urban, rural and suburban districts across the country.
Based on TAP's rapid growth, strong results and high demand, Lowell Milken launched the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) in 2005 as an independent public charity to support and manage the TAP system nationally and to foster powerful teacher quality initiatives through the NIET Best Practices Center. Together, the Best Practices Center and TAP are improving the educational experience for more than 200,000 educators and 2.5 million students.
Lowell Milken Center
The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) discovers, develops and communicates the stories of unsung heroes who have made a profound and positive difference on the course of history. Through student-driven project-based learning, people of all ages realize that each of us has the responsibility and the power to take actions that “repair the world.”
Established in 2007, LMC was born from collaboration between Lowell and 1992 Kansas Milken Educator Norman Conard, two individuals whose commitment to excellence in education has impacted the lives of millions of people.
Milken Archive of Jewish Music: The American Experience
Founded in 1990 by Lowell Milken, the award-winning Milken Archive reveals the universality of the Jewish experience to people of all faiths and backgrounds. The Milken Archive’s “virtual museum” includes more than 700 recordings, oral histories, videos, photos and essays.
Please visit the Milken Archive website for more information, recordings, photos and videos.
Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy, UCLA School of Law
UCLA School of Law Dean Rachel F. Moran, right, announced a transformative $10-million gift from philanthropist and education reform leader Lowell Milken ’73 to establish the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy. (Photo credit: Ken Chernus)
Lowell Milken Awarded Honorary Doctorate by Chapman University
Alerting graduates to “a seismic shift” underway due to an unprecedented transfer of wealth between generations, Lowell Milken accepted an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Chapman University on Saturday, May 23, during commencement ceremonies at the George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics. Read his full speech here.
HighTech LA
Lowell Milken HighTech LA (HTLA), a revolutionary public charter school in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), held dedication ceremonies in November 2004 for its cutting edge $13 million dollar school campus. Built through a remarkable public/private partnership, HTLA is a model school for the 21st century, complete with the most up-to-date technology available. After only two years of full operation, HTLA achieved the highest API scores of any high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. For more information, visit www.ht-la.org.
Lowell Milken Receives Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
At their Los Angeles Graduation Ceremonty, the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) presented the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, to Lowell Milken on May 18, 2009.
“Lowell Milken is a loyal son of our people who has created the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music to explore the vast panorama of sacred and secular works reflecting 350 years of Jewish life in America. His combination of business acumen and personal commitment has made him a singular voice in the nation’s largest teacher recognition program.”
— Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D., President of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR)
UCLA School of Law Honors Lowell Milken as 2009 Alumnus of the Year
On May 15, 2009, Michael H. Schill, dean of UCLA School of Law, presented a 2009 Alumnus of the Year award to Milken Family Foundation Chairman Lowell Milken, for his accomplishments in Public and Community Service, particularly in the area of education and school reform.