The Mustang Born Alumni Scholarship Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit corporation (EIN #47-5122118) committed to moving Mustangs forward with a board currently consisting of 6 Milwaukie High School alumni. It is our goal to support the educational objectives of the youth in the the Milwaukie community. It is clear that education is a great equalizer, and that given fair opportunity and access to post secondary schooling, the future will be brighter for our young people. We hope to create a stronger community by bringing together MHS alumni in a concentrated effort to help future generations succeed in their educational goals.
Each year, the foundation awards scholarships to Milwaukie High School / Milwaukie Academy of the Arts students. Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria (listed in order of consideration): community involvement/service, extracurricular activities, academic and career goals, financial need and recommendations. Special consideration will be granted to applicants who attended Milwaukie High School feeder schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade.
Once finalists have been selected, the board will interview each finalist. Based on the interviews, scholarship recipients will be selected. The foundation will award at least two scholarships per year. Scholarship recipients will receive a one-time award of $3,000 to be applied towards tuition, fees, room and board and / or books.
Board Members
Kami Aguilar, President
Hello! I am a member of the AWESOME class of 1994...Mustang Born!! I currently live in Milwaukie with my husband, Roberto and our two kids, Liliana and Mateo. I work full time as a counselor at Clackamas Middle College, a public charter high school in the North Clackamas School District. My husband, Roberto, has been a counselor at Milwaukie High School since 2001. I am so grateful for the opportunity to give back to the Mustang community that helped shape the person I am today.
Danica Swanson, Treasurer
I graduated from MHS in 1994. Many years later I made a promise to my dying father to "go all the way" and finish college. My intention was to finish my associate's degree, but it turns out that "all the way" meant completing my BS in accounting at Linfield with 150 credits so that I could sit for the CPA exams. I am now a licensed CPA in the state of Oregon and run a local tax & accounting office with my business partner. It was during my time in college that I kept thinking about ways that I could give back and wondered what cause I wanted to give my time to. There are so many worthy charities that it was a difficult decision to make until Kami stood up at our 20 year reunion and said something about a volunteer opportunity. It was like lightning had struck! At that moment in time I was on my way to becoming a first generation college graduate and the purpose of the scholarship program resonated strongly with me. It was also an opportunity to give back to the community that had welcomed me in my sophomore year of high school with open arms and no questions asked. It didn't matter that I came from somewhere else, I was welcomed as a Mustang as soon as I set foot on campus. Our scholarship applicants have all been exceptional individuals and our scholarship recipients have all been so grateful, but I am the one who is thankful. This experience has been like no other and I am so honored to be involved with the Mustang Born Alumni Scholarship Foundation. Thank you to all the students who apply and make our mission rewarding beyond measure.
Julie Weeks Chuculate, Secretary
I am graduate from the Class of '94. I currently work for a bank as a Mortgage Underwriter and have been employed in the mortgage industry since 1998. I currently live in Happy Valley with my husband, Chris and daughter, Isabelle. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family! I love the outdoors, camping, photography, the beach, traveling and cooking.
I have been a part of the Mustang Born Alumni Scholarship Foundation for the last 8 years, and every year I am more and more excited to able to continue to pass along the Mustang Spirit! Go Mustangs!
Nicole Thomas, Board Member
I am a graduate of Milwaukie High School’s Class of ’94. I have lived in Milwaukie all my life, minus college and one brief move to Portland, I quickly returned to the town I love. The community of Milwaukie, especially Milwaukie High School, is simply put – special and one-of-a-kind. My years at MHS were incredible and set me up for my continued education at Linfield College where I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a Sociology Minor. I have worked in Mental Health and Social Services my entire career, and it all began with my first Psychology Class taught by Mrs. Halloran at Milwaukie High. I am currently an Independent Contractor with the Office of Public Defense Services as a Case Manager for the Parent Child Representation Program. I was a recipient of this scholarship in ’94 which was under the operation of another graduating class at the time. Don’t underestimate the planting of a seed, or the small investment made in a young person’s potential, the growth is exponential. Being a board member, I can now assist in giving these opportunities to future classes.
Tim O’Leary, Board Member
Class of 87. Born in Milwaukie and love all that Milwaukie offers. MHS is important to me because of the teachers that helped me develop good character, hard work attitude and be relentless attitude. I am Regional Sales Manager for Quadient North America. I am a Football Coach and President of Portland Metro Flex Football. I live in NE Portland and have a beautiful daughter. I am excited to apart of the Mustang Born Alumni Scholarship Foundation. It is honor to be a part of the foundation, I appreciate meeting these hardworking Mustangs…
Kaliko Castille, Board Member
Aloha! My name is Kaliko Castille and I graduated from Milwaukie High School with the Class of 2005. I’m currently the Co-Founder and CEO of ThndrStrm Strategies, a digital marketing and communications firm specializing in helping political campaigns and businesses develop and execute their digital strategy. I also currently serve as President of the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), where I'm focused on creating an equitable cannabis industry and repairing the damage from prohibition to minority communities. As a former ASB President and someone voted “Most Spirited” by my senior class, I couldn’t be more excited to join this amazing organization.
Michelle Hobson, Board Member
I am a Milwaukie High School graduate from the class of 1993! Upon graduation, I received a small scholarship from Clackamas Community College that was instrumental in setting me up for success as a first-generation college grad at Portland State University where I was also awarded a 2-year scholarship and earned a bachelor’s degree in communication. I believe a college degree is invaluable for so many reasons and the scholarships I received were truly life changing for me. I am honored and excited to be a part of our future scholarship recipient’s success stories with the Mustang Born Alumni Scholarship Foundation!
I currently live in Portland, OR with my husband, Aaron, and our two fur babies , TomTom and Cleo. We live very close to where I grew up and where many of my immediate family members still live, in our beloved hometown, Milwaukie! I currently work as a Mortgage Advisor with NOVA Home Loans and both my business partner and I have been in the mortgage lending industry for over 20 years. Outside of work, I love spending time with friends and family, being an auntie to my nieces and nephews, seeing live music, traveling, hiking, biking, photography, doing charcuterie for my sister’s and I’s family business (Stems & Sweets), and giving back to the community with the East Portland Rotary Club!