More again, one thousand highly talented students of color will begin their college experience as Gates Millennium Scholars. The 2008 class of Gates Millennium Scholars graduated from more than 800 high schools, represents 47 states and American territories, and will attend 360 different institutions of higher learning. Through the life of the program, a total of 20,000 students will receive scholarships to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies.
Since the program’s inception in 2000, Gates Scholars have established a record of excellence–in school and in life. GMS recipients stay in school, they are engaged within their campus and home communities, and they complete their education. They also continue to give back after their academic careers are over.
To date, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program has helped students from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and American territories to enroll in almost 1,500 colleges and universities. GMS is administered by UNCF–the United Negro College Fund–the nation’s oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization. The Gates Millennium Scholars Program, which began in 1999, is funded by a $1.6 billion dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
More than 12,000 high-achieving students of color from low-income backgrounds have been awarded more than $400 million in scholarships since the program’s inception. The program has an average freshman retention rate of 96.6 percent and a five-year graduation rate of more than 78 percent. By contrast, the five year graduation rate for all students seeking bachelor’s degrees or equivalent degrees at 4-year institutions is 52.6 percent according to the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics
For Gates Millennium Scholars, the awards are far more than funding for an education. “This year’s class of Gates Millennium Scholars has a bright future ahead of it,” said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF President and CEO. “Because not only will these scholarships give students the funds they need to attend college, they receive support programs that will help make sure they succeed and graduate.” GMS provides financial and academic support throughout the student’s educational career from undergraduate through doctoral programs.
Gates Millennium Scholars exhibit leadership roles across a wide variety of areas from the academic world to sports, to entrepreneurial pursuits to social service.
Skyrocketing academic costs are among the challenges that make it increasingly difficult for millions of students to pursue higher education, particularly low-income and minority youth. Through the GMS scholarship program, students can pursue their academic and career goals without financial barriers that make it difficult for so many young people to attend and succeed in college.
A renewable award, the Gates scholarship funds a student’s unmet need based on their cost of attendance, including tuition, room, board, books, meals, and fees. Gates Millennium Scholars can pursue any field of undergraduate study and can receive funding through their doctoral degrees in fields of study including: computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, and science.
The GMS program provides African American, Asian Pacific Islander American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic American students an opportunity to pursue their dream of receiving an education. UNCF has partnered with the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars, the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund to reach, coordinate and support the constituent groups.
The 2009 GMS application process will launch in August 2008 with a deadline of January 12, 2009. For more information and the list of GMS class of 2008 Gates Millennium Scholars scholarship recipients, visit their Web site in http://www.gmsp.org
The Gates Millennium Scholars program, a $1.6 billion initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was launched in partnership with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). The world’s largest private scholarship program provides awards to African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American and Hispanic American students who demonstrate academic excellence, community service and strong leadership skills. with pnnonline.org
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