The Gates Millennium Scholars Program seeks 1000 talented students

And you could be one!

Established in 1999, the Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program has funded over 17,000 scholars to the tune of $845,713,056, in more than 1,865 colleges and universities. With student retention and graduation rates far higher than national averages, 11,170 Gates Millennium Scholars have completed degrees since the program’s inception.

And this year, GMS plans to add 1000 new names to the list of students receiving “good-through-graduation” scholarships at schools all over the country.

Originally funded by a billion-dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the GMS program was established to reduce financial barriers for African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American (defined as including persons having origins in the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian subcontinent), and Hispanic American students with high academic and leadership promise who wish to pursue a college degree and who have significant financial need.

It is also the goal of the program to increase representation of these groups in computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health and the sciences.

But the program isn’t limited to undergraduate students.  “Continuing” Gates Millennium Scholars may also request funding for graduate degrees in any one of the target fields in which minorities are severely underrepresented.

And the GMS Program is more than just a scholarship.  Gates Millennium Scholars are provided with personal and professional development through leadership programs.

GMS is supported by a partnership of four organizations including the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS), the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF), the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).

To be eligible for consideration, students must submit three required application forms online by Wednesday, January 14, 2015. These include

• Student Application (Nominee Personal Information Form)
• Educator’s evaluation of the student’s academic record (Nominator Form)
• Evaluation of the student’s community service and leadership activities (Recommender form)

Minority students, with demonstrated leadership abilities who have attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on an unweighted 4.0 scale and who meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply. To ensure eligibility, candidates should file a FAFSA at their earliest opportunity or before February 14, 2015.

Time is running out to gather the required material together and arrange for recommenders.  Visit the GMS homepage for more information and all application forms.