What should I know about scholarships and grants?

Under the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, scholarships are intended to benefit African-American, Native American, Hispanic American, and Asian American students who have a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. To be eligible, students must have a significant financial need and demonstrate community leadership. The program will allow them to attend any accredited college or university they choose.

The nomination process was set up in January, 2000. Visit the program's nomination forms site for full details about the procedure.

The program, announced in September, 1999, by Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corportation, provides $1 billion over 20 years for low-income minority students in the United States.

In discussing the program, Gates said: "It is critical to America's future that we draw from the full range of talent and ability to develop the next generation of leaders. The Millennium Scholars program is intended to ensure that we build a stronger America through improved educational opportunities." Gates and his wife Melinda are co-founders of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, sponsor of the program.

The program is administered by the United Negro College Fund and began with the academic year 2000-2001. Applicants may be high school seniors who will begin college each fall, or continuing college undergraduates. Students enrolled for graduate degrees in engineering, mathematics, science, education or library science are also eligible.

For further information read the latest press releases from the Gates Foundation, and a page about the program. The program's home page may be found here.

Additional information is also available through the program's partners, the United Negro College Fund, the American Indian College Fund, and the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

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