Nomination Deadline Draws Near For the Gates Millennium Scholars Initiative

The College Fund (UNCF)
Friday, 3 March 2000

Fairfax, VA - The Gates Millennium Scholars initiative, launched in September 1999 with a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is designed to reduce financial barriers and increase the number of African American, Hispanic American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian Pacific American students enrolling in and completing undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

The awards will be offered to high school seniors about to enroll in college; currently enrolled undergraduate students who will be sophomores, juniors or seniors in academic year 2000-2001; and individuals applying to or already enrolled in graduate school in mathematics, science, engineering, education, or library science for academic year 2000-20001. The amount of the awards will be determined by the students' unmet financial need and will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

Gates Millennium Scholars must be nominated by teachers, principals, professors, deans, program directors and Gates Millennium Scholars' partners/collaborators and representatives from educational associations and community agencies.

The deadline for the nomination materials is March 15th. For additional information about this initiative, please call 1-877-690-GMSP or visit www.gmsp.org.

The Gates Millennium Scholars awards are administered by the United Negro College Fund in partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the American Indian College Fund, with additional participation from the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering and INROADS.

For more information, or to contact The College Fund (UNCF), see their website at: www.uncf.org