GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Funded by a Grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The Gates Millennium Scholars program was established in 1999 to expand access to higher education for students who reflect the diverse society in which we live. The Foundation seeks to increase the number of African-American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islander Americans and Hispanic-American students enrolling in and completing undergraduate and graduate degree programs since the future of our nation's economy, democracy, and quality of life is dependent upon a diverse generation of future leaders in the United States.

The Gates Millennium scholarship was established to replace loan and work-study obligations assessed by the college's Financial Aid Office and is guaranteed for the length of the student's academic program, providing financial need continues to be a factor.

The United Negro College Fund administers the Gates Millennium Scholarship program and coordinates support of the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the Organization of Chinese Americans in the quest to identify the best and the brightest students.

UCLA currently boasts 156 Gates Millennium Scholars, the largest number of scholars from any college in the United States, with an average award of $9200 per year for undergraduates and over $15,000 per year for graduate students. All scholars must demonstrate superb academic qualifications in fields such as mathematics, science, engineering, education or library science. Each scholar must also exhibit strong leadership potential and must demonstrate a very strong commitment to community service.

The establishment of the Gates Millennium Scholars program has given a significant number of young Americans the opportunity to attend undergraduate and graduate institutions of their choice and has inspired students to become leaders in their professions and in their communities.

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is the administrator of the GMS initiative and has partnered with the following organizations:

• American Indian Graduate Center Scholars
  
  
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund
  
  
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Criteria

Students must be of African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/ Pacific Islander- American or of Hispanic- American descent.

• Citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States.
  
  
• Must have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
  
  
• Must be entering a U.S. accredited college or university as a full-time freshman enrolled in a degree program.
  
  
• Must have demonstrated leadership commitment through participation in community service, and other extra-curricular activities.
  
  
• Must meet Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria.
  
  
• Applications available August – January.
  
  

Amount of Scholarship Awarded

The Gates Millennium Scholarship was developed to cover the “self-help” portion of the student's financial aid award, therefore, the amount is tailored to the needs of each, individual student. (“Self-help” is defined as loans and work-study awards.)

GMS Application Deadline

• For students entering college for the first time in the fall 2012, the GMS 2012 Scholarship Application online process is now open. The deadline for all submissions is Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
  
  
• For more information please view: http://gmsp.org/

For more information please view the GMS Website