Gates Millennium Scholarship

Website: GMS

Description

The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1999 to provide outstanding African American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islander American and Hispanic American students with a opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in all discipline areas and a graduate education for those students pursuing studies in math, science , engineering, education or library science. The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence in providing thousands of outstanding students, who have significant financial need, the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

History

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS), established in 1999, was initially funded by a $1 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential by:

  • Reducing financial barriers for African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American and Hispanic American students with high academic and leadership promise who have significant financial need;
  • Increasing the representation of these target groups in the disciplines of education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health and the sciences, where these groups are severely underrepresented;
  • Developing a diversified cadre of future leaders for America by facilitating successful completion of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees;and
  • Providing seamless support from undergraduate through doctoral programs, for students selected as Gates Millennium Scholars entering target disciplines.

Eligibility

Students are eligible to be considered for a GMS scholarship if they:
  • Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American,
  • Are a citizen/legal permanent resident or national of the United States,
  • Have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.00 scale (unweighted) at the time of nomination.
  • Will be entering a U.S. accredited college or university as full-time, degree-seeking freshmen in the fall of 2009,
  • Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular or other activities, and
  • Meets the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria.
Nominees who meet all of the eligibility requirements and who are selected as GMS candidates must have a federal Pell Grant as part of their financial aid package in order to be confirmed as a Scholar.
Ethnicity
African-American, Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Native American
Student Type
  • Freshman

Procedure

The nomination must be supported by submission of the following forms:
  • Nominee Personal Information Form (to be submitted by the student);
  • Nominator Form; and
  • Recommender Form.
In addition to the three forms listed above, American Indian/Alaska Native Nominees may be asked to submit proof of tribal enrollment or certificate of descent if selected as a finalist. Omission of any of the required documents will render the nomination incomplete.

Contact Information

Gates Millennium Scholars
P.O. Box 10500
Fairfax, VA 22031-8044
Toll-Free Phone: 1-877-690-4677  E-mail: E-mail Form

Deadlines

  • 2010-01-10: National Deadline