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Press Release
For Immediate Release
November 18, 2002
Contact: Neel Saxena, Outreach Coordinator
gmspinfo@ocanatl.org
GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARSHIP NOMINATION MATERIALS NOW AVAILABLE
Washington, DC - Nomination Materials for the Gates Millennium Scholars program
are now available for the 2003-2004 Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) awards.
Principals, teachers, guidance counselors, tribal higher education
representatives, and other professional educators are invited to nominate
students with outstanding academic records, strong leadership potential and
commitment to community service. Nominators must act in their personal capacity.
Institutional nominations will not be accepted.
All applications materials must be postmarked or submitted online no later than
February 1, 2003.
The Gates Millennium Scholars program was established in 1999 through a grant
provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to provide Asian Pacific
Islander Americans, African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, or
Hispanic Americans with an opportunity to complete a college education. The goal
of GMS is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for
thousands of outstanding students with significant
financial need, particularly those intending to study mathematics, science,
engineering, education or library science, to reach their fullest potential.
Additionally, GMS provides opportunities for Scholars to prepare for leadership
roles in their profession and communities through a comprehensive leadership
development program. GMS awarded scholarships to 1000 high-achieving students
for the 2002-2003 academic year, bringing the total number of students awarded
GMS scholarships to over 6,000.
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), with the support of the American Indian
Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS), the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) and the
Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), administers the Gates Millennium
Scholars program.
Eligibility Criteria
In the 2003-2004 academic year, individuals are eligible to be considered for a
Gates Millennium Scholarship if they:
- 1. are Asian Pacific Islander American, African American, Hispanic
American or American Indian/Alaska Native;
- 2. are a citizen, legal permanent resident or national of the United
States;
- 3. have a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale;
- 4. will be entering a U.S. accredited college or university as full-time,
degree-seeking freshmen in the academic year 2003-2004;
- 5. have demonstrated leadership commitment through participation in
community service, extracurricular, or other activities that reflect
leadership abilities; and
- 6. meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria. Eligibility for
Federal
Pell Grant can only be determined though the submission of a Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education, Federal
Student Aid Programs.
To request Nomination Materials or for more information, please include your
name and information and contact:
Neel Saxena
Outreach Coordinator, GMS/APIA
Email: gmspinfo@ocanatl.org
Phone: 202-530-8894 x2
Fax: 202-530-0643
The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) is the Asian Pacific Islander
American (APIA) partner with the Gates Millennium Scholars Program. OCA is
working with the APIA Advisory Committee which includes:
- Advocate Initiatives for Grassroots Access
- Asian and Pacific Americans in Higher Education
- Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies
- Japanese American Citizens League
- Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Committee on Education
- Korean American Coalition
- Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics
- National Association for the Education & Advancement of Cambodian, Laotian
& Vietnamese Americans
- National Federation of Filipino American Associations
- National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
- Native Hawaiian Community Base Education Learning Centers
- Network of South Asian Professionals - DC Foundation
- Organization of Chinese American Women
- Organization of Chinese Americans
- Pacific American Education and Scholastic Foundation
- Pacific American Executive Council
- Pacific American Foundation
- Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
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