SEVEN UA STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS FROM BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Seven University of Arkansas students were selected for the inaugural class of the Gates Millennium Scholars program for 2000-2001, receiving $4,000 per semester for tuition and housing.

The first class of scholars will be composed of more than 4,000 high-achieving minority students who meet financial-need guidelines. The GMS program is a $1 billion initiative aimed at reducing the financial barriers to a college education for 20,000 young people a 20-year period. The scholarship will provide $50 million in scholarship funds per year.

The seven students selected are Jami Langley of Arkadelphia, Candice Jones of Arkadelphia, Jitendra Patel of Hot Springs, Samantha Daugherty of Colcord, Okla., An Giang of Little Rock, Jonathan Kilgore of Tahlequah, Okla. and Shelley Patrick of Tahlequah.

The Gates Millennium Scholars initiative is a scholarship funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Created in September 1999, GMS’s objective is to increase the number of African Americans, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Pacific Americans enrolling in and completing undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

"This is an exciting new scholarship opportunity and it's wonderful that seven UA students have been honored with this award," said Suzanne McCray, Director of the office of post-graduate fellowships. "This scholarship will make a very meaningful difference in the lives of so many people, students and families, communities and universities. This is philanthropy at its best - students who would have to work to attend school are freer to focus on their studies, to build for the future, rather than struggle to maintain the present. We all share in that future."

The Gates Millennium Scholarship is administered by the United Negro College Fund in partnership with the American Indian College Fund, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and the Organization of Chinese Americans, which represents the Asian Pacific American community. It will cover the cost of tuition fees, books and living costs not covered by grants and scholarships already committed as part of a student’s financial-aid package. Scholarships will be renewable annually, and scholars will be asked to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Individuals are eligible to be nominated as a GMS if they are African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific American or Hispanic citizens/permanent residents of the United States; have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale; have applied to, have been accepted into or are enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university for the academic year at the time of the award, or have applied to, have been accepted into or are enrolled in a graduate degree program in mathematics, science, engineering, education or library science for the academic year at the time the nomination is complete.

Criteria also requires significant financial need as defined by the Federal needs analysis formula, and applicants must demonstrate leadership ability through participation in community service, extracurricular activities or other activities.

McCray said the University also anticipates each of the seven students to take advantage of the new Gates Cambridge Scholarship program for graduate study in England in the next few years.

"When Jami, Candice, Jitendra, Samantha, An, Jonathan and Shelley enter their senior years, we will certainly encourage them and many other outstanding students to go for that Gates opportunity as well."

— 30 —