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Millennium Scholars
(10/30/99)

Later this month, minority students can start applying to a billion dollar scholarship fund.

The program, set up by Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, plans to send 1,000 students to college each year for the next 20 years.

Promoting Diversity

At a time when a college degree is becoming a more important part of economic and personal advancement, not everyone is achieving the goal. Twenty-eight percent of white Americans between the ages of 25 and 29 had degrees in 1996 according to the American Council on Education. The rate for African Americans is 15% and for Hispanic Americans, 10%.

Money is holding many people back. It is estimated that more than 30,000 African-American, Native American, Hispanic American and Asian-Pacific American students are not attending college each year because of financial limitations.

The Gates Millennium Scholars Program, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to make a dent in that number.

The program will put up its applications November 20th and will begin funding students in the fall of 2000.

The lucky 1,000 will get enough money to cover tuition, books, living expenses not covered by other financial aid.

Students must be nominated by their principal, teacher or counselor. They must be citizens of the U.S., have a better than average GPA, show significant financial need, and demonstrate leadership in their school or community. Performance in science and math is an important factor, but once accepted, the undergraduates can major in anything.

The scholarship is "a wonderful opportunity" according to guidance counselor Ms. Houston of Paul Robeson High in Chicago. About 82% of the students at her school come from low-income families. "I just hope that the students don't miss out. I'm still waiting for information."

Developing a high-skilled workforce

"It is critical to America's future that we draw from the full-range of talent and ability to develop the next generation of leaders," Bill Gates said when he announced the program.

The scholarship is aimed at improving America's high-tech and scientific workforce, something which is in Gates' best interest.

Currently, only 2% of PhDs go to minorities. Students pursuing advanced degrees in math, science, engineering, education and library science get continual financial support for postgraduate studies.

In Seattle, a city which has been changed by the high-tech industry, guidance counselors are glad that Gates is putting money into education. "I believe this will make a big difference in minorities going to college" said, Susan Hagist, scholarship counselor at Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington. 34% of her students are African-American.

The cost of higher education

The price of higher education has steadily increased each year, with average cost of attending a public university in 2000 estimated at $9,000 and private college estimated at over $22,000.

Once enrolled in college, many students especially those from low-income families, become saddled with loans. Paying college loans back can take up to twenty years.

"When you talk to young people, one of the reasons for their either slowing down or stepping out of school, it's always financial need," says Piedad Robertson, one of the college presidents who will review the applications. "The dream is to free them so they can be the best they can as scholars."

It is estimated that approximately 50% of all enrolled college students receive some form of financial aid. With 60% of African-American and 45% of Hispanics students overall receiving financial aid, mostly through loans.

Limited criticism

Although the billion dollar scholarship fund has been greeted with enthusiasm, some critics argue that the decline in minorities attending college has less to do with money, and more to do with colleges and universities eliminating affirmative action programs.

Universities from Virginia to California have reported dips in minority enrollment after placing restrictions of affirmative action programs. And while the minority numbers in California have picked up, they are still lower than before the added restrictions.

Critics of the Gates Scholarship say that the timing is political. They claim he is trying to create a affirmative action program to replace what courts and schools have been eliminating recently.

Skeptics also point out that the Gates Foundation had to give away money. In order to keep tax-exempt foundations from becoming too big, they have to give away 5% of their total wealth each year. The foundation had to give $850 million this year.

But many in the education field are welcoming the scholarships, arguing that the money will make the possibility of attending college more real for students who don't have a family tradition of higher education.

Partnering With Other Agencies

To overcome the cultural barriers between low-income minority students and higher education, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program has partnered with leading minority scholarship organizations in the U.S. to help reach students.

Organizations like The United Negro Fund, Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the American Indian College Fund with already established connections in high schools and college campuses, will promote the program and assist in getting students scholarship money.