Students
Representing 37 Different Tribes Receive Award That Will Support
Their Post-Secondary Success.
Albuquerque,
NM – This fall 150 American Indian and Alaska Native students will
begin their college experience as Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS).
These scholars represent 18 states and 37 different American Indian
tribes.
Overall,
for the 2008-2009 school year GMS awarded one thousand scholarships
to highly talented students of color. The 2008 class of Gates Millennium
Scholars graduated from more than 800 high schools, representing
47 states and American territories, and will attend 360 different
institutions of higher learning. Through the life of the program,
a total of 20,000 students will receive scholarships to pursue undergraduate
and graduate degrees.
Since
the program’s inception in 2000, Gates Scholars have established
a record of excellence-in school and in life. GMS recipients stay
in school, are involved with both campus and home communities and
complete their education. They also continue to give back after
their academic careers are complete. “The application process is
competitive and rigorous but the caliber of the applicants we receive
makes the selection process even more challenging. Impressive is
the only word to describe these applicants,” said Sam Deloria, Director
of the American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC). The Gates Millennium
Scholars Program is administered by the United Negro College Fund
(UNCF). To assist in the implementation of this program, the UNCF
established a partnership with the American Indian Graduate Center
Scholars.
Christa
Moya, Director of Financial Aid and Student Services for the AIGC
Scholars program stated, “Gates Scholars receive more than funding
from the program. All Gates Scholars are engaged in an innovative
leadership program designed to enhance their academic and leadership
skills. As a result, Gates Scholars have a five-year graduation
rate of 77.6% and are highly sought after by organizations and corporations
when they complete their education.” The GMS application process
is now open for the 2009 academic year. All materials for the 2009
GMS
application are due January 12, 2009. For more information please
visit www.aigcs.org or call 1-877-690-GMSP or AIGC Scholars at 1-866-884-7007
toll free.
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