The United Negro College Fund administers
the Gates Millennium Scholars Program in partnership with the Hispanic
Scholarship Fund, the Organization of Chinese Americans and the American Indian
Graduate Center Scholars. UNCF's mission is to enhance the quality of education
by providing financial assistance to deserving students, raising operating
funds for member colleges and universities, and increasing access to technology
for students and faculty of historically black colleges and universities
(HBCUs).
The Gates Millennium Scholars initiative,
funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation
, is aimed at expanding access and opportunity to higher education to those
citizens who will help reflect the diverse society in which we live. The
Foundation seeks to increase the number of African Americans, American
Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Americans, and Hispanic Americans
enrolling in and completing undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The
goal is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for
thousands of outstanding students to reach their fullest potential. The Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation has established this initiative to encourage and
support students in completing college and in continuing on to earn masters and
doctoral degrees in disciplines where ethnic and racial groups are currently
underrepresented. The Gates Millennium Scholars awards will enable thousands of
young Americans to attend undergraduate and graduate institutions of their
choice and be prepared to assume important roles as leaders in their
professions and in their communities.
