Miami, Florida -  December 25, 2000

Filipino American high school students who wish to go to college of their choice in the Fall but are constrained by inadequate finances, may avail of a scholarship program designed to assist high achieving low-income minority students.

Jon Melegrito from NaFFAA and other GMS consultants will assist NANAY during the informational session and writing workshop,   to provide technical assistance in completing the application forms. Parents and community leaders are encouraged to attend as they, too, will be involved in the application process. This session is designed to make the process as easy as possible by providing guidance in filling out the forms step by step, identifying nominators and writing the essays.
Funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program will be making 1,000 new awards to incoming freshmen for the 2001-2002 academic period. Now in its second year, the program is set up to provide scholarships in the next 19 years. Awards include full-tuition, school materials and living expenses. Successful candidates who maintain good grades may renew their scholarship every year until they complete their college degrees. Moreover, scholars may continue to avail of this award to pursue graduate studies in education, science and engineering.

Last year, more than 4,000 Gates Millennium scholars attended 931 colleges and universities of their choice at the undergraduate and graduate levels.  Faith Laciste from North Miami received a Gates Millenium Scholarship Award through NANAY’s intervention.

Information about this program and a copy of the application form can be downloaded off the GMSP website: www.gmsp.org.

The selection criteria is as follows:

1) Must be entering college as a full-time, degree-seeking student in 2001
2) Have at least a cumulative GPA of 3.3 out of a 4.0 scale
3) Be eligible for a Pell Grant (significant financial need)
4) Be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident
5) Be an African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic American or Asian Pacific Islander.
6) Have demonstrated community service experience.

"The growing diversity of our society reminds us that all of the nation's citizens must have access to opportunity for higher education if America is to sustain and advance itself as a global competitive democracy in the new millennium," Bill Gates said upon establishing this program. "The future of our nation's economy, democracy, and quality of life is dependent upon the preparation of a diverse cadre of leaders who will help build a strong
society."

To help fulfill this mission, NaFFAA, along with 18 other Asian Pacific American organizations, were invited last year to partner with national groups in the African American, Hispanic American and American Indians/Alaska Native communities.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for outstanding students with significant financial need to reach their fullest potential," said Joe Montano, NaFFAA Executive Director who is coordinating this nationwide outreach effort in the Filipino American Community. "We share in the foundation's vision of training potential leaders and preparing them to assume important roles in their professions and in their communities."

NaFFAA can be reached at 202-986-9330 or at NaFFAA's email address: info@naffaa.org.