FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - University of Arkansas freshmen Jami Langley of Arkadelphia and Jitendra Patel of Hot Springs have been selected for the inaugural class of the Gates Millennium Scholars program for 2000-2001.

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

"I was most pleased to learn of this development and of Jami and Jitendra’s good fortune, especially in light of the fact that they were selected from a group of more than 62,000 nominations," UA Chancellor John A. White said. "I am sure that these students are appreciative of this honor and look forward to their association with GMS."

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.

The 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.

"We look forward to Jami and Jitendra’s participation in GMS," United Negro College Fund President and CEO William H. Gray III said. "We anticipate that these students will become America’s leaders in the new millennium."

Scholarships will be offered for every year through the completion of the scholar’s undergraduate study. Scholarships will be renewable annually and scholars will be expected 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 Inidian/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.

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