Mayor Kasim Reed to Recognize 75 Gates Millennium Scholars From Atlanta Area

/PRNewswire/ -- The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) today announced that 75 Gates Millennium Scholars from Atlanta and surrounding counties in Georgia will be recognized at a reception hosted by The Honorable Kasim Reed, at Atlanta's City Hall, Thursday, May 13. These students are a part of the 2010 Class Gates Millennium Scholars.

The good-through-graduation college scholarships awarded through the Gates Millennium Scholars Program can be used at colleges or universities of the recipients' choice and have funding that can include graduate study through a doctoral degree in seven academic disciplines.

The 1,000 students selected nationwide are joining over 13,000 Gates Scholars from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five American territories including American Samoa, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Gates Scholars have an average graduation rate of almost 80 percent, which is higher than the national average rate.

"I want to congratulate the students from Atlanta who have been accepted into the Gates Millennium Scholars Program," Mayor Reed said. "This program, our nation's largest source of minority scholarships, enables thousands of dynamic students to attend college and ultimately become some of our nation's best and brightest leaders."

"I also want to acknowledge and thank the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNCF's President, Dr. Michael L. Lomax and program administrators of this program for contributing greatly to the success of our youth," Reed added.

Established in 1999 with the goal of developing the next generation of leaders for the global economy, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program is funded by a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In addition to financial assistance, Gates Millennium Scholars receive academic support, mentoring and leadership training.

"The 20,000 young men and women who will attend college as Gates Millennium Scholars will make a major contribution to helping the United States fulfill President Obama's goal of regaining for America world leadership in the proportion of citizens with college degrees," said Michael L. Lomax, UNCF President and CEO. "The Gates Millennium Scholars Program is an investment in both the futures of these students and the country's economic and social strength and competitiveness."

UNCF's management of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program is a partnership with the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS), the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) to serve Gates Millennium Scholars in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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