1. The applicant (nominee) must meet the eligibility criterias as follows
• Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian Pacific Islander American** or Hispanic American
• Are a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the United States
• Have attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted) or have earned a GED
• Will be enrolling for the first time at a U.S. accredited***college or university as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student in fall 2008
• Have demonstrated leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities
• Meet the federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria
  • Nominees who meet all of the eligibility requirements and who are selected as GMS candidates must include a federal Pell Grant as part of their financial aid package for the 2008-2009 academic year. To determine their Pell Grant eligibility, Nominees must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid Programs. Nominees are urged to file a 2008-2009 FAFSA at the earliest opportunity and no later than February 1, 2008. Federal Pell Grants typically are awarded to families that demonstrate significant financial need. Eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant is a function of many factors, including dependency status, family income, family size, and the number of students in the family. To determine your eligibility, you and/or your parent(s)/guardian(s) should meet with your high school counselor or the financial aid officer at the college or university you plan to attend. For more information visit the FAFSA website
    
• Have completed and submitted all three required forms (Nominee Personal Information Form, Nominator Form, and Recommender Form) by the deadline
2. The nominee must identify a nominator and recommender.
3. The nominee, nominator, and recommender must fill out all required documents (online or paper form) by the deadline. GMS online applications due by January 11, 2008 at 1159pm EST. Paper applications must be postmarked by December 31, 2007.
4. Eligible individuals who have submitted complete nomination packages (Nominee Personal Information, Nominator, and Recommender forms) by the deadline will be considered for scholarships. Because competition for these awards is substantial, Nominees, Nominators, and Recommenders should make every effort to provide a complete picture of each Nominee’s qualifications. Nominees based upon the following three major areas - academic achievement, community service, and leadership.
   
5. Nominees are evaluated by independent readers according to three primary criteria academic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. Nominees who emerge from the selection process as candidates for the GMS award will be asked to submit their official transcripts, college/university admission letter, student aid report, financial aid award details, and other information that may be requested at the discretion of the GMS program. Finalists who are selected as Gates Scholars will be notified of the amount of their awards. Gates Millennium Scholars Awards Individuals selected as Gates Scholars will receive funds in an amount to be determined by GMS based on financial need. The award will be based on the cost of tuition, fees, books, and living expenses for the 2008-2009 academic year, as well as the availability of grants and other scholarships reported on the submitted financial aid award letter. The scholarship, for the undergraduate award, may be renewed annually based on satisfactory academic progress, full-time, and the timely submission of required documents. Support for graduate degrees may be pursued for the following fields education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, science.

* American Indian/Alaska Native Requirements American Indian/Alaska Natives will be asked to provide proof of tribal enrollment or certificate of descent from a state or federally recognized tribe if selected as a GMS Candidate.

** Asian and Pacific Islander Americans include persons having origins from Asia and/or the Pacific Islands. Asian includes persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian subcontinent. Pacific Islander includes persons having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawai’i, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands. Citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau are also eligible to be nominated.

***To be eligible for the GMS scholarship, the student must matriculate at a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary on Education. The following are accreditation resources Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education Programs Candidates; American Council of Education published in consultation with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; Higher Education Directory published by Higher Education Publications, Inc.

(www.gmsp.org)