Gates Millennium Scholars
ABOUT THE GATES MILLENIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS) was created by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to provide African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic- American students the opportunity to complete undergraduate education in any area of study. The scholarship is also available to continuing Gates Millennium Scholars pursuing a graduate degree in mathematics, computer science, library science, public health, science, education, and engineering. Scholarship amounts vary as the award covers a student’s unmet need and self-help aid.
This program works in partnership with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS), and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF).
For more information, please visit their website www.gmsp.org or they can be reached by phone at 1-877-690-GMSP (4677).
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
1. Be of African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American or Hispanic American descent
2. A citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States
3. Attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on an unweighted 4.0 scale or have earned a GED
4. Be Pell Grant eligible
5. For more information please visit the Gates Millennium Scholarship Foundation website
6. Scholarship Amount: Varies
Deadline: Check website for updates.
Website: www.gmsp.org
HOW TO APPLY
Step 1: Complete the Gates Millennium Scholars Program scholarship application at www.gmsp.org.
Step 2: Complete LMU 2011-2012 Financial Aid Requirements.
Undergraduate Students F
· Complete the 2011-2012 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. LMU’s Federal School Code is: 001234.
· California Residents ONLY – Complete the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form on https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/logon.asp must be completed by March 2, 2011.
Returning students ONLY – Complete the LMU Application available on your PROWL account.
Graduate Students
· Complete the 2011-2012 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. LMU’s Federal School Code is: 001234.
· Complete the LMU 2011-2012 LMU Application online through PROWL .
Step 3: Check your "MyTask List" or PROWL Requirements Regularly.
· Additional information may be required from you or your parents to complete your financial aid application, please keep checking "MyTask List" for new tasks or your PROWL account for missing requirements.
· For faster processing of your financial aid, submit all requested documents and forms within 10 days to the Financial Aid Office.
Step 4: Submit the Gates Millennium Scholars Information Sheet to the Financial Aid Office as soon as you receive it from the GMS Foundation and include your student ID number.
***NOTE: In order to have your GMS Information Sheet processed, you must complete all of your financial aid requirements no later than March 2nd. As you have been previously advised, it is your responsibility to submit the required forms for your Gates Millennium Scholarship to the Financial Aid Office in a timely manner. You risk losing your scholarship if your requirements needed to process your financial aid award are not completed before we receive your GMS Information Sheet. If you have not yet received it, please contact GMS at 1-877-690-GMSP (4677).
GATES AND YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARD
Upon receipt of your GMS Info Sheet, the Financial Aid Office will complete it and forward it to the Gates Foundation. If you are found eligible to receive a GMS award, GMS will Fdetermine thFe amount of your scholarship award, and submit a check to LMU. When your scholarship check is received it will be posted to the “Other Resource” section of your PROWL account.
The amount of the GMS Scholarship awarded is to replace a scholar’s unmet need and self-help aid, i.e. loans and work study. Therefore, you will not be offered federal work –study or Loyola work if you receive a GMS award. If you would like to work while enrolled, you may do so if your work can be funded through your employer’s budget as Transfer Work. A GMS award, however, does not replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or any portion of an educational loan that covers a scholar’s EFC.
If your scholarship causes an over-award, your award maFy be adjusted in order to comply with federal, state, and institutional policy. At any time the scholar falls below full-time status or is no longer enrolled, LMU will refund the unused funds to GMS.
Please note aid received from ALL sources cannot exceed your Cost of Attendance.
GATES AND YOUR STUDENT ACCOUNT
The Financial Aid Office will send a list of GMS recipients to the Student Accounts Office so that they can manually include your GMS award as meeting appropriate LMU charges.
Your GMS award will not automatically show on the Student Accounts Touchnet system. Student Accounts must manually include your GMS award as meeting appropriate LMU charges.