Youth Action member Sadiyah Sabree, a senior at the Agnes Irwin School, has been selected for the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship, a scholarship that will cover the entire cost of her undergraduate education. Sadiyah was one of 1,000 students selected from a pool of more than 24,000 for this competitive scholarship. She was chosen because of her commitment to academic excellence, demonstrated leadership abilities, and community service. Sadiyah will be attending Columbia University this fall.
“Her maturity, intelligence, and responsible nature distinguish her from her peers and makes her perfect for any scholarship and college. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation deserves students like her who are dedicated, selfless, and concerned about the well being of others” says team President Anthony Phillips.
As a Gates Millennium Scholar (GMS), Sadiyah will receive support for the cost of her college education at any accredited college or university based on her financial need based on the cost of tuition, fees, books, and living expenses for the academic year as well as the availability of grants and other scholarships. The scholarship is renewable pending academic progress. Should Sadiyah choose to pursue a graduate degree in the area of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science after completing her undergraduate degree, the GMS program will help fund that as well. She will also will have the opportunity to participate in leadership development programs with distinctive personal, academic and professional growth opportunities.
The GMS program, established in 1999, was initially funded by a $1 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Since then, 15,000 students across the country have been named Gates Millennium Scholars. To be eligible, a student must have a 3.3 unweighted GPA.
The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential by:
• Reducing financial barriers for African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American and Hispanic American students with high academic and leadership promise who have significant financial need;
• Increasing the representation of these target groups in the disciplines of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health and the sciences, where these groups are severely underrepresented;
• Developing a diversified cadre of future leaders for America by facilitating successful completion of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees; and
• Providing seamless support from undergraduate through doctoral programs, for students selected as Gates Millennium Scholars entering target disciplines.