The Gates Millennium Scholarship is a renewable award provided by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) in conjunction with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is available to all minority groups and was developed to encourage diversity in higher education and the professional community. Eligible students should have a minimum 3.3 GPA, meet income criteria and possess demonstrated leadership qualities.
The Sallie Mae Fund and UNCF have partnered to offer the American Dream Scholarship to black students with proven financial need. The award ranges from $500 to $5,000 and is available to students with at least a 2.5 GPA who are attending or planning to attend an undergraduate institution full-time. Students applying for the award are also required to answer a short essay question describing their personal idea of the American Dream and plans for achieving those dreams.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation offers renewable 4-year scholarships to high school seniors in need of financial assistance. A maximum of $7,500 is available for each academic year for minority students with a positive academic record and involvement in community service and extracurricular activities. Eligible applicants must meet minimum SAT or ACT scores, provide transcripts and a letter of recommendation and complete the required essays. The foundation's mission is to provide minorities with the opportunity to succeed at the postsecondary level and to develop as leaders and humanitarians.
The Jack & Jill of America Foundation works to improve the economic and professional futures of African American students by providing funding for education. The organization offers scholarships of $1,500 to $2,500 to graduating seniors who will be attending a 4-year institution full-time. To apply, students should have at least a 3.0 GPA and meet other eligibility requirements outlined by the foundation.
The Earl C. Graves Scholarship is a $5,000 award funded by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The scholarship is available to sophomore or junior undergraduates and graduates who are studying business. Financial need is not considered, but applicants should have a good academic record, a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be in the top 20 percent of their academic class. The application should be submitted with transcripts, three letters of recommendation and the annual essay questions.
The Cisco Systems award is designed to assist black students majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at eligible institutions. The $4,000 scholarship is given to sophomores with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. While it is available to men and women, the foundation is especially interested in female engineering majors and individuals with community service backgrounds.