Each year, 1,000 low-income, minority students nationwide are awarded the scholarship. The scholarship program was established in 1999 and is funded with a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal is to send 20,000 low-income, minority students to college over two decades. The scholarship covers any academic costs not covered by university financial aid or federal grants and can be extended to graduate school if students study education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or the sciences. The program also matches students with mentors, gives them leadership training and encourages them to perform community service. The awarded students have no loan burden, they don't have to work. All they have to do is go to class and work on being a great student.
