Bill Gates Scholarship for Low-Income Minority Students
BILL GATES SCHOLARSHIP FOR LOW-INCOME MINORITY STUDENTS
Fairfax, VA (BlackNews.com) — The Gates Millennium Scholarship Program, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established to provide outstanding low income minority students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline area of interest.
Continuing scholars may request funding for a graduate degree program in one of the following discipline areas: education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science.
In addition to increasing access to higher education for these underrepresented groups, GMS also provides leadership training. Through participation in a comprehensive leadership development program, Scholars enhance academic and leadership skills, which prepare them to assume important roles in their professions and in their communities.
The deadline for the upcoming scholarship awards is January 11, 2010.
To apply, visit www.blackstudents.com/billgates
African American Children at Risk for Undetected Vision Problems
New Report Highlights Best and Worst State Laws to Protect Kids’ Vision
Alexandria, VA (BlackNews.com) – A new report by The Vision Council, Making the Grade? finds state laws regarding vision assessments for children entering school are inconsistent, which can impede children’s ability to succeed in school. Since 80 percent of what children learn is through visual processing of information, undetected vision problems among children can severely impact cognitive development. This is particularly a concern for African American children because of the disproportionate rates of vision problems in their community.
Children of Incarcerated Parents: Helping the Silent Victims
CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS:
HELPING THE SILENT VICTIMS
By Dr. Henrie M. Treadwell
When Katia Dukes was nine, her father was arrested for killing her mother and sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison. As her father was escorted from the courtroom, young Katia became another silent victim — a child with an incarcerated parent.
Authorities estimate that about 1.2 million inmates, men and women, have children struggling to cope outside the prison walls. Frequently, these children live in foster homes or with an un-incarcerated parent or relative facing severe financial and social strains.
