Students Named Gates Millennium Scholars

Three students from Georgia Southern University have been selected for the Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The program works to reduce financial barriers for minority students with high academic and leadership promise. The scholarship recipients are Natasha Lambert, Jessica Lyne Mulbah and Elvia Carina Munoz.

Lambert is a graduate student studying public health and is just a few weeks away from earning her master’s degree. “To be a Gates Millennium Scholar means to attain your educational goals successfully without being burdened by financial fees,” explained Lambert. “It means to give back to others through volunteering and to stay abreast of current issues within your discipline through conferences and social networks.” Since its founding in 1999, GMS has awarded more than $700 million in scholarships to more than 16,000 students. The organization reports its scholars have achieved a five year graduation rate of 80 percent and a six year rate of 90 percent over the last decade. The scholarships are renewable for up to five years in any undergraduate program and into graduate school in the disciplines of computer science, education, engineering, library sciences, mathematics, public health or science. “Being a GMS has inspired me to always strive for the best and never settle for less,” said Lambert. “The scholarship has allowed me to achieve my dreams to study abroad in Mexico and Spain as an undergraduate. As a scholarship recipient, I am encouraged to succeed and always willing to learn more.” Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 125 degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement.  Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.