Contact: Bob Ratliff
Thirteen Mississippi State University students are among the first 4,000 national recipients of Gates Millennium Scholarships.
Established last year by Microsoft Corp. founder and chairman Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, the Gates Scholars program recognizes achieving minority university and college majors in engineering, mathematics, science, and education.
The Gates announced plans in September 1999 to give $1 billion over the next 20 years to cover the college expenses of outstanding African-American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian Pacific American, and Hispanic-American students.
Administered, in part, by the United Negro College Fund of Fairfax, Va., the scholarships are awarded on the basis of a required essay, minimum 3.3 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) and demonstrated leadership through participation in community service, campus organizations or other activities.
Amounts of the scholarships vary. Among the nine seniors, three freshmen and one sophomore in the MSU group, the awards range from $2,000 to $7,500 a semester.
They include (by hometown):
BRANDON-Sophomore Oladapo E. Bakare, an electrical engineering major and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bayo Bakare. He is a 1999 graduate of Kings College Secondary School in Lagos, Nigeria.
CLARKSDALE-Freshman Marcus D. Dampier, a computer science major and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hershey Dampier. He is a 2000 graduate of Coahoma County High School.
DEKALB-Senior Zackory [cq] D. Kirk, a secondary education major and the son of Deborah Kirk. He is a 1997 Kemper County High School graduate.
GRENADA-Senior Lameeka Q. Eskridge, an accounting major and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Shipp and Eddie Eskridge. She is a 1998 Grenada High School graduate.
JACKSON-Senior twins Eushekia Y. and Tamikia Y. Carr, both political science majors and the daughters of Laurene Carr. They are 1997 Clinton High School graduates.
LYON-Senior Angel Flores, a computer science major and the son of Reges Flores and Gloria Flores. He is a 1997 Coahoma County High School graduate.
MERIDIAN-Senior computer science major Shea L. Fox, the son of Sara Fox, a 1997 Meridian High School graduate, and a 1999 honors graduate of Meridian Community College; and senior mechanical engineering major Michael D. Jennings, the son of Johnny Jennings and Gloria Jennings, a 1998 West Lauderdale High School graduate and a 2000 Meridian Community College graduate.
PACE-Senior Rynetta R. Washington, a psychology major and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Washington. She is a 1997 Cleveland High School graduate.
SENATOBIA-Freshman twins Keithric J. and Kendrick J. Taylor, computer science majors and the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Jell Taylor. They are 1999 Independence High School graduates.
STARKVILLE-Senior Nekita R. Gandy, a political science major and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pearly Gandy. She is a 1993 Starkville High School graduate.