Hiawatha senior Kailey Davis received news recently that she is to be the recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship, a prestigious academic award provided through the Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program.
The program, which was established in 1999 through a grant provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has awarded 1,000 applicants each year since its inception with scholarships covering the total cost of their post-secondary schooling including, for some, graduate level coursework.
Since 2000 the program has awarded scholarships totaling nearly $1 billion. This academic year saw over 56,000 applicants for the scholarship.
"Our overall goal is to build a cadre of national leaders from underrepresented backgrounds and to deepen the representation of those leaders in the fields of computer science, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health and research sciences," Senior Vice-President Larry Griffith of the United Negro College Fund is quoted as saying of the GMS program on its website.
Davis received her awards letter through the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars, a partner organization of the GMS Program.
"It's an honor and privilege to be selected for the Gates Millennium Scholarship. I am truly grateful to be selected for such a prestigious award," said Davis upon receiving the distinction.
The Gates scholarship is awarded to students of minority background who exhibit a history of academic excellence, community involvement and financial need.
Davis, a member of the Iowa Tribe of Nebraska and Kansas, was born and raised in White Cloud, along with her family – parents Jason and Stephanie Davis and brother Christian. She is a Kansas Honors Scholar, a member of the National Honors Society and a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, and has committed herself to a number of volunteer projects in and around her community.
When asked who inspired her to strive for academic excellence and public service, Davis credits her parents.
"My role models would be both of my parents," she said. "They have always pushed me to be my best, trusted my decisions in life and have always been supportive in everything I do."
After graduation, Davis intends to attend the University of Kansas, where she plans to major in biology in preparation for a career in pediatric dentistry.
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Source: HHS senior awarded Gates Millennium Scholarship
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