Austin, TX— Austin Independent School District (AISD) is proud to announce that Gates Millennium Scholars Association – Texas Chapter at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) has adopted Garza Independence High School and will assist more than 200 seniors with tutoring, mentoring, and scholarship application assistance. Gates Scholarships cover the full cost of tuition, housing, and books at any college in the United States.
"Our local chapter of the Gates Millennium Scholarship Association (GMSA) is striving to produce more Gates Scholars, to promote service, and to give back to our community," said Damilola Olatayo, GMSA Initiative Director at the University of Texas at Austin. "Because we are recipients of such a wonderful scholarship, it is important that we pay it forward."
Garza students are paired with UT students they can relate to and who can support the students by meeting with them at least four hours a month for tutoring. Mentors may also help students by arranging for SAT prep workshops.
Garza Independence High School is a public school of choice for any student with ten or more credits who has completed two full years of high school and wishes to earn a diploma. Like all Austin ISD schools, Garza students complete all local and state requirements. Garza provides a credit-by-proficiency environment designed to remove the traditional barriers to succeeding in high school.
"Students' educations are shaped not only by what they learn in the classroom, but also by the opportunities in life that are presented to them," said Dr. Meria Carstarphen, AISD Superintendent. "This is a fantastic opportunity for our students, and I greatly appreciate the contributions that GMSA is providing."
Garza High School will celebrate this partnership with Gates Scholars during its annual "Mix It Up" day on November 10, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the campus, located at 1600 Chicon, Austin, Texas.
For more information, please contact the Department of Public Relations and Multicultural Outreach at 512-414-2414.