Scholarships Should Engender Gratitude

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has created a $1 billion scholarship fund to help close the gap between the rates at which white and minority students attain advanced degrees in math and science.

This fund will guarantee that recipients have enough money for room, board, tuition and other expenses for as long as the students are in college. This includes doctorate candidates. Philanthropy watchers were amazed at the program’s size and scope.

Yet, this noble and enormously generous donation has been met with derision by those who call it racism.

Before the donation, Gates was chided by CNN founder Ted Turner and other philanthropists for not giving enough.

Spammed if he does; spammed if he doesn’t.

But before you download the race card, consider this: Gates’ donation expands the scholarship pie enormously. A minimum of 1,000 high school students a year will reap the benefits. No money will be taken away from current scholarship funds, which means those not eligible for a Gates scholarship will have less competition for aid elsewhere.

There is a good argument for Gates basing his fund on need rather than race, but it is his money. If the idea is to get more minorities into traditionally underrepresented disciplines, this is the most direct way to do it. Plus, this fund is better than nothing. In fact, it’s $1 billion better.

What critics are forgetting is that Gates does not have to give away his money. We should be content that he does and not quibble about the details.

Critics are also forgetting that this is only a fraction of what the $17 billion foundation will spend.

Already the foundation has given lavishly to public libraries to ensure low-income children have access to computers. Recently, the foundation gave $500,000 to help developmentally disabled kids, $5 million to combat blindness and $50 million to cervical cancer research. More donations are coming.

It is not racism to create a scholarship fund for minorities anymore than it is to write a check to the United Negro College Fund.

Scholarships with narrow qualifications abound and elite schools traditionally give preferential treatment to students’ whose parents are alums or big contributors.

Gates and his wife Melinda recognize the importance of having a diverse group of leaders for generations to come. In establishing this foundation, they will help those who previously could only dream of achieving greatness.

In the long run, we will all benefit.