Gates offers way up

Washington state's largest private scholarship programme is being established through a $100 million (£66.5 million) gift from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

A partnership between the foundation and the Washington Education Foundation will create the largest private scholarship programme in the state. The Washington State Achievers Programme will create thousands of scholarship opportunities for low-income students from a handful of Washington state high schools. The scholarships represent a 13-year, $100 million investment. Five hundred four-year scholarships will be awarded each year for ten years, beginning in 2001.