1,000 a year can win a full ride to university.

In by far his biggest philanthropic commitment to date, Microsoft chairman and cofounder Bill Gates is pledging at least $1 billion to fund full scholarships over the next 20 years for minority students in education, math, science and engineering. The program will seek to help a minimum of 1,000 high school students a year, promising them enough money to cover tuition, room and board and other expenses through college and any graduate degrees that they pursue. The $1-billion program is one of the largest philanthropic donations in history to a specific cause, matching a commitment by Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, of the same amount to the United Nations. The program will give priority to black, Hispanic and American-Indian students. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which he and his wife established this year and have financed with two large donations of Microsoft stock, has about $17 billion in assets. That makes it the largest philanthropic foundation in the United States. The Gateses have committed about $200 million for developing and distributing vaccines for malaria, AIDS and other diseases and a similar amount to bring computers and Internet hookups to libraries in poorer areas throughout North America. This year, the scholarship program will target promising students in college. Next year it will cover high school seniors with a 3.3 grade point average who are nominated by a teacher or principal. Students also must write an essay outlining their goals and make a commitment to some form of community service. Oak Park Schools Superintendent Alexander Bailey said the fund could offer hope to students in his district who, despite good grades, cannot afford college."For a district like mine, it could be one of the things that just changes the culture in which we do things," Bailey said.