TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- University of Alabama graduate Joe Brown of Selma recently received the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship to begin study in the 2002-03 academic year at Cambridge University in England.

Brown submitted his scholarship application, transcripts and academic references to the Gates Cambridge Trust Board and was invited to an interview in Annapolis, Md., in early February. Brown received a bachelor’s degree from UA in December 2001 with a double major in civil engineering and French.

At Cambridge, Brown will pursue the degree of Master of Philosophy in the department of geography, with a concentration in international development. At Cambridge, he has been accepted to the residential college of Trinity Hall, which was founded in 1350.

The goals of the Trust are to provide full cost scholarships for graduate students from all countries outside the United Kingdom to study at Cambridge University. The scholars must demonstrate outstanding academic merit and leadership potential and must be committed to serving their communities and using the benefits of higher education for the common good.

The program was established by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as the Gates Cambridge Trust in October 2001