A new program at West Virginia University is giving undergraduates a head start on graduate school.
The Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, federally funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, assists first generation college students and minority college students in preparing for graduate education. The program bears the name of Ronald E. McNair, who died along with six of his astronaut colleagues aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.
“The mission of the McNair Scholars program is to help those who have ambition to get more education achieve their goal,”said Betty Mei, WVUs McNair Scholar program coordinator.
WVUs first group of 19 McNair Scholars were inducted recently after completing a six-week summer research program. Carl McNair, brother of Ronald McNair, visited WVU to speak at the McNair Scholars induction banquet at Erickson Alumni Center on June 30. He is founder and chairman of the board of trustees of the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Foundation in Atlanta, Ga., which is dedicated to developing and implementing education programs that motivate and encourage students to pursue careers in science, mathematics and technology.
Mei said WVU received funding for up to 20 McNair Scholars. She also noted that three of the 19 inductees have graduated, so the program will be taking applications for the remaining slots.
“Were looking for students who are seriously considering graduate schools and students who know that undergraduate education is not enough for them,”Mei said.”We would like for those who qualify to really take advantage of the program. The feedback weve gotten from the students we had this summer has been very positive. All said they would recommend it.”
Once accepted, students remain in the McNair Scholars program until they earn their undergraduate degrees. Benefits of being a McNair Scholar include a paid six-week research program, research writing and skills training, standardized test preparation, graduate schools campus visits, graduate placement assistance and professional development opportunities.
The McNair Scholars Program is open to full-time WVU students who have completed their sophomore year of study, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and are considering graduate school. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and/or permanent legal U.S. residents and be first generation college students with demonstrated need or a member of the numerically under-represented, such as African-Americans, Latino-Americans and Native Americans.
For more information, contact WVUs McNair Scholars Office at 293-4316.
Current McNair Scholars are Melia Atwell of Morgantown; Jacqueline Bass of St. Albans; Katrina Bragg of Leewood; Troy Christman of Morgantown; Angela Dixon of Hillsboro, Texas; Adriana Hardy of Warrenville, Ill.; Jodi Heffinger of Anawalt; Tiyonna Jenkins of Ft. Washington, Md.; Blaise Kapombe of Morgantown; Michael Kapombe of Morgantown; Gmelyn Link of Fairmont; Andrena Mendez of Chapmanville; Oluwaseyi”Sheyi”Ojofeitimi of Brooklyn, N.Y.;Deirdre Paige of Washington, D.C.; Jonathan Smith of Clinton, Md., Matthew Smith of Mineral Wells; Gabrielle St. Leger of Hempstead, N.Y.; Kevin Taylor of Piedmont; and Mandi Frederick of Rivesville.