Nineteen West Virginia University students, representing a diverse range of majors from aerospace engineering to psychology, have been chosen for the latest class of McNair Scholars.

Through financial aid, academic advising and undergraduate research opportunities, the McNair Scholars Program pushes underrepresented students toward their doctorate degrees.

The 2012 scholars will be given a $2,400 annual stipend, graduate school placement assistance and professional development opportunities to help them gain admission into masters’ and doctoral programs.

“This is a group of high achievers,” said Betty Mei, assistant director of the WVU McNair Scholars Program. “They’re from such diverse disciplines, from English to engineering to environmental economics. I’m honored to work with these scholars who are so young but have their minds already set on a Ph.D.”

Scholars began their summer research internship classes last week. The internship runs through June 29. Students will participate in research classes, GRE prep seminars and visit graduate school campuses. They will also attend a national McNair conference at SUNY Buffalo in July.

“The Interesting thing about this summer internship is that I have three WVU McNair alumni serving as doctoral student mentors,” Mei said. “These alumni are giving back in the capacity of guiding current scholars.”

This year’s McNair Scholars are:

The McNair Scholars Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education in honor of engineer, scientist and NASA astronaut Ronald E. McNair, who was killed in the 1986 Challenger explosion. The program came to WVU in 2000, and since, more than 100 Mountaineers have benefited.

For more information on the program, visit http://mcnair.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

js/05/29/12

*CONTACT: University Relations/News
304.293.6997
.
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.