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USD TRIO MCNAIR POSTBACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM (McNair Scholars) Dr. Ronald E. McNair, physicist and astronaut, dared to dream. An
African American growing up in a poor community in the South, he encountered
discrimination early in his youth. Still he pursued his goal of becoming
a scientist, earning a Ph.D. in laser physics from MIT. Selected by NASA
for the space shuttle program, he was a mission specialist aboard
Challenger. After his death in its explosion, Congress funded the
McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. McNair Scholars is federally funded by the US department of Education. It prepares low-income, first
generation college students, and/or students who
are currently underrepresented in the sciences (African-American, Hispanic/Latino,
Native American) to follow Dr. McNair's vision and become university
professors. Research is at the heart of USD McNair Scholars. Participants are partnered with faculty mentors in their discipline and formulate a research plan. In summer, Scholars receive stipends to support their research projects. USD McNair further supports the publication and presentation of participants' results in journals and professional conferences. USD McNair Scholars provides opportunities for participants to
visit graduate schools and prepare for the graduate school application
process. Scholars receive individual tutoring and academic counseling
to ensure academic success. Assistance in preparing for the Graduate Record Examination
(GRE), securing admission to and financial assistance for enrollment
in graduate programs is also provided. Finally, to aid Scholars in all
these pursuits, each Scholar receives the loan of a laptop computer and
instructional technology training. |
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