McNair Scholars Program Marks Two Decades of Transforming Lives

Alumni Reflect on Community Support and Overcoming Odds

The USD TRIO McNair Scholars Program marked two decades during its annual Ronald E. McNair Day on Oct. 22, and USD alumna Melinda Sevilla ’18 (MA) delivered a message to current and past scholars about the importance and beauty of maintaining relationships with their peers in the program.

“Lean on your community and let them lean on you,” said Sevilla, herself an alumna of the scholars program. 

Roughly three dozen people, including current and former McNair Scholars, gathered in the Garden of the Sea for the celebration honoring the life and legacy of Ronald McNair and the transformative power of the McNair Scholars program. 

The luncheon program featured Sevilla and fellow scholar Alaysia Brown ’15, PhD. Brown talked about her personal journey and highlighted the importance of being an underdog. 

“This program is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of underdogs,” Brown said. “Here I stand, before you, thriving against all odds.” 

McNair Scholars is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the university and serves high-achieving USD undergraduates who are committed to pursuing a PhD or research-intensive graduate degree. Two-thirds of the McNair Scholars at USD must be both first-generation and income-eligible students.

“The mission of McNair is, quite literally, to change the face of higher education — it’s a lofty goal,” said USD Senior Director, Institute of College Initiatives Ramiro Frausto, who gave a brief history of the program. 

The national program began at USD in 2003 and is named in honor of deceased NASA astronaut Ronald E. McNair. In the past two decades, the university has graduated 19 McNair Scholars cohorts — a total of 251 scholars.

Ronald E. McNair, a deceased NASA astronaut, delivered a commencement address at the University of South Carolina in 1984, encouraging graduates to “go forth with the knowledge that you are better than good enough.” 

“USD's McNair Day is a chance to join in community to pay homage to Dr. Ronald E. McNair, highlight the accomplishments of our students and recognize the life-changing impact of our program,” said McNair Scholars Director Sarah Castillo '03, MA. “We are proud to boast a 65-percent graduate degree attainment rate of our USD McNair alumni, which shows that this program works, and TRIO programs work.”

The application window for the 2025 McNair Scholars cohort opens on Mon., Nov. 4. For more information, visit USD McNair Scholars. 

— Story and photos by Matthew Piechalak