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Eleven students have been selected as McNair Scholars for the summer of 2005, enabling each to conduct research with a faculty mentor. One student in St. Lawrence's Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (C-STEP) is participating in a program paralleling the McNair Scholars.

McNair Scholars, and their faculty mentors, are:

Akintunde Akinmade '06, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Alan Draper, government

Emily Bordeau '07, of Champlain, New York; Peter FitzRandolph, economics

Meagan Frazier '06, of Rowlett, Texas; Catherine Crosby-Currie, psychology, and Steven Horwitz, economics

Kelly Garcia '07, of Abilene, Texas; Christopher Watts, music

Diana Gotham '07, of Canton, New York; Pamela Thacher, psychology

Kendall Landers '06, of Central Point, Oregon; Robert DeGraaff, English

Ryane Lokey '07, of Williamsville, New York; Kenneth Gould, sociology

Eddie Molina '07, of Elmhurst, New York; Larry Boyette, First-Year Program

Mikinee Moses '06, of New York, New York; Andrea Nouryea and Randall Hill, speech and theatre

April Rolfe '06, of Ogdensburg, New York; Jenna Torres, modern languages

Alena Severin '06, of Bronx, New York; Bob Cowser, English

Candina Harmer '07, of Phoenix, New York, is in the parallel C-STEP program, and will work with Carol Budd, biology; Neil Cifuentes, athletics; and Lynette Sumpter, Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP).

St. Lawrence was awarded a grant in 2003 through the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Award Program, which is aimed at encouraging students in underrepresented groups to pursue doctoral studies and is one of the U.S. Department of Education Federal TRIO Programs. Named for Astronaut Ronald E. McNair, who died in the 1986 Challenger space shuttle explosion, the program was launched in 1989 and exists at more than 150 colleges and universities across the country. St. Lawrence's McNair Program, titled "Exploration, Nurturing and Commitment to Excellence on the Way to the Ph.D.," is designed to increase the number of talented students from under-represented groups in continuing their education, with the goal of achieving the doctoral degree. Among the groups considered underrepresented in doctoral programs are African Americans; Hispanic Americans; Native Americans; and those from economically disadvantaged families who are first-generation college students. The St. Lawrence McNair Program will encourage the pursuit of graduate study leading to the Ph.D. by involving students in multiple research-intensive experiences and extensive advising by faculty mentors. In addition, students named McNair Scholars receive grant-funded stipends for their research work and increased opportunities to visit graduate schools and attend professional conferences, among other benefits.

Federal TRIO Programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are referred to as the TRIO Programs (initially just three programs). While student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.

Posted: July 7, 2005