Tiauna Boyd
McNair Scholar 2006

The McNair program has molded me into a knowledgeable, professional, and proficient graduate school candidate. The most significant opportunity that the McNair program has offered me has been my summer research project. Before entering this program, had no idea about the importance of doing research as preparation for graduate school. After finishing my first undergraduate research project with a professor, and preparing to do my second research project this summer, I am convinced that I am a better equipped for the demands graduate school. This fall I will be applying to Family Studies and Child development gradate school programs. I hope to pursue my research interest in understanding the issues that low income and minority children and families face while I am in graduate school.

Autumn Johnson
McNair Scholar 2005

As a life-long citizen of Detroit, Michigan, my upbringing and experiences sparked my research about African Americans during the McNair Summer Research Institute, which has been both informative and useful to the molding of my future aspirations. Gaining insight on the media’s and the political system’s influence on young, African-American males’ political activism has solidified my goal to be involved in the education and political mobilization of marginalized groups. As a hopeful politician and college professor, my experience as a McNair scholar has been instrumental in my decision to pursue a graduate school education in communication and political studies. The most valuable and unique component of the McNair Program and its staff has been its ability to give those who might not otherwise have the support the opportunity to discover the tenacity within themselves to continue their education and realize their own goals. Personally, the Ronald E. McNair Program has cultivated a dream and given me an avenue in which to pursue it, and I remain confident that the preparation, hard work, and most of all the encouragement will see me through to the attainment of my doctoral degree. As a result, I plan to do just that because merely believing that you can make it is half the battle.

Ray Whitney III
McNair Scholar 2003

As a McNair Scholar, I have received an insider view of the graduate school experience, assistance in preparing for the GRE, and opportunities for improving my writing skills. This fall, I will be presenting my research on Civil-Military Relations in Latin America at a national McNair conference and will be able to visit my top-choice graduate school, which I am currently exploring. The McNair program will forever remain a link in the chain of my success.

Ketwana
Wilson-McCormick
McNair Scholar 2002

I would recommend the McNair Scholars Program to anyone who has contemplated graduate studies on any level. I walked into this program with no previous knowledge of the graduate school process. Through the McNair Scholars Program, I have become more knowledgeable about the intricate graduate school process. This program entails a lot of work and sacrifice, and it will challenge you personally as a scholar, but the potential outcomes are well worth the effort.

Alicia Harper
McNair Scholar 2004

Being a part of the McNair Program has been a formative event in my life. It has left me with a renewed confidence and a thirst to attain my goals. As part of this experience I had the honor of working with Dr. Stuart Quirk assessing the importance of interaction in the prediction of alcohol problems in college students, a piece of research that has been accepted for presentation at the American Psychological Association national conference. Having the support of the program and the experience of being a McNair Scholar behind me has given me a sound sense of dignity and confidence I never imagined I could have. I look forward to carrying these qualities and traits with me as I pursue my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, as well as the strong relationships I have made as a member of this program. This is an experience I will never forget and I will cherish these moments and these people for years to come.

Ryan Kostanecki
McNair Scholar 2007

The Summer Research Institute was an exhilarating, exacting, and humbling experience. The McNair Scholars Program provided me with a great amount of necessary information and training to prepare me for graduate school and future research. Researching independently under the guidance of my mentor provided me with firsthand experience into the entire process of academic research. I will use the knowledge gained through McNair to obtain my Ph.D. in Comparative Politics with a focus in the Middle East. Eventually, I will go on to become a professor and continue the tradition of educating young avid scholars.

Tiffany Jones
McNair Scholar 2006

The McNair has really supported me giving me so much preparation and although it was a challenge, I now have the confidence that I can succeed in graduate school. I plan to attend the University of Maryland this fall and I am going into higher education administration. I will get my PhD in the next five years!

Beth Ann Murphy
McNair Scholar 2006

The experience I had in the McNair Scholars Program allowed me to see my potential in the academic world. The past year I have been given keys and I have earned keys---keys that I never thought I would ever possess. These keys open doors that lead to higher education, research and a Ph.D. I now own these keys and I can choose what doors I want to open and what doors I want to keep closed. The decision is mine and I know I have unlimited opportunities for my future in academia. I would not be aware or prepared for these future opportunities without my experience in the McNair Scholars Program. My future plans are to graduate in December of 2007 from Central and attend graduate school in the Fall of 2008. I will be applying to six graduate schools this Fall including Oklahoma State University and University of Florida.

Janise Blackshear
McNair Scholar 2004

Since joining the McNair program, I have grown in regards to my educational goals, gained more confidence in my abilities, and also exceeded the expectations that I had for myself. I am grateful for the many opportunities that have come my way from being a part of such a prestigious program. In the fall I will be attending the University of Georgia to pursue a Master's in Speech Communication with a concentration in politics. After that, my goal is to continue on for a Ph.D. in a field closely related so I can teach, consult, and conduct empirical research. I am thankful for the support of my mentor--Dr. Shelly Hinck, the McNair staff, my cohort, family, and friends.

Sarah Karl
McNair Scholar 2005

This upcoming year will be my third year at CMU as a statistics major, with community health and math minors. I look forward to graduating in two years and moving on to a graduate school program in statistical genetics in which I can study psychiatric genetics in children. I could not have chosen a more beneficial way to spend my summer than completing research as a McNair Scholar. Though the experience was taxing, frustrating, and seemingly impossible at times, I learned more than I could have ever realized in a very short time. However, this experience was more than educational. I have met a number of wonderful people as a result of the program that will continue to serve as a support system, but more importantly as friends, during my transition into graduate school.