Students Participate in UA McNair Scholars Program

A recent reception was held on the University of Alabama campus honoring McNair Scholars. Carl McNair, a founding member of the McNair Foundation and brother of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, for whom the McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program (better known as the McNair Scholars Program) is named, was keynote speaker for the event.

Born into poverty in South Carolina, Dr. Ronald E. McNair was a first-generation college student who earned a doctorate in physics at MIT and later, as an astronaut, became the second African-American in space. He died in the Challenger accident in 1986. Honoring his legacy, McNair Scholars is a prestigious scholarship and research program that helps prepare accomplished undergraduates for graduate study. A U.S. Department of Education TRIO program, McNair Scholars targets first-generation college students and those from groups underrepresented in doctoral programs.

University of Alabama student Christine Chang of Tuscaloosa is shown with Carl McNair at a recent reception on the UA campus honoring McNair Scholars.

As a member of the 2003-2004 McNair Scholars class, Chang conducted research with UA faculty mentor Dr. John Vincent, professor of chemistry. She has presented research at conferences and co-authored a research report for Biological Trace Element Research. Chang graduated with honors from UA in May, and she will be attending graduate school at UAB in the fall to pursue a master of public health degree before applying to medical school.

LaShondra Jones of Birmingham (zip code 35207) is shown with Carl McNair at a recent reception on the UA campus honoring McNair Scholars.

As a member of the 2003-2004 McNair Scholars class, Jones conducted research with UA faculty mentor Dr. Eric Baklanoff of the economics department. She has presented research at conferences and co-authored a research report for the UA McNair Scholars Journal. Jones graduated from UA in May and has accepted a position with Wal-Mart Corporation as an internal auditor.

University of Alabama student Judith Morgan of Birmingham (zip code 35216) is shown with Carl McNair at a recent reception on the UA campus honoring McNair Scholars.

As a member of the 2003-2004 McNair Scholars class, Morgan conducted research with mentor Dr. Joan Barth of the UA Institute for Social Science Research. Morgan has presented research at conferences and co-authored a research report for the UA McNair Scholars Journal. Morgan graduated from UA in May and will be attending graduate school in the fall in a doctoral clinical psychology program at The University of Delaware. She is the recipient of the Andrew Reeves Memorial Award, the Outstanding Psychology Major Award from the UA psychology department, and the Cleophus Thomas Award for the senior with the highest academic standing from the Black Faculty and Staff Association. Morgan was also inducted into Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

University of Alabama student Johona Nelloms of Lanett is shown with Carl McNair at a recent reception on the UA campus honoring McNair Scholars.

As a member of the 2003-2004 McNair Scholars class, Nelloms conducted research with UA faculty mentor Dr. Tom Albright, associate professor of accounting. She has presented research at conferences and co-authored a research report for the UA McNair Scholars Journal. She graduated from UA in May and will be attending graduate school in the fall at UA to pursue a master’s degree in accounting. She has received many honors, including induction into Beta Alpha Psi National accounting fraternity, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

Trimaine Parker of Jacksonville is shown with Carl McNair at a recent reception on the UA campus honoring McNair Scholars.

As a member of the 2003-2004 McNair Scholars class, Parker conducted research with UA faculty mentor Dr. Carl Clements, professor of psychology. Parker presented research at conferences and co-authored a research report for the UA McNair Scholars Journal. He graduated from UA in May and plans to work for a year before applying to graduate school.

University of Alabama student Naren Phillips of Trussville is shown with Carl McNair at a recent reception on the UA campus honoring McNair Scholars.

As a member of the 2003–2004 McNair Scholars class, Phillips conducted research last summer with UA faculty mentor Dr. Cassandra Simon, assistant professor of social work. She has presented research at conferences and co-authored a research report for the UA McNair Scholars Journal. She graduated from UA in May and will be attending graduate school in the fall at UA in the master’s program in the School of Social Work. Phillips has been named to Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities and is a member of Social Workers for Cultural Awareness.

University of Alabama student Andrew Salinas of Huntsville is shown with Carl McNair at a recent reception on the UA campus honoring McNair Scholars.

As a member of the 2003-2004 McNair Scholars class, Salinas conducted research with UA faculty mentor Dr. Stacy Morgan, assistant professor of American studies. Salinas co-authored a research report for the UA McNair Scholars Journal and has presented his research at the Southeastern Conference on Linguistics (SECOL). He graduated from UA in May and will be attending graduate school in the fall at The Ohio State University to pursue a master’s degree in English. Salinas was also inducted into Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

University of Alabama student Darren Surman of Tuscaloosa is shown with Carl McNair at a recent reception on the UA campus honoring McNair Scholars.

As a member of the 2003–2004 McNair Scholars class, Surman conducted research with UA faculty mentors Dr. Ted Trost of religious studies and Dr. Jerry Rosiek of educational studies in psychology. He co-authored a research report for the UA McNair Scholars Journal and has presented his research at the Alabama/Mississippi Sociological Association Conference in Starkville, Miss. He graduated from UA last December and will be attending graduate school in the fall at UA to pursue a master’s degree in American studies. He was also inducted into the Gamma Beta Phi honor society.

Karen Torres of Arab is shown with Carl McNair at a recent reception on the UA campus honoring McNair Scholars.

As a member of the 2003–2004 McNair Scholars class, Torres conducted research with UA faculty mentors Dr. Stan Jones and Dr. Mark Barkey of the College of Engineering. She co-authored a research report for the UA McNair Scholars Journal and has presented her research at the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics conference; she is also a member of the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering honor society. Torres is currently interning at the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando.

Leslie Williams, of Mobile was recognized at a recent reception for the UA McNair Scholars Program.

Williams conducted research with UA faculty mentor Dr. Molly Robinson Kelly of the French department. Williams co-authored a research report for the UA McNair Scholars Journal and has presented her research at the UA French Convention. Williams graduated summa cum laude from UA in December and will be attending George Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs on a Pickering Fellowship; she is also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.