UTSA McNair Scholars travel to North Texas for annual research conference

UTSA McNair Scholars travel to Denton to conduct presentations and share research

By Darrell Baldarrama
Director of Retention Programs, Office of P-20 Initiatives

(March 14, 2014) -- Six students in the UTSA McNair Scholars program recently traveled to the University of North Texas in Denton to attend the 16th annual Texas National McNair Scholars Research Conference. The UTSA students were among 175 participants representing more than 25 universities from across the country. Attendees presented their academic research and shared their research experiences and results with their peers and other scholars in their disciplines.

Senior psychology major Victoria Barbosa Olivo and junior biology major Christopher Hwozdek delivered presentations to the crowd. Olivo, under the direction of Kristina Durante, UTSA assistant professor of marketing, presented her research on "The Extended Parental Self: Gender Differences in Parental Spending on Sons vs. Daughters."

"I learned a lot from the keynote speakers and felt that they spoke about issues that every scholar faces," said Olivo. "I also feel like the conference was good for my personal and academic growth and left feeling very empowered."

Christopher Hwozdek, under the direction of Nicole Wicha, UTSA assistant professor of biology, and Angelique Blackburn, presented "Survey Says: Response Conflict is Easier to Resolve with Practice from Language Use."

At the conference, students received feedback from peers and faculty members, and also heard from motivational speakers Enedilia Saudeca, Russell F. Stark and Luis Ricardo Fraga. Students also participated in a graduate school recruitment fair and breakout sessions with more than 40 graduate programs from across the country.

"I really enjoyed the close personal attention from the recruiters on the graduate panel," said Laurel Jackson-Cook, a senior UTSA McNair Scholar. "The conference was awesome and was one of the best conferences that I have ever attended."

The Ronald E. McNair Scholars program is part of the UTSA Office of P-20 Initiatives in Multidisciplinary Studies Building Room 2.03.14B on the Main Campus. The programs offer selected sophomores, juniors and seniors opportunities to participate in faculty-led research and assist with preparation for graduate school. The McNair program is accepting applications for fall 2014.

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For more information, visit the UTSA P-20 Initiatives website or contact Darrell Balderrama at 210-458-4284.

Events

Friday, May 3, 11:30 a.m.

McNair Scholars' Spring Celebration

This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.

North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main Campus

Wednesday, May 15, 6:00 p.m.

Doctoral Conferral Ceremony

At this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.

Arts Building Recital Hall, Main Campus

Thursday, May 16, 3:00 p.m.

Roadrunner Walk

Roadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.

Student Union Paseo, Main Campus

Friday, May 17, 10:00 a.m.

Commencement: Ceremony One

Celebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

Friday, May 17, 4:30 p.m.

Commencement: Ceremony Two

Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

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The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

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The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.