(Sept. 22, 2017) -- Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement (McNair) Program managed by The Institute for P-20 Initiatives has been awarded a $232,265 grant. The McNair Scholars Program is one of eight federally funded TRiO programs preparing historically underrepresented, first-generation and low-income undergraduate students for doctoral studies.
UTSA’s McNair Scholars Program serves 25 students annually and fosters academic and professional development by providing a paid 10-week summer research internship guided by faculty mentors. Through the program, students receive financial support to present their research at national academic conferences.
Ariana Moncada, a McNair Scholar majoring in mathematics, joined the program in Spring 2017 and has a newfound knowledge of the research process.
“McNair demystified the research process and helped me realize that someone like me can conduct and contribute to existing research on solar energy,” said Moncada. “This program has exposed me to numerous academic and professional opportunities.”
Joseph Galloway II, a McNair Scholar majoring in mechanical engineering, said he is grateful for the hard work of McNair supporters across the nation to make sure this program continues.
“I’m excited to learn more from this program, from my peers, and from my faculty mentor,” said Galloway II.
Named in honor of Ronald E. McNair, a physicist Ph.D. and NASA astronaut who perished in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger, the McNair program grants funds to institutions of higher education committed to helping disadvantaged college students with effective preparation for doctoral studies through research, scholarly activities and academic counseling.
“Amidst a changing economic and socio-political landscape, educational access continues to be a challenge in this country. This grant means that the UTSA McNair Scholars Program can continue to address educational access by providing programming and advising to help first-gen, low-income students maximize their undergraduate education and prepare for the rigors of graduate studies,” said Sonia Ivette Valencia, McNair Scholars Program manager.
UTSA is recognized as one of the top five young universities in the nation by Times Higher Education.
Learn more about the UTSA McNair Scholars Program.
Learn more about UTSA Institute for P-20 Initiatives.
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