The 16th Annual
MKN McNair Heartland Research Conference

will be held
September 21-23, 2012,

at the Marriott Country Club Plaza Hotel
45th and Main Street
in Kansas City, Missouri.

In Kansas City's historic Country Club Plaza district...
 

The McNair Heartland Research Conference offers undergraduates the opportunity to...

  • present their research in a friendly yet formal academic setting,
  • meet other McNair Scholars,
  • explore opportunities for graduate study, and
  • become eligible for a drawing to win a scholarship.
     

The conference highlights include individual student research presentations, a graduate recruitment fair, speakers and panel discussions, a pre-conference workshop on writing graduate admissions essays, and opportunities to interact with graduate school faculty and staff.


The information below this line is from last year's conference (2011).

It's still on this site to give you a sense of what's to come.

This year's conference info will be similar, but not the same.

The information is currently being updated, so please check back soon for more details.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Registration, Forms, and Deadlines Graduate Fair Info Abstracts and Presentations
MKN Heartland Scholarship Pre-Conference Opportunities Speakers
Conference Schedule Nearby Attractions Contact Conference Chairs

 


REGISTRATION [table of contents]
    Registration is $480-500 per person (depending on how early you register) for double room occupancy and $555-585 for single room occupancy. 

The full registration fee includes:
  • two nights at the conference hotel,
  • all conference meals, the Conference Abstracts,
  • conference materials,
  • and Heartland Conference T-shirts.
     

Download a four-page PDF informational brochure

Complete and submit the registration form online

(If you have questions about the form, contact Jeanne Gerhard
by e-mail at jgerhard@ksu.edu or by phone at 785-532-6137.)


CONFERENCE DEADLINES [table of contents]

    Registration
: Friday, August 19, 2011

    Abstracts: Friday, August 19, 2011

Cancellations must be received in writing by Friday, August 26.
 


GRADUATE FAIR INFORMATION [table of contents]
    If you would like to attend the Heartland Conference Graduate Recruitment Fair on Friday night as a representative from an institution, please see this information page, which includes a link to the registration form.


ABSTRACTS & PRESENTATIONS [table of contents]
    McNair program staff are asked to submit abstracts for all their scholars (both oral and poster presenters) in a single MS Word file e-mailed by Friday, August 19 to Kari Azevedo, (kazevedo@ucmo.edu). Abstracts must be 250 words or less.  See the informational PDF for instructions on submitting abstracts.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS
    The time allotted for each presentation is 15 minutes. Presentations will be organized into one-hour blocks consisting of three presenters in similar areas of study (to the extent possible).  After all presenters have spoken, there will be time for questions, followed by 10 minutes of transition and set-up time between presentation groups.

There will be a PC laptop and a projector in every room, and all presenters are welcome to use them for PowerPoint.  We suggest bringing presentations on a CD-ROM and/or USB drive, because other media may not be accessible by every machine.  We are unable to guarantee that the projectors or computers will work as planned for everyone, but we will try to accommodate as many people as possible. 

Most presentation rooms will NOT have wireless Internet access, as the cost is prohibitive.  It is usually possible for presenters using multimedia and other materials from the Internet to download and access them from a USB drive or CD-ROM.  We may provide wi-fi in one of the rooms if there is a need.  If you believe that Internet access is essential to your presentation, please contact Dennis Peirce or Kari Azevedo at (660) 543-4135 to discuss this option.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Scholars, please be sure to save your presentations as a Microsoft PowerPoint 97-2003 presentation. While some laptops at the conference may have PowerPoint 2007, some might not. Our goal is compatibility, no matter what version of Windows or PowerPoint is on the laptops. If you are using a version of PowerPoint prior to 2007, simply save your document to a flash drive or CD. If you are using PowerPoint 2007, follow these instructions:

    1. Click on the "Office" Button.  
    2. Move the arrow over "Save As". You will see several options. Click on
        "PowerPoint 97-2003 Presentation".
    3. Navigate to the flash drive or CD you will be saving presentation to and click "Save".

POSTER PRESENTATIONS
    We are limited to 10 poster presentations. Space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Easels will be provided.
 


MKN HEARTLAND SCHOLARSHIPS [table of contents]
    MKN has established two $500 scholarships for Heartland Conference presenters.  Beginning with the 2002 conference, any student who has presented research and who is, at the time of the Heartland Conference, enrolled in a graduate program is eligible to apply for the scholarships.  Proof of having presented and graduate enrollment and must be submitted before the conference. Presenters at this year's conference will be eligible for a future scholarship.

Click for a PDF on applying for last year's scholarships (similar to this year)
 


PRE-CONFERENCE OPPORTUNITIES [table of contents]

* ART MUSEUM TOUR (Friday, 9/23, 1:00-3:00 p.m.)
  Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art -- Guided Tour
   Cost: None -- it's FREE

Get to know the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. This special 90-minute tour experience will include an introduction to both the recently added, landmark Bloch Building designed by famous architect Steven Holl, as well the original museum building erected in 1933. The tour provides an excellent overview of the Museum's world-class art collections and cultural treasures. For further information visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum online.

NOTE: Conference participants need to register in advance for this activity. Space is limited! To register, click here to contact Margaret Shull and sign up for the tour.
 

* Personal Statement Writing (Friday, 9/23, 3:15-5:15 p.m.)
   
Participants in this workshop will engage in activities designed to help develop and refine their personal statements. The focus will be on helping participants present themselves positively, effectively, and accurately to the faculty assessing their graduate applications.  The workshop will be particularly valuable for participants who will be applying to graduate programs this Fall.  Participants will have the opportunity to receive individual feedback on their personal statements. Participants who have drafts of their essays are encouraged to bring them to the conference.

The workshop presenter, Michael Heppler, [see bio/photo] has extensive experience with graduate school admissions. Heppler is the Assistant Director of Student Academic Services in the Graduate School at Oklahoma State University.


SPEAKERS [table of contents]

FRIDAY EVENING: Dr. John Augusto, Ph.D.
   
John Augusto has spent over 20 years in higher education thinking about why students go to graduate school. He has conducted research for national organizations, given numerous talks to various student organizations and met with hundreds of students on this one question: why do students go to graduate school? John will share his insight on this subject and provide students with a behind the scenes look at the world of graduate admissions. John earned his PhD from the University of Kansas and currently works as the Assistant Dean in the Office of the Research and Graduate Studies. 

SATURDAY BANQUET, KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Valerie McGaha-Garnett, Ph.D., LPC, LADC
   
Dr. McGaha-Garnett. is an Assistant Professor in the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology at Oklahoma State University. As a McNair Scholar, Dr. McGaha-Garnett attended Texas Tech University where she received a B.S. in Family Studies; M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy; and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. Currently, Dr. McGaha-Garnett serves as an advisor to the Master’s Student Counseling Society and the Student Hispanic Chapter at OSU-Tulsa.  [see full bio/photo]

SUNDAY BREAKFAST SPEAKER: Dr. Pellom McDaniels III [see full bio]
   
Dr. McDaniels studied Fine Arts at Oregon State University where he also played defensive end for the Oregon State Beavers. In 1991, Dr. McDaniels signed his first contract in the National Football League. In 1992, the Kansas City Chiefs asked Dr. McDaniels to join the team’s practice roster, and from 1993 to 1998, he was an integral part of the defense throughout the 90's. Dr. McDaniels retired from the NFL and began his pursuit of a graduate degree at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where he received both a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in American Studies. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of Missouri–Kansas City.
   
 


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change) [table of contents]

Friday, September 23, 2011

1:00pm - 5:00pm     Registration
1:00pm - 3:00pm   Nelson-Atkins Art Museum Tour
3:15pm - 5:15pm  Workshop: Personal Statement Writing
6:00pm - 7:30pm   Welcome, Introductions, & Dinner
   Opening Speaker: Dr. John Augusto
8:00pm - 10:00pm Graduate Recruitment Fair
 

Saturday, September 24, 2011

7:30am - 8:45am      Breakfast
9:00am - 9:30am      Poster Presentations
9:30am - 12:00pm      Oral Research Presentations
12:15pm - 1:15pm      Lunch (w/ trivia contest)
1:30pm - 4:30pm      Oral Research Presentations
7:00pm      Banquet and Keynote: Dr. Valerie McGaha-Garnett
After Speaker...   Entertainment on your own (see below)
 

Sunday, September 25, 2011

9:00am - 10:30am      Breakfast / Speaker: Dr. Pellom McDaniels III
10:30am      Awarding of the $500 Heartland McNair Scholarships
11:00am   Departure
 


NEARBY KANSAS CITY AREA HIGHLIGHTS [table of contents]

* The Country Club Plaza --
An outdoor 'museum' of Spanish architecture with fountains and sculptures, as well as shopping and eating areas. The 80th Annual Plaza Art Fair will be held here on the weekend of the 2011 Heartland Research Conference.

* The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art --
Both have free admission and are less than a half-mile from the hotel.

* Information on Blues and Jazz clubs --
World famous Kansas City Night Life!

          * Downtown Kansas City's Power and Light District --
                    A new entertainment area just a short cab ride away from the Marriott C.C. Plaza.

* The Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site --
Just over an hour from the conference hotel, the Historic Site is located at the Monroe Elementary School, which was one of the four segregated elementary schools for African-American children in Topeka, Kansas. The visual and audio displays place the struggle for equality in educational opportunity within the context of the struggle for civil rights. The site is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
[table of contents]

For more information, contact a conference co-chair:

    Dr. Kari Azevedo, McNair Scholars Program
    Humphreys 127C
    University of Central Missouri
    Warrensburg, MO 64093
    phone number: (660) 543-4135
    e-mail: kazevedo@ucmo.edu

    Shukura Bakari-Cozart, McNair Scholars Program
    1845 N. Fairmount
    Wichita State University
    Wichita, KS 67260-0199
    phone number: (316) 978-3139
    e-mail: shukura.cozart@wichita.edu


Presenter & Speaker Bio Information [table of contents]

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP PRESENTER: Michael Heppler

    Michael Heppler has served Oklahoma State University since 1997. In 2004 he was promoted to Director of McNair Relations as a direct result of his work with McNair Research Scholars across the country. He has traveled throughout the United States speaking to students about successful graduate school application strategies.

He is a nationally recognized speaker on Successful Graduate/Professional School Admission Strategies. The National Society of Black Engineers, Ronald E. McNair Research Scholars, and Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program are among the list of organizations to which he has presented these strategies.

Mr. Heppler has presented at many regional and national conferences. A few of his prior appearances are the National Society of Black Engineers Region V Conference, the University of Tennessee McNair Scholars Research Conference at the Knoxville, Tennessee, and Heartland McNair Scholars Research Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
 

FRIDAY EVENING SPEAKER: Dr. John Augusto, Ph.D.
    John Augusto
has spent over 20 years in higher education thinking about why students go to graduate school. He has conducted research for national organizations, given numerous talks to various student organizations and met with hundreds of students on this one question: why do students go to graduate school? John will share his insight on this subject and provide students with a behind the scenes look at the world of graduate admissions. John earned his PhD from the University of Kansas and currently works as the Assistant Dean in the Office of the Research and Graduate Studies.
 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Valerie McGaha-Garnett, Ph.D., LPC, LADC

    Dr. Valerie McGaha-Garnett is an Assistant Professor in the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology at Oklahoma State University. As a McNair Scholar, Dr. McGaha-Garnett attended Texas Tech University where she received a B.S. in Family Studies; M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy; and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. Currently, Dr. McGaha-Garnett serves as an advisor to the Master’s Student Counseling Society and the Student Hispanic Chapter at OSU-Tulsa. She also provides mental health support as Co-Director of OSU-Tulsa Counseling Clinic and as Practicum/Internship Site Coordinator and Supervisor. Dr. McGaha-Garnett’s scholarly publications address psychosocial emotional development and academic success of adolescents and young adults towards life enhancement and preventative maladaptive behaviors. Dr. McGaha-Garnett holds clinical, professional licensures as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Professional Counselor, and Addiction Dependency Counselor. Her passionate community involvement includes Tulsa OK, John Hope Franklin Racial Reconciliation project on community restoration; Community-Based HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention; and affiliation as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Alumnae.


 
 

SUNDAY BREAKFAST SPEAKER: Dr. Pellom McDaniels III

Dr. McDaniels studied Fine Arts at Oregon State University where he also played defensive end for the Oregon State Beavers. In 1991, Dr. McDaniels signed his first contract in the National Football League. In 1992, the Kansas City Chiefs asked Dr. McDaniels to join the team’s practice roster, and from 1993 to 1998, he was an integral part of the defense throughout the 90's. While a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Football organization, Dr. McDaniels became a voice for Kansas City’s children while contributing the resources needed to begin the Arts for Smarts foundation. Programs like "Pellom and I Like Art", Wee Art, the "Fish Out Water" Writing program, and Smart Starts were designed to help children and young adults recognize and realize the possibilities for their futures. Dr. McDaniels retired from the NFL and began his pursuit of a graduate degree at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where he received both a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in American Studies. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. In February of 2009, Dr. McDaniels was instrumental in the creation of an exhibit at the William T. Kemper Foundation Art Gallery commemorating African Americans who had fought in the First World War. Publications include: My Own Harlem (1998); So, You Want to be Pro (2000), "We're American Too: The Negro Leagues and the Philosophy of Resistance" in Baseball and Philosophy: Thinking Outside the Batter's Box (2004). Some of his current projects include: Isaac Murphy: A Biography, a manuscript about the nineteenth century African American jockey who was recognized for his athletic abilities on the race track and his representation of a virtuous masculinity in public and A Legacy of Learning, a composite of biographies of University of Kansas City Alumni of Color who attended from 1933 to 1963.

 

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