Kansas State University

McNair Scholars to present summer research

Submitted by Emily Vieyra

McNair Scholars will present summer research projects at the McNair Research Symposium from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, in the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center. Community members and K-State faculty, staff, students and alumni are encouraged and invited to attend.

Scholars started planning their projects this past spring under the guidance of faculty mentors they selected through an interview process. The summer research internship began on June 6 and involved intensive work with mentors and weekly meetings with McNair staff to monitor their progress on research and professional development goals. Scholars also spent five hours per week in seminars preparing them for graduate-level writing and taking the Graduate Record Examinations, a standardized test required for admittance to many graduate programs. Scholars receive stipends to support their participation in the summer internship.

The presentation schedule is as follows:

• 12:05 p.m. — Naomi Galindo, modern languages-French, mentored by Vera Smirnova, assistant professor of geography and geospatial sciences.
• 12:20 p.m. — Teri Jacques, English, mentored by Eric Brandom, visiting assistant professor of history. 
• 12:35 p.m. — Eresay Alcantar-Velasquez, geology, mentored by Matthew Kirk, associate professor of geology. 
• 12:50 p.m. — Elvia Lopez-Morales, communication sciences and disorders, mentored by Mary Kohn, professor of English. 
• 1:05 p.m. — Elizabeth Guevara, Spanish, mentored by Laura Valentín-Rivera, associate professor of modern languages.
• 1:20 p.m. — Nikéla Reed, theatre, mentored by Benjamin McCloskey, associate professor of modern languages. 
• 1:35 p.m. — Rosalie Oliver, psychology, mentored by Melinda Markham, professor of applied human sciences. 
• 2:50 — Sarah Bechtel, psychology, mentored by Alexandria Zakrzewski, research assistant professor of psychological sciences.
• 3:05 p.m. — Abi Whitney, English and Spanish, mentored by Lisa Tatonetti, professor of English. 
• 3:20 p.m. — Koby Harding, physics, mentored by Cosmin Blaga, assistant professor of physics. 
• 3:35 p.m. — Liberty Belote, English, mentored by Steffi Dippold, associate professor of English.  
• 3:50 p.m. — Erasto Herrera-Farfan, mathematics and economics, mentored by Craig Spencer, professor of mathematics. 
• 4:05 p.m. — TJ Hafliger, wildlife ecology and environmental biology, mentored by Andrew Hope, assistant professor of biology. 

The McNair staff also recognizes contributions from the following K-State librarians who assisted the scholars:

• Angie Brunk, assistant professor.
• Jason Coleman, professor.
• Dan Ireton, associate professor.
• Sara Kearns, professor.
• Cindy Logan, associate professor.
• Livia Olsen, associate professor.
• Carol Sevin, associate professor. 
• Kendra Spahr, associate professor. 

Special thanks to Ireton for coordinating the partnership.

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is a TRIO program administrated by the Federal Department of Education and authorized by Congress to prepare academically talented undergraduates for success in graduate studies. To be eligible, students must be income-eligible, first-generation college students, and/or from a group underrepresented in graduate study. The program’s goal is to increase the diversity of those holding graduate degrees and working as faculty and researchers.

The McNair Scholars Program is currently recruiting new participants and will continue to do so until all available openings are filled. Priority applications are due Sept. 13. Students with an interest in graduate study are encouraged to apply. Faculty and staff who know of potential candidates should contact mcnair@k-state.edu. For more information, see the program website at k-state.edu/mcnair.