The McNair Scholars Program at ֱ State is celebrating 25 years of student support. McNair is a federally-funded TRIO grant through the Department of Education that supports first-generation, Pell eligible, and underrepresented students as they prepare for their post-baccalaureate endeavors. McNair provides scholars with a plethora of co-curricular opportunities, but this summer’s experience took students on a journey to paradise. Eleven Scholars attended the (NCORE) in Honolulu, HI.
On the surface, McNair is a research development and graduate school preparation program, but according to Director, Peter Jeffy, the program is about shifting perspectives. “The McNair Scholars Program helps shift the perspectives of what is possible for students in terms of what they can do with their college degree, their ability to excel at the next level, and in their chosen career” says Jeffy.
The Honolulu experience not only afforded Scholars an immersive travel opportunity outside of the continental United States, but for some, it was their first time leaving their home state of Ohio. The research-based conference connected Scholars with researchers, advocates, activists, and leaders from across the world. Scholars appreciated this unique opportunity sharing, “I learned to network with students and professionals from all over the world and it was very meaningful to me to be recognized and heard by some of the people I met.”
Sorochi Ewelike, a senior Public Health major, was selected by NCORE as a Student Scholar, and had the opportunity of presenting her research findings on the intersection of racial/ethnic backgrounds and medical treatment of multiple sclerosis. Through this experience, Scholars shifted their perspectives and understood that their work as McNair Scholars is not just about applying and being accepted to graduate school, finding a job, or climbing the ladder of individual social mobility, but it is also about building your intellectual and occupational platform to advocate for others and put your research into practice, transforming what is possible for yourself and your community.
All Scholars participated in a pre-conference experience called Aloha Aina, which allowed them to engage with local Indigenous activists working to restore the wetlands. This cultural immersion impacted the Scholars in meaningful ways. One Scholar shared, “Being able to sustain my energy is more important than solving all the world’s problems at once. The overall message that we are borrowing the land of future generations had a big impact on how I conducted myself in Hawaii. I hope to take this message back to the states and share how we should be aware of how we treat the places we live”.
For more information on the McNair Scholars Program at KSU, visit /mcnair.