February 18, 2008
Contact: Kelly Green
Coordinator, Research Communications
405-744-5827
kelly.green@okstate.edu
McNair Scholars Celebrate Research as part of
OSU's Research Symposium
Stillwater , Okla. — More than 90 undergraduate scholars representing 19 states will participate in the McNair Research Conference taking place Feb. 20-22, 2008, as part of OSU's Research Symposium. The third annual conference brings together students from around the country who are participants in the McNair program, a federally funded scholarship program created to encourage undergraduates from underrepresented segments of society to pursue graduate degrees.
The scholarship program is named for Ronald E. McNair, an African American astronaut who died in the Challenger space shuttle explosion on Jan. 28, 1986. McNair was one of the first African American astronauts and only the second to travel in space. He received his doctorate in laser physics from MIT in 1974.
The McNair program pairs its undergraduate scholars with graduate mentors and allows them to participate in research programs typically reserved for graduate students. “McNair scholars are strong graduate school applicants because they already posses valuable research experience,” Michael Heppler of the OSU graduate college said.
The conference gives attendees the opportunity to present their research, meet with representatives from OSU's graduate programs, tour the campus, and network with other current and former McNair scholars.
Laura Briscoe, who attended the 2007 McNair Conference in Stillwater , is currently pursuing her doctorate in counseling psychology at OSU. “Attending the McNair conference gave me the opportunity to hone my research, presentation and networking skills,” Briscoe said. Ironically, Briscoe has recently joined a research team studying the McNair program's success in preparing students for graduate school. In her own case, she said she felt well prepared. “There's a big difference between reading about research and doing research,” Briscoe continued. “I was better prepared for graduate school because I had hands-on research experience.”
Currently, four universities in Oklahoma operate undergraduate McNair scholarship programs: University of Oklahoma , East Central University , University of Central Oklahoma and Southern Nazarene University. Heppler said McNair scholars are actively recruited by the OSU graduate college and other graduate programs around the country. More than 30 McNair scholar alumni are pursuing graduate degrees at OSU.
McNair scholars will make paper presentations on Feb. 22, 2008, from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm on the fourth floor of the Student Union. Poster presentations will run from 9:00 – 10:30 am on the first floor of the Student Union Atrium.
To view other events scheduled during OSU's Research Symposium, visit www.researchweek.okstate.edu.
Former McNair scholars who are pursuing graduate degrees at OSU.
Michael Heppler, Graduate College; Laura Briscoe, former McNair Scholar; and Jennifer Smith, Graduate College
