Kansas State University

McNair Scholars to present summer research

Submitted by Cheryl Rauh

On Wednesday, July 24, the McNair Scholars Program at K-State will conclude its summer research internship with presentations by 14 scholars. Community members and K-State faculty, staff, students and alumni are invited. The event will be from 12:30-4:30 p.m. in 13 Leasure Hall.  

Scholars started working on their projects this past spring under the guidance of selected faculty mentors. The summer research internship began on June 3 and involved intensive work with mentors and weekly meetings with McNair staff to monitor their progress. The scholars also spent five hours a week in a seminar preparing them for graduate-level writing and taking the GRE, a standardized test required for admittance to most graduate programs. Scholars receive stipends to support their participation in the summer internship.

The presentation schedule is as follows:

• 12:35 p.m. — Bayleigh Smith, psychology, mentored by Don Saucier, Ph.D., psychology. 
• 12:50 p.m. — Tiffany Bowers, cultural anthropology, mentored by Sara K. Kearns, Ph.D., K-State Libraries, and Charissa Powell, M.L.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
• 1:05 p.m. — Janae Brown, bakery science and management, mentored by Rebecca Regan Miller, Ph.D., grain science and industry.
• 1:20 p.m. — Adrianna Gordey, English, mentored by Dan Hoyt, Ph.D., English.
• 1:35 p.m. — Lindsay Chassay, psychology, mentored by Kristen Kremer, Ph.D., M.S.W., social work. 
• 2 p.m. — Paul Ambrose, political science, mentored by Alissandra Stoyan, Ph.D., political science. 
• 2:15 — Eric Valenzuela, animal sciences and industry, mentored by David Grieger, Ph.D., animal sciences and industry. 
• 2:30 p.m. — Kassie Procopio, anthropology, mentored by Marta Alfonso-Durruty, Ph.D., anthropology.
• 2:45 p.m. — Dariyan Springfield, animal sciences and industry, mentored by Thomas Schermerhorn, V.M.D., D.A.C.V.I.M. (S.A.I.M.), clinical sciences. 
• 3 p.m. — Lauren Ewing, mathematics, mentored by Mike Finnegan, Ph.D., Staley School of Leadership Studies. 
• 3:25 p.m. — Colin Chun, animal sciences and industry, mentored by Michael Chao, Ph.D., animal sciences and industry. 
• 3:40 p.m. — Luis Lopez, animal sciences and industry, mentored by Greg Aldrich, Ph.D., grain science and industry. 
• 3:55 p.m. — Brianna Jackson, human development and family science and psychology, mentored by Amber Vennum, Ph.D., family studies and human services.
• 4:10 p.m. — Sandra Sparks, Siena Heights University Scholar, sociology, mentored by Matthew Sanderson, Ph.D., sociology. 

A total of 15 students conducted research this summer, including one who is unable to attend the presentations:

• David Coria, Emporia, mentored by Chris Tinney, Ph.D., and Christoph Bergmann, Ph.D., University of New South Wales. 

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

• Melia Fritch, Ph.D., M.A., and M.L.S., associate professor.
• Adriana Gonzalez, M.L.I.S., associate professor.
• Dan Ireton, M.L.S., associate professor. 
• Sara K. Kearns, Ph.D. and M.L.S., associate professor. 
• Cindy Logan, M.S. and M.L.S., associate professor. 
• Livia Olsen, M.S., associate professor.
• Carol Sevin, M.L.I.S., assistant professor. 
• Kendra Spahr, M.L.I.S., assistant professor. 

Special thanks to librarians Dan Ireton and Carol Sevin for their additional support with research seminars and coordinating the partnership.

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is administrated by the U.S. Department of Education and authorized by Congress to prepare academically talented undergraduates for success in graduate studies. To be eligible, students must be income-limited and in the first-generation to complete a bachelor’s degree, and/or from a group under-represented in graduate study. The goal of the program is to increase the diversity of those holding graduate degrees and serving in the ranks of 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. 9. Students with an interest in graduate study are encouraged to apply. Faculty and staff who know of potential candidates should contact the McNair office. For more information, see the program website at k-state.edu/mcnair.