UNT's McNair scholars program nominated for ¡Excelencia! Award

From a UNT News Service press release

UNT's Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program was selected as a finalist for the 2010 Examples of ¡Excelencia! award at the baccalaureate level. The nomination was in recognition of the UNT McNair program's role in helping Latino students conduct and produce research and earn degrees in higher education.

Since 2005, the Examples of ¡Excelencia! initiative, run by ¡Excelencia! in Education, has recognized programs and departments in higher education that effectively accelerate Latino student success by promoting education policies and institutional practices that support their academic achievement.

Since the U.S. Department of Education first funded the UNT McNair program in 1992, the program has assisted more than 200 students, including 71 Latino students. Of those students, approximately 34 percent have earned master's degrees and approximately 14 percent have gone on to receive doctoral degrees. The remaining students are continuing their studies on the undergraduate and graduate level. At the 2010 Texas National McNair Scholars Research Conference held each year at UNT, approximately 30 percent of the participants were Latino.

"Since 1992 we have had the privilege of serving excellent students here at UNT," says McNair Director Diana Elrod. "Being a finalist was recognition of the tremendous talent, perseverance and dedication of our scholars."

About the McNair Program

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is a highly competitive program funded by the Department of Education to prepare juniors and seniors who are low-income, first generation, and/or underrepresented for doctoral education. The net goal of the program is to help undergraduate students specializing in any discipline complete a Ph.D.

The McNair program at UNT is one of approximately 200 programs in the U.S. and one of 20 in Texas. McNair scholars receive fellowships to conduct research with the assistance of faculty mentors and are encouraged to present their findings at professional conferences and publish their results.

The UNT McNair program serves 31 students annually and will be selecting 16 students in November for the 2011 calendar year.

Elizabeth Smith with the UNT News Service can be reached at elizabeth.smith@unt.edu.

Read other stories in this issue:

• President's Note
• Mean Green facing Kansas State in last game at Fouts Field
• Moving Forward: Emerald Eagle Scholars program receives $1 million gift
• NSF grant funding scholarships for future math and science teachers
• George W. Bush, Spike Lee and Sherman Alexie to speak on campus
• Concert hall reopens after $6.4 million makeover
• Faculty Focus: Richard Fossey
• Traditions: UNT pursues more energy savings
• Featured Link: Alumni share UNT experiences, lessons in essays
• UNT Alumni Association