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In The News
November 29, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CSU Dominguez Hills Awarded $1.1
Million for McNair Program
New cohort of undergraduates accepted for 2007-08
year
(Carson,
CA) – The U.S. Department of Education has
awarded California State University, Dominguez Hills a
$1.1 million grant to continue the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate
Achievement Program at the university for another four
years beginning this academic year.
Additionally, 19 new students have been accepted into the
research-intensive program. They, along with seven continuing
McNair Scholars, comprise the first cohort of the new funding
cycle.
The McNair Program’s
mission is to prepare low-income, first generation and
traditionally
underrepresented students
for doctoral study. Established by Congress in 1986, the
program was named in honor of astronaut Ronald McNair, who,
like most of the students in the program, faced a number
of disadvantages growing up in a low-income family. He overcame
such adversity to earn his Ph.D. and become the second African
American in space. He died in the 1986 space shuttle Challenger
disaster.
The U.S. Department of Education administers funding to
universities for the program through a competitive grant
process. This is the second four-year grant awarded to Dominguez
Hills.
“We were thrilled to be among the 181 universities
to receive a McNair grant,” said Michelle Waiters,
director of the CSUDH McNair Scholars Program. “CSUDH’s
McNair Scholars are a source of pride for the university
and represent the excellent guidance students receive from
our faculty. We have a dynamic group of students and are
looking forward to continued great success!”
The 19 new students
in the program for 2007-08 — their
major and hometown in parentheses — are Synthia Acuna
(history; Torrance), Adan Alonso (Chicana/o studies; South
Gate), Lyzette Blanco (psychology/sociology; San Pedro),
Aerion Brown (Africana studies; Long Beach), Jessica Cardenas
(sociology/psychology; Gardena), Jose Collazo Jr. (sociology/behavioral
sciences; Huntington Park), Pauline Dixon (communications/theatre
arts; San Diego), Raul Escobar-Rodas (math; Hollywood), Adriana
Godoy (communications; Wilmington), Erica Gonzalez (Chicana/o
studies/art; South Gate), Brenda Hernandez (sociology/psychology;
Paramount), Ernesto Marinez Jr. (business administration;
South El Monte), Kayla Mason (sociology; Los Angeles), Steven
McGee (psychology; Wilmington), Brenda Medina-Hernandez (history;
Long Beach), Xhercis Mendez (interdisciplinary studies; East
Los Angeles), Itzel Olivares (Spanish/women’s studies;
Wilmington), Patricia Quintana (anthropology/Spanish; Los
Angeles), Mellonise Shorter (math/physics; Los Angeles).
Continuing in the program are Maria Aguirre (sociology;
South Gate), Brandon Becker (psychology; Downey), Mario Carrasco
(psychology; Downey), Nancy Gamino (Spanish; Wilmington),
Jeffrey Govan (English; Compton), Mitchell Rosas (political
science/economics; Long Beach), Heather Ruoti (psychology;
San Pedro).
Jessica Cardenas,
who transferred to CSU Dominguez Hills from Los Angeles
Harbor College,
chose to join the McNair
cohort for “the support system they provide. It was
a great opportunity for me, coming from a background where
I don’t have anyone to fall back on to ask questions
[about college]. This is the program for me.”
Since the 2003-04 academic year, approximately 50 students
have participated in the McNair Program at Dominguez Hills.
These students span the spectrum of academic disciplines
and represent some of the most dedicated and hardest-working
students on campus. Many CSUDH McNair Scholars balance work
and/or family responsibilities with the academic rigors of
the program, and they do so with great success.
The program at Dominguez
Hills boasts a 100% graduation rate and a 93% graduate
school acceptance
rate. CSUDH McNair
alumni are in master’s or doctoral programs across
the country, including at several University of California
campuses; Howard University, Cornell University, University
of Massachusetts, University of Wisconsin, Arizona State
University, University of Iowa, and CSUDH.
The McNair program is open to undergraduates with sophomore
or higher status who are either first-generation college
students from low-income families or from racial groups underrepresented
in graduate degree programs. As McNair Scholars, the students
must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, participate in scholarly
activities outside of the classroom, complete a research
project in their field of study, and present that project
at a research symposium. McNair students participate in workshops
that inform and assist them on scholarship applications,
entrance exam preparation, and applying to graduate school.
They are also supported by McNair program staff, who provide
guidance every step of the way, and faculty mentors, who
work with them on-on-one with the research project.
For more information on the McNair program, visit www.csudh.edu/McNair
or call (310) 243-2098.
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About
CSU Dominguez Hills -- California
State University, Dominguez Hills is a highly diverse,
urban university located in the South Bay, primarily
serving the
Los Angeles metropolitan area. The university prides itself
on its outstanding faculty and friendly, student-centered
environment.
Known for excellence in teacher education, nursing, psychology,
business administration, and digital media arts, new degree
programs include computer science, criminal justice,
recreation and leisure
studies, social work, and communication disorders. On campus
is the Home Depot Center, a multi-purpose sports complex
that hosts
world-class soccer, tennis, track and field, lacrosse, and
cycling.
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