About the Program
Ronald E. McNair
(1950-1986)
The McNair Scholars Program is named after Dr. Ronald E. McNair, a remarkable American who was extremely successful in every aspect of his life. In 1971, he graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Physics from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He received his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976 and became a laser physicist and an astronaut.
Out of 10,000 applicants, Ronald E. McNair was selected to be one of 35 astronauts accepted into the NASA space program. He was assigned as the Mission Specialist on the successful Challenger flight in 1984, and was one of the victims of the tragic 1986 Challenger accident. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl, and two children.
Based on the inspiration and dedication of Dr. McNair, the McNair Scholars Program was established to better prepare first generation college undergraduate students from low-income families for doctoral study. The long-term mission of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase the number of individuals from underrepresented groups to receive doctoral degrees.
The Texas Tech University McNair Scholars Program is jointly funded through the United States Department of Education and a sophomore year initiative sponsored by Texas Tech University. In order to best serve the academic and professional needs of the participants, the Program is designed to be highly interactive. Students have the opportunity to work closely with a graduate student mentor and a faculty mentor, conduct research, as well as write and present research findings at professional and academic conferences. The focus of the McNair Scholars Program is to address students' financial, academic, and cultural needs in order to promote readiness for post baccalaureate education.
In order to assist students financially, each participant conducts research and receives a scholarship and travel funds for professional conferences. Students will also receive advising for undergraduate as well as graduate study. Students cultural needs will be addressed primarily through mentoring and peer support. Each Scholar is matched with a graduate student mentor and a faculty mentor with similar personal and professional interests; and, receives GRE preparation, tutoring, academic testing and evaluation. McNair Scholars are also involved in research projects within their major, including the preparation of a publication-quality document and presentation of research posters and paper presentations.