Before you can make a dream come true, you must first have one. Ronald E. McNair Messages from McNair McNair Scholars Program University of North Dakota Upcoming Events April 10 20th Annual McNair Forum and Banquet May 7 McNair Grant Writing Workshop 3:30-4:30pm in 342 McCannel May 9 Reading and Review Day May 17 Spring Commencement Greetings from the TRIO Director Winter 2014 Greetings McNair Scholars, Mentors, and Friends! Another academic year is rapidly coming to a close, with another successful year of McNair activities. A few weeks ago, at the Graduate School Scholarly Forum, McNair students participated and did exceptionally well at explaining and discussing their research with attendees. We would like to express a special thank you to the faculty mentors who assist the students in learning the research processes as well as helping them prepare for graduate school. Your mentorship is invaluable to the students and the program. In the next couple weeks, McNair student research presentations will be held, along with a banquet and awards ceremony. Patrice and Jill, the McNair staff, put a lot of energy and enthusiasm into preparing for these events and should be commended for that. We are all proud of the achievements of the UND McNair scholars and look forward to honoring them. Sincerely, Elaine Metcalfe, Director UND TRIO Programs Alumni News Inside this issue: More Alumni News 2 20th Annual McNair Forum Schedule Welcome New Scholars 4 2014 Scholarly Forum 5 Words for Wits 6 3 Kyle Gustafson, an Oklahoma State University Ph.D. student received a Ford Foundation 2014 Dissertation Fellowship. This fellowship is sponsored by the Ford Foundation and administered by the National Research Council of the National Academies. According to the award letter, Kyle's selection for this prestigious award reflects the review panelists' judgment of his scholarly competence as well as the promise that he shows for the future achievement as a scholar, researcher, and teacher in an institution of higher education.
PAGE 2 More Alumni News Erica Azure s Journey My journey has been filled with many bumps, potholes, and stop signs as I ventured down the path to pursue a dream of education. I grew up as a first generation student on a reservation. I went to high school, finished, but never really knew what to expect in order to pursue higher education. I started out attending college and graduating from my hometown community college with a generalist two-year degree. It was at that time I had the opportunity to transition into a four-year university at UND. At that time, I had no idea what it was I wanted to be. I had no mentors to tell me what and how I should pursue my education, however, I had a family that supported me emotionally and encouraged me to get an education. When I entered UND, I picked a field that I thought at the time suited me well. It was at that time, that I began my journey in education to complete a B.A. in clinical psychology. I was lucky because I finally found a mentor, and that mentor was the McNair program. My world of opportunity grew into a reality that yes, I could actually pursue my education and graduate from UND. It was the strength of the McNair program that helped me figure out how to achieve my goals, and guided me through with the help of course tutors, programmatic functions, and most of all, people support. I can still remember when I graduated with my four year degree and immediately applied for a Master s program at UND. McNair was there, my family was there, and I was there. I knew that I could do this, I could accomplish a graduate program because I had the foundation from the McNair program. After I completed my master s program in education, I knew there was more, that my journey in education wasn t finished. So I applied for a doctoral program in leadership. I have completed all required coursework and am working to finish my dissertation very soon. The best thing I can share as a McNair scholar, is that I am not finished! I plan on graduating with my Ph.D. in education and extending my journey to a postdoctorate degree in education. I want to extend a big thank you to the McNair program and say that I am proud and honored to have been afforded the opportunity to participate in a truly life changing program. I am currently in a Director s position at a Tribal Community college. The goal of the program that I direct is to help diverse students that are first generation to successfully transition to a community college with the hopes that they will end their degree at a 4- year accredited University. I do not consider my job work, it is a passion and hope that will help students like me to take the journey to pursue their dreams in education with less road blocks than I had when I was walking in the same shoes. I am pleased to announce that we currently have a 90% success rate of students entering a community college and a 4-year University. First year MA student, Rae Piwarski, has had her creative nonfiction Every Little Battle Along the Way accepted for publication in The Truth About The Fact: International Journal of Literary Nonfiction (Spring 2014, Volume IX Number I). The piece was one of 32 pieces selected for publication out of 250 submitted. Rae was invited (expenses paid) to attend a publication party at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in April. She was asked to do a reading of her work. Congratulations, Rae! We want to share all the great things our alumni are doing!! If you have any information to share, please email it to us (patrice.giese@und.edu or jill.teters@und.edu) and we will include it in our next newsletter.
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PAGE 4 Welcome New Scholars My name is Krystal Badillo. I am a junior at UND studying to receive my BS in Psychology. I was born and raised in Sioux Falls, SD and graduated from O Gorman High School in 2011. I plan to attend graduate school in the fall of 2015 and work towards a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and continue my research with eating disorders. I am specifically interested in how internet use and social media can be a risk factor for these types of disorders. I feel so honored to be a new member of McNair and I cannot wait to take advantage of the opportunities the program provides. Hello, my name is Manna Khan. I was born and raised in Bangladesh. I am a nontraditional student, twenty years later I am back to school. I am a junior at UND majoring in Geography with a minor in Sustainability. After I obtain my Undergraduate degree, I intend to obtain a Masters and Ph.D. in the field of Earth System Science and Policy. I love Geography, but I am also concerned about the environment. I like to travel and see the beautiful world. Attending school is very much a challenge in terms of finances and opportunity. I am optimistic and thankful to be a part of the McNair program. Caitlin Lunday is currently studying Chemistry. She completed an Associates of Science degree from Lake Region State College and is now working on her Bachelors of Science with a major in Chemistry at University of North Dakota. After graduation, Caitlin plans on immediately entering into graduate school to obtain her doctorate in Chemistry. With the doctorate and her family s support, she plans on working as a chemical engineer and after retirement a college professor.
PAGE 5 2014 Scholarly Forum
Ronald E. McNair Program University of North Dakota 2891 2nd Avenue North Stop 9027 Grand Forks, ND 58202 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Phone: 701-777-4931 Fax: 701-777-3627 McNair Staff: Elaine Metcalfe TRIO Project Director elaine.metcalfe@und.edu Patrice Giese McNair Assistant Director patrice.giese@und.edu Jill Teters McNair Program Coordinator jill.teters@und.edu Words for Wits Improve your GRE vocabulary by matching the following words and definitions: 1) Dulcify a. Hatred or dislike of what is new or represents change. 2) Blatherskite b. An abnormal or hallucinatory sense of taste. 3) Whitherward c. 1. a person given to voluble, empty talk. 2. nonsense; blather. 4) Misoneism d. To swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. 5) Klaxon e. A loud electric horn. 6) Parageusia f. 1. to make more agreeable; mollify; appease. 2. to sweeten. 7) Hornswoggle g. The investment of emotional significance in an activity, object, or ideas. 8) Cathexis h. Toward what place; in what direction. Answers: 1.f; 2.c; 3.h; 4.a; 5.e; 6.b; 7.d; 8.g.