FALL EDITION 2010

SHU: McNair Scholar

Review

Siena Heights University

Directors Corner

From the Director’s Corner – Fall 2010

Greetings from the McNair Program and welcome back for the fall semester!

At this time I want to wish all of the graduating senior McNair Scholars good

luck in their next endeavors! Nine of the eleven graduating seniors were ac-cepted to graduate programs and begin their studies this fall. I am so proud of

them! I will miss them all but send warm wishes from the McNair program for

their continuing academic success!!

We are excited to start this semester and welcome a new cohort of scholars. The

ten new scholars participated in the summer research class and presented re-

search proposals on such diverse topics as the plays of August Wilson, respira-

tory rates of mice when isolated, animals as symbols of power during the Ro-

man Empire, and bio-diesel fuels. We certainly have a varied group of scholars

and research interests. I can’t wait to see how these projects develop over the

next year! I always learn so much from their research.

This fall should be especially exciting as the senior scholars will be attending a

national conference at Claremont University. They will be presenting their

completed research projects and seeing some of the sights in sunny southern

California! Should be a fun trip for them as many of them have never been to

the west coast!

On behalf of the McNair staff, we want to thank all the mentors who have

signed on for fall and hope you all have a rewarding and productive semester!

Sincerely,

Patricia Wallace, Ph.D.

Program Director

Contents__________________

Director’s Corner 1

Graduates Moving On 2

Fall Events 3

2010: New Scholar Cohort 4

McNair Research Symposium 5

Presidential Reception 6

Spotlight on the Mentor 7

Trio Information 8

Staff________________________

Patricia Wallace, Ph.D.

Director

Monica Robbins, M.A. Program Coordinator

Cindy Anderson Academic Coordinator

Tania Kersey Secretary

Pg. 2 Graduates Moving On….

Graduates Moving On…...

The end of the academic year 2009-2010 brought about new adventures, strengths and interests. This year

provided our McNair Scholars with wonderful opportunities, support and encouragement, while concluding their

participation in the McNair Scholars Program. The McNair staff, Mentors and the Siena Heights Community

would like to congratulate the McNair Scholars on all their accomplishments.

The following scholars will be attending graduate school in the fall:

Heide Kaminski

B.A. English

Siena Heights

University

Kevin Totty

B.A. Spanish/

Business

Adrian College

Patty Thomas

B.A. Religious

Studies

Siena Heights

University

Amy Ybarra

B.A. English/

Communications

Siena Heights

University

Aaron Kinzel

B.A. Business

Siena Heights

University

Lamar Cardenas

B.S. Biology

Adrian College

Jennifer Belair

B.A. Fine Arts

Siena Heights University

Nick Frost

B.A. Psychology

Siena Heights University

Chelsea Easter

B.A. English

Adrian College

Pg. 3 Fall Events

Upcoming Events - Fall 2010

Summer Birthdays

May 2010

(24th) Anna Pasternak

June 2010

(21st ) Julie Okuley

(24th) Garrett Marks-Wilt

July 2010

(3rd) Michael Fisher

(12th) Nastassja

Cuellar-Wilson

(31st) Kalin Meyer

August 2010

( 7th ) Brianna Davis

(9th) DeQorrie Whitman

(22nd) Tyler Wilson

Graduate

School Visits

During the academic year 2009-2010 we had

several junior and senior McNair Scholars

venture out to various universities with

graduate programs. As a McNair Scholar

you are provided services that will assist you

with locating a graduate school. We are

pleased to see the scholars utilize this service

in an effort to find the proper fit for their

continued educational endeavors. Nine of

our graduating scholars have been accepted

into a graduate program.

Welcome Back– McNair Scholars: September 8th and 9th

Graduate School Visit to BGSU: September 21st

Teambuilding in Reading, Michigan: October 16th

Graduate School Visit to Western Michigan: October 20th

Graduate School Fair: November 4th

End of Fall Semester December 18th

Dean

’s L

ist

Win

ter

2010

Jennifer Belair

Nastassja Cuellar-Wilson

Chelsea Easter

Sydney Estrada

Michael Fisher

Nick Frost

Nick Hullibarger

Heide Kaminski

Aaron Kinzel

Garrett Marks-Wilt

Darrin Merwin

Julie Okuley

Anna Pasternak

Kourtney Price

Kelly Ruder

Sara Schurr

Mary Seldon

Amy Wicker

Pg. 4 2010: Fall Scholar Cohort

New Scholar Cohort-Fall 2010

Incoming scholars were welcomed into the McNair Scholars Program while being submerged in a research boot-camp. During boot-camp students

prepare a research proposal. At the end of the research class students present their research proposal in a power point presentation.

Welcome aboard!

Amy Wicker

Ashley falcon

Deqorrie whitman

Darrin merwin Jared pirkle Kalin meyer

Michael fisher

Nick Hullibarger

Nastassja Cuellar-wilson

Timothy peoples Tyler wilson

Nastassja Cuellar-Wilson

Major: Early Child

Development

Siena Heights University

Ashley Falcon

Major: Political Science

Adrian College

Michael Fisher

Major: Mathematics

Adrian College

Nick Hullibarger

Major: Art

Siena Heights University

Darrin Merwin

Major: Business/Marketing

Adrian College

Kalin Meyer

Major: History

Siena Heights University

Timothy Peoples

Major: Religious Studies

Adrian College

Jared Pirkle

Major: Biology

Siena Heights University

Mary Selden

Major: Psychology

Adrian College

DeQorrie Whitman

Major: Theatre/Speech

Siena Heights University

Amy Wicker

Major: Psychology

Siena Heights University

Tyler Wilson

Major: Mathematics/Spanish

Adrian College

Kaylin Tiede and Patricia Thomas discuss their research with the SHU community.

Pg. 5 McNair Research Symposium-2010

McNair Research Symposium-2010

On March 31st, 2010 the junior and senior McNair Scholars presented their research findings to family, peers, mentors and the Siena Heights Community. Our Senior Scholars presented their research in both a

large format poster (44 x 36) and orally. The junior scholars presented their research in a large format poster presentation, which took place in the social area of Dominican Hall. Above are some examples of the large format posters our scholars

were able to create. These visual representations always add a wonderful and professional dimension to our annual symposium. The McNair program is

housed at Siena Heights

University and collaborates

with Adrian College.

2009-2010 McNair Scholars at the Annual Research Symposium

Garrett Marks-Wilt and Dr. Mark Schersten

Nick Frost, Dr. Wallace, Lamar Cardenas and Kevin Totty Dr. Jim Martin and Kandice Karll

Sara Schurr and Jennifer Belair’s Large Format Posters.

Pg. 6 Presidential Reception-2010

Presidential Reception

Siena Heights University President, Sister Peg Albert, graciously opened her home to host a reception

for graduating McNair Scholars. Sister Peg offered warm congratulations and encouragement.

Each scholar presented his/her mentor with a gift as a token of appreciation.

Two mentors, Dr. Martha Caroll & Dr. Carrie Mitchell,

received special honors for their outstanding efforts.

Delicious refreshments were enjoyed, while proud family & friends of the McNair Scholars

looked on as graduates received their honor cords and well deserved congratulations.

Pg. 7 Spotlight on the Mentor

The McNair program at Siena Heights could not function if not for the dedication and service of the faculty mentors.

This edition of the newsletter salutes Patrick Quinlan

For this interview, he shared the following information:

Mentor: Pat Quinlan, better known by his students as

“PQ”

Discipline: Pat teaches at Adrian College in the

Department of Accountancy and Business

Administration. His specialty is Marketing

courses .

Been at Adrian College for: 27 years

Favorite Food: Loves chocolate and the best is in the form of

Snickers Bars.

Favorite Color: Blue

Pet (s): Three Koi fish…gigantic and colorful!

One cat, Mittens (yes, it is named for the reason you are thinking!)

One dog, a Belgian Sheep dog names Zoe and last, a horse named Emma who is a

Standardbred Racing Horse.

Favorite car: I had a 1970 red Mustang…should have kept that car!

Favorite all-time great movie: Seabiscuit

Hobbies: My hobby is having a horse and I also volunteer at the

Lenawee Therapeutic Riding Center.

Favorite actress or actor: Jodi Foster

If you had the chance to speak to anyone you wanted, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

I would like to speak with Abraham Lincoln…I think he was the most successful president.

How long have you been a McNair Mentor?

I was a mentor back in the 90s with two scholars, then took a hiatus for a few years and now have had two more

scholars the past couple of years. I also participated in the summer research class in the 90s.

Since I have come back into the program I have seen a dramatic change in the quality of the research projects. I have

been very impressed with the upgrade of presentations. I see very positive encouragement of the scholars and that

really makes a difference for them.

Spotlight on the Mentor-

Siena Heights University

McNair Program-Rm. 301

1247 E. Siena Heights Dr.

Adrian MI, 49221

Ronald E. McNair

Post- Baccalaureate

Achievement Program

1247 E. Siena Heights Dr. Sacred Heart Hall-Rm. 301 Adrian MI, 49221 Office: 517.264.7157

Fax: 517.264.7767

Interested In Becoming a McNair Scholar?

The McNair Scholars program is a research based program that is federally funded and

designed to encourage and mentor eligible undergraduates to pursue graduate studies

leading to the completion of a doctoral degree.

Eligibility Requirements:

Students must meet the eligibility requirements mandated by the Department of Education:

First Generation (Meaning neither parent can have a (4) year college degree) & Low Income

OR

Be a member of a group underrepresented in graduate education.

Additional requirements include:

Grade point average of 3.0 or better

Have a declared major

Apply during your sophomore year

Make a commitment to apply and enroll in graduate school and work towards a doc-

toral degree.

If you are interested in discovering more about the opportunities and services provided

through affiliation in this program, please contact the Program Director,

Dr. Patricia Wallace at 517.264.7157