Newsletter Fall 2010

THE MCNAIR SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Inside this Issue

Welcome New

Scholars

~

New Tutorial Faculty

Dr. Amy Stone

~

Alumni Profiles:

Domale Dube

Daniel Large

~

2009-2010 Graduates

~

Graduate Admissions

~

Where are they now?

~

Upcoming Events

~

President Ahlburg

Welcomes Scholars

~

SA Missions Baseball

MCNAIR SCHOLARS PROGRAM NEWSLETTER · AUGUST 2010

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VOLUME 4 Number 1

Rojas Receives McNair Fellowship

for Graduate Study at UT-Austin

Roxana Rojas graduated from Trinity in

May 2010 with a BA in Spanish and In-

ternational Studies. After graduation,

Roxana served as an Academic Tutor for

Trinity’s Upward Bound Program. This

fall she will be starting a Master of Arts

program in Latin American Studies at the

University of Texas at Austin. Not only

did Roxana gain acceptance into the very

prestigious Teresa Lozano Long Institute

of Latin American Studies, but she also

received a McNair Scholar Recruitment Fellowship for the

2010-2011 academic year. This highly coveted award is

given to only the strongest graduate applicants and in-

cludes a very generous stipend, in-state tuition and fees,

and medical insurance. With Roxana’s strong background

in related coursework and research experience, she will no

doubt be extremely successful. We wish her the very best

in all of her graduate endeavors!

A Message from

the Director...

It’s been nearly three years since

we learned about Trinity Univer-

sity’s successful application for a

McNair Scholars Program grant.

I’m proud to say that the Program

is stronger and more vibrant than

ever.

Our two most recent additions to

the McNair staff have been valu-

able additions to the Trinity com-

munity, running an efficient op-

eration and connecting marvel-

ously with Scholars, faculty, and

staff. Assistant Director Teresa

York (BS and MAE, Truman

State University) joins us from

Missouri by way of Austin,

where she developed an extensive

resume as a classroom educator

and higher education administra-

tor. Program Assistant Mary

Helen Acosta (BA, Rice Univer-

sity; MPSA, Texas A&M Univer-

sity) joins us most recently from

Dallas, where she launched her

career in higher education ad-

ministration.

Both Teresa and Mary Helen

would be delighted to have you

stop by the new McNair Scholars

Program office, located in

Cowles Life Sciences building

room 319. While there, be sure to

check out the new “Wall of

Fame” highlighting our Scholars’

many impressive achievements.

Teresa, Mary Helen, and the

McNair faculty will be busier

than ever this coming year. This

fall we welcomed 15 new Schol-

ars, bringing the current slate of

Scholars to 30. We’re delighted

to be bursting at the seams.

~Michael

Scholars Present at 18th Annual McNair

Symposium, UC-Berkeley

On August 4-9 eight Scholars, accom-

panied by Teresa York, Assistant Di-

rector, attended the 18th Annual Cali-

fornia McNair Scholars Symposium in

Berkeley, CA. Four Scholars gave oral

presentations and four Scholars pre-

sented posters, with all receiving great

praise for their work. Our Scholars’

presentations covered topics such as

Parkinson’s Disease, political rhetoric,

sports advertising, patriotism, French

Linguistics, and much more.

Additional conference activities in-

cluded plenary sessions, workshops on

graduate school admissions, tours of

both the University of California-

Berkeley and Stanford campuses, and

a number of other networking oppor-

tunities. Scholars also took several

trips to the San Francisco area to visit

Union Square, China Town, Pier 39,

and Fisherman’s Wharf, in addition to

a highly-anticipated dinner at In-N-

Out Burger.

The culminating event was a San

Francisco Bay tour aboard the

Cabernet Sauvignon Commo-

dore Yacht. The 3-hour dinner

cruise included views of many

iconic Bay area attractions, in-

cluding the Ghiradelli Chocolate

Factory, Alcatraz Island, and, of

course, the Golden Gate Bridge.

All aboard! Scholars (L-R) Ima Oduok, Kristine Yi, Reuben Lucas, Wendy

Hernandez, David Munson, Mellissa

Delcont, Brittany Flores, and Jacque-line Arevalo eagerly await the cruise.

Scholars in front of the Sather Gate, a landmark on the UC-Berkeley

campus.

Junior Kristine Yi, double major in Sociology and Spanish, explains her

research on cross-cultural miscom-

munication.

WWW.TRINITY.EDU/MCNAIR

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Number 1 VOLUME 4

WELCOME!

New Scholars for 2010-2011

Scholar: Rachel Alley

Class/Major: Junior/Engineering Science

Hometown: Covington, LA

Scholar: Rebecca Carey

Class/Major: Junior/Psychology & Chinese

Hometown: Georgetown, TX

Scholar: Christina Cooney

Class/Major: Soph/Business Administration

Hometown: Denver, CO

Scholar: Jonathan Gallegos

Class/Major: Soph/Psychology & Math

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Scholar: Jena Daggett

Class/Major: Soph/Political Science

Hometown: Montello, WI

Scholar: Victoria Gbenjo

Class/Major: Soph/Computer Science

Hometown: Missouri City, TX

Scholar: Samantha Gonzalez

Class/Major: Soph/Biology & Sociology

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Scholar: John Kerr

Class/Major: Junior/Engineering Science

Hometown: Bryan, TX

Scholar: Tanvi Patel

Class/Major: Soph/Biology & Accounting

Hometown: Richmond, TX

Scholar: Kallie Pfeiffer

Class/Major: Soph/Art (Photography)

Hometown: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

Scholar: Laura Sandling

Class/Major: Soph/Communication

Hometown: Missouri City, TX

Scholar: Devon Powers

Class/Major: Soph/Engineering Science

Hometown: Houston, TX

Scholar: Megan Sparks

Class/Major: Soph/Comm. & Art History

Hometown: The Woodlands, TX

Scholar: Aimee Vidaurri

Class/Major: Junior/Psychology & Spanish

Hometown: Laredo, TX

Scholar: Lauren Holguin

Class/Major: Soph/Biochemistry

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

This fall Dr. Amy Stone, assistant professor of sociology, joins the McNair faculty team. Together

with Drs. Kelly Lyons and Wilson Terrell, Dr. Stone will help prepare Scholars for the rigors of

summer research and guide them through the elaborate graduate school application process. She

will teach GNED 2110: McNair Tutorial during the fall and spring semesters.

Dr. Stone grew up in La Quinta, a desert town in southern California. She is a graduate of Amherst

College and received a PhD from the University of Michigan. She has been a member of the Soci-

ology and Anthropology department at Trinity since 2006.

“For me, being part of the McNair Program is a chance to repay all the mentoring I received as a

young, first-generation college student far from home,” Dr. Stone remarked. “An important part of

my success was being supported in my academic environment, and I hope to support this group of

college students in pursuing their academic goals.”

Dr. Amy Stone, Sociologist, Joins McNair Tutorial Faculty

MCNAIR SCHOLARS PROGRAM NEWSLETTER · AUGUST 2010

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VOLUME 4 Number 1

After completing

summer research

projects under the

skillful watch of Dr.

Rocio Delgado

(Education) and Dr.

Betsy Tontiplophol

(English), Domale

Dube (May 2010) was

prepared for a wide

range of graduate

programs. She was

invited to visit and was

ultimately admitted to

a number of the top

programs in education

and English literature

throughout the United

States. After much consideration, Domale eventually settled

upon Harvard University, where she continues her academic

career in the Graduate School of Education.

Alumni Profile: Domale Dube Alumni Profile: Daniel Large

As a Trinity student,

Daniel Large’s (May

2009) gifts as a

researcher took him to

academic conferences

throughout the United

States. Today, Danny

works in a research

arena closer to home,

at the South Texas

Psychiatric Genetics

Research Center, part

of the UT Health

Science Center San

Antonio campus. As

the Lead Assessor for

the Center, Danny

supervises the

assessment of study participants, completes data entry, and

coordinates a new volunteer and internship program. Danny

looks forward to visiting with current Scholars and sharing his

work experiences and his plans to pursue a PhD in clinical

psychology.

Congratulations to our Recent Graduates

Trinity University McNair Scholars Have Received Admission

to Graduate Programs Across the Country

Domale Dube

BA, English, May 2010

Patrice Durden

BA, Business Admin & Spanish, May 2010

Celeste Garcia

BA, Sociology & Spanish, May 2010

Mike Guerra

BA, Comm & Int’l Studies, May 2010

Amanda Martinez

BA, Sociology & Int’l Studies, Dec 2009

Nancy Nguyen

BA, Art History/BS, Biology, May 2010

Chad Oian

BS, Engineering Science, May 2010

Roxana Rojas

BA, Spanish & Int’l Studies, May 2010

Mark Sullivan

BS, Physics, May 2010

Nathan Tovar

BA, Business Administration, Dec 2009

Arizona State University

Columbia University

Georgetown University

Harvard University

New York University

Rice University

Stanford University

Texas State

Texas Tech University

Trinity University

University of Houston

University of the Incarnate Word

University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas San Antonio

Domale, pictured with Tutorial Faculty mem-ber Dr. Rita Urquijo-Ruiz, receives the Presi-

dential Award of Excellence at Trinity Uni-

versity, Spring 2010.

According to Danny, “Research in the „real world,‟ especially in big research centers,

is a lot different from what we experience in

the smaller labs at Trinity.”

WWW.TRINITY.EDU/MCNAIR

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UPCOMING EVENTS August 31, 5:00pm

Summer Research Reception

President’s Residence ~

September 9, 3:00-6:00pm

Graduate School Fair

University of the Incarnate Word ~

October 2, 8:00am-5:00pm

South Texas Regional McNair Scholars

Research Conference

University of the Incarnate Word ~

October 3, 8:30am-3:00pm

Donald Asher Personal Statement Workshop

University of the Incarnate Word ~

December 6, 6:00-8:00pm

End of the Semester Gathering

Dr. Soto's House ~

December 8-9

Reading Days ~

December 10-16

Finals ~

December 18

Commencement

Where are they now???

Jonelle Bailey (May 2008) earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from

Trinity in 2009 and is currently teaching Spanish at Bush High School

in Houston, TX. She hopes to begin a PhD program in Education in

2011.

Maria Cristina (Lopez) Lara (December 2008) is currently working

for PennWell MAPSearch in Houston, TX. She will be attending

Tulane University in Houston this fall where she plans to obtain her

Professional MBA.

Gordon Abner (May 2009) is currently in his second year of a PhD in

Public Policy at Indiana University.

Patrice Durden (May 2010) will remain at Trinity University where

she will begin her Master of Science in Health Care Administration this

fall.

Celeste Garcia (May 2010) will be attending New York University this

fall where she plans to earn a Master of Arts in Corporate

Communication and Public Relations.

Nancy Nguyen (May 2010) will be attending the University of the

Incarnate Word this fall where she plans to obtain a Master of Science

in Nutrition.

Please direct inquiries to:

McNair Scholars Program

Trinity University

One Trinity Place

San Antonio, Texas 78212

Telephone: 210-999-7194

Fax: 210-999-7195

www.trinity.edu/mcnair

The McNair Scholars Program at Trinity University is partially funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional funding provided by Trinity University.

VOLUME 4 Number 1

Visit our new office in Cowles Life Science Room 319!!!

Director: Michael Soto, PhD, English

Assistant Director: Teresa York, MAE

Program Assistant: Mary Helen Acosta, MPSA

McNair Tutorial Faculty:

Kelly Lyons, PhD, Biology

Amy Stone, PhD, Sociology

Wilson Terrell, Jr., PhD, Engineering Science

President Ahlburg Welcomes Scholars The Program kicked off its fourth year on August 24th with our Fall

Welcome Back Meeting. Dr. Kelly Lyons, Tutorial Faculty member,

graciously hosted the poolside event at her beautiful home a few miles

from campus. After an opening serenade from Mariachi Internacional,

Trinity President Dennis Ahlburg helped welcome new and returning

Scholars back to Trinity. During the 2010-2011 academic year, Dr.

Amy Stone will be

working with the

sophomores in

GNED 2110, Dr.

Wilson Terrell with

the juniors in GNED

3110, and Dr. Lyons

with the seniors in

GNED 4110.

The summer wasn’t all about

spending countless hours in the

lab, attending Weekly Wednesday

Workshops, and writing personal

statements! Scholars, Faculty

Research Mentors, staff, and their

families also had time to enjoy

one another’s company for Dollar

Night with the San Antonio

Missions. Play ball!

Musical chairs anyone? Scholars compete for HEB

gift cards during the on-

field promotions.

Summer Cultural Outing:

SA Missions Baseball

Scholars Jacqueline Arevalo and Jonathan Trejo enjoy the music with President Ahlburg.