McNair Scholars Program
The McNair Scholars Program is one of eight federally funded TRIO programs and is named in honor of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, physicist and astronaut aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. Dr. McNair was the first in his family to attend college and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Physics from MIT.
East Central University’s McNair Scholars Program has been continuously funded by the U.S. Department of Education and active on campus since 1991.
Program Overview
The ECU McNair Scholars Program is designed to prepare first-generation, income-eligible students for doctoral study. Each year, 28 undergraduate students participate in the program. Students in any major wishing to continue their studies beyond the bachelor's degree are invited to apply to the program.
Key program benefits include:
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Paid internship during senior year at the Robert S. Kerr Research Center or on ECU’s campus
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Graduate school preparation workshops and seminars
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Faculty-mentored research project
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Opportunities to present research at local, regional, and national conferences
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Graduate school and GRE fee waivers
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Ongoing mentorship and support
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, you must:
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Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
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Be first-generation and income eligible
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Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
Get Involved
Interested in joining the McNair Scholars Program?
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