Seven students from Cal State Fullerton’s McNair Scholars Program are doing what they once dreamed about: graduating this spring and advancing to graduate and doctoral programs across the country.
The federally funded McNair Scholars Program was established at CSUF in 1999 to provide low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students with opportunities to prepare for and succeed in advanced degrees. More than 400 students have participated in the program.
“Before joining the program I knew I wanted to obtain a Ph.D.,” says graduating scholar Aysha Mabin, who will begin doctoral studies at Syracuse University in the fall. “I joined not only because I fit the participation requirements, but because I knew it would be beneficial to have support and learn more about how to reach my ultimate goal.”
As part of the program, McNair Scholars take part in special seminars and are paired with professors who mentor and conduct research with them. Scholars present their findings at conferences throughout the world and publish research articles in academic journals, boosting their chances of getting accepted into graduate programs.
This year’s graduating class:
- Christina Acosta of Fullerton, B.A. ethnic studies-Chicano studies, will attend the UC Merced’s doctoral program in sociology
Carlos Beltran of Santa Ana, B.A. ethnic studies-Chicano studies and political science, will work on a master’s degree in comparative education at UCLA
Alyssa Bormann of Bellflower, B.S. biochemistry, has been admitted to UC Berkeley’s doctoral program in molecular and cell biology
Huy Do of Westminster, B.S. mechanical engineering, will attend Boston University’s doctoral program in mechanical engineering
Aysha Mabin of Cerritos, B.A. psychology, will begin doctoral studies in family and child studies at Syracuse University
Claudia Marquez of Los Angeles, B.F.A. art-drawing and painting and B.A. art-art history, will be in the master’s in art therapy program at Loyola Marymount
Blanca Ramirez of Anaheim, B.A. sociology, enters the University of Texas, Austin, doctoral program in sociology