5 graduating McNair scholars honored with special awards

LAWRENCE -- In a May 1 program to honor McNair scholars and their faculty mentors at the University of Kansas, five of the 11 graduating seniors received special awards. McNair scholarships support first-generation college students or minorities underrepresented in graduate education or both.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway assisted Robert Rodriguez, McNair project coordinator, and Tanya Kooi, academic services coordinator, in presenting framed certificate awards to:

 • Charles "Chad" Clarke III, Shawnee senior, LaTina Sullivan Memorial Award
 • Felicia Mitchell, Topeka senior, Eagle Award for Leadership
 • Heather Ryser, Delphos senior in genetics, and Josephine (JoMarie) Hart, Stilwell December 2002 graduate in painting, each received a McNair Spirit Award
 • Courtney File, Beloit December 2002 graduate in education, the Ronald E. McNair Challenger Award

All McNair seniors graduating in the Class of 2003, which includes summer and fall 2002 graduates, received certificates and blue honor cords to be draped over the shoulders of their commencement gowns.

A former McNair scholar at KU, Belinda Hinojos, KU graduate student in counseling psychology from Kansas City, Kan., addressed the 25 McNair scholars invited to attend the banquet with their families and faculty mentors. Angela Lumpkin, dean of education at KU, also spoke.

Named for Ronald E. McNair, a physicist and astronaut who died in the 1986 Challenger space shuttle explosion, the federally funded scholarships prepare students for graduate school. To be eligible, the students must be first-generation college students and be low income or underrepresented minorities -- or qualify for both categories. McNair was the second African-American astronaut to fly in space.

KU's Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is one of 156 nationwide designed to help ensure that the next generation of American faculty members represents the diversity of society by preparing for doctoral study low-income, first-generation college students and those from groups traditionally underrepresented in graduate education.

McNair scholars and their hometowns, graduation date and major, high school alma mater, faculty mentors and awards are:

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Christian Marie Marzette, graduating senior in psychology, daughter of Gwendolyn Marzette; Lawrence High School graduate; Annette Stanton, adjunct research associate in psychology.

HARVEY COUNTY
From Sedgwick
Isley Demetrius Unruh, graduating senior in philosophy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Unruh; Valley Center High School graduate; Tom Tuozzo, associate professor of philosophy, 2002 mentor, and Tanya Hartman, assistant professor of art, 2003 mentor.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa
Aarika Lynn Fulson, graduating senior in communication studies, daughter of Eric and Freida Fulson; Shawnee Mission West High School graduate; Elizabeth Asiedu, assistant professor of economics.

From Shawnee
Charles "Chad" L. Clarke III, senior planning to graduate in summer 2003 in education to teach mathematics, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clarke; DeSoto High School graduate; Mary Morningstar, courtesy professor in education. Clarke received the LaTina Sullivan Memorial Award, presented annually to a McNair scholar who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to helping others, good citizenship and social responsibility in his or her actions and research. This award was established in memory of former McNair scholar and KU student LaTina Sullivan, who died in 1997.

From Stilwell
Jo Marie Hart, December 2002 graduate in painting, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hart; Blue Valley High School graduate; Tanya Hartman, assistant professor of art. Hart received a McNair Spirit Award, presented annually to the McNair scholar who best demonstrates the "McNair spirit" in his or her scholarly presence at KU. McNair Spirit awardees participate diligently in McNair activities and possess a strong scholarly work ethic.

MITCHELL COUNTY
From Beloit
Courtney Joan File, December 2002 graduate in education to teach mathematics, daughter of Bill and Jodi File; Beloit High School graduate; Dennis Jacobsen, research associate in the Bureau of Child Research. File received the Ronald E. McNair Challenger Award recognizing the achievements of a McNair scholar who, because of his or her diligence and commitment to research and learning, gives promise to a successful academic career.

OTTAWA COUNTY
From Delphos
Heather Nicole Ryser, graduating senior in genetics, daughter of Bertie Denman; Minneapolis High School graduate; Erik Lundquist, assistant professor of biology. Ryser received a McNair Spirit Award, presented annually to the McNair scholar who best demonstrates the "McNair spirit" in his or her scholarly presence at KU. McNair Spirit awardees participate diligently in McNair activities and possess a strong scholarly work ethic.

NEMAHA COUNTY
From Sabetha
Bonita Kay Hanni, summer 2002 graduate in design, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dornes; Ruth Bowman, assistant professor of design.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka
Felicia M. Mitchell, graduating senior in social welfare, daughter of Susan Raikes; Topeka High School graduate; Steve Kapp, assistant professor of social welfare. Mitchell received the Eagle Award for Leadership, presented to a scholar who demonstrates a real concern for furthering the ideals of the university and higher education. The Eagle award recognizes the accomplishments of a McNair scholar who clearly demonstrates a strong leadership presence at KU.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita
Sarah Jean Smarsh, December 2002 graduate in English and in journalism, daughter of Jeannie Getz; Kingman High School graduate; Mary Klayder, University Honors lecturer, and Tom Lorenz, associate chair of English.

ITALY
From Naples
Massimo Ferrara, graduating senior in sociology; William Staples, professor of sociology.