KU News Release

July 24, 2007
Contact: Robert Rodriguez, McNair Scholars Program, (785) 864-9627.

McNair scholars to present research on topics from hip-hop to molecular biology

LAWRENCE — Fifteen McNair scholars at the University of Kansas will present research on topics ranging from African films to Japanese comic books to molecular diversity at the annual McNair Research Symposium on Friday, July 27, in the Kansas Union.

Derrais Carter, a senior from Kansas City, Kan., will give the featured talk, titled “From Habermas to Hip Hop: A Look at Symbolic Power in Hip Hop Culture.” His talk will be at 12:15 p.m. in the Centennial Room.

Concurrent sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. in the English and Centennial rooms. A detailed schedule of sessions can be found on the McNair Scholars Program Web site, www.ku.edu/~mcnair.

The symposium highlights the work of McNair scholars who have been conducting research projects throughout the summer. The scholars will present their research to their faculty mentors, KU administrators and others.

KU’s McNair Scholars Program is federally funded and helps prepare first-generation, low-income and underrepresented undergraduates for future careers as faculty members and researchers. In addition to providing paid research opportunities through the Summer Research Internship, program services include academic advising, Graduate Record Examination preparation, assistance with the graduate school application processes and tutoring. For more information, contact the McNair Scholars Program office at (785) 864-3412 or mcnair@ku.edu.

The McNair scholars making presentations are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names (when available), previous schools attended, research title and mentor.

BARTON COUNTY
From Hoisington 67544
Neal A. Bates, senior in anthropology, son of Gary and Donna Bates; Hoisington High School; “Imaging Africa”; Ebenezer Obadare, assistant professor of sociology.

BOURBON COUNTY
From Fort Scott 66701
Monique F. Mack, senior in psychology; South Philadelphia High School; Fort Scott Community College; “Poetic Freedom: The Utilization of Positive Writing Therapy with Institutionalized and Incarcerated At-Risk Youth”; Shane Lopez, associate professor of psychology and research in education.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa 66214
Aude Amelia Negrete-Banos, senior in political science with a co-major in international studies, daughter of Alvar Negrete and Maria Soledad Banos-Tapia; Shawnee Mission High School; “A Country’s Quest for Democracy: The Bias in the Mexican Media and the Presidential Elections in 2006”; Mark Russell Joslyn, associate professor of political science.

From Overland Park 66202
Osman Moalin Nur, senior in architecture, son of Hawa Sheikh; Shawnee Mission North High School; “The Transformation of Islamic Architecture: The Work of the Somali Sufi Mosque Designer, Mo’alin Nur, ‘Aabow’ ”; Marie Alice L’Heureux, assistant professor of architecture.

From Shawnee 66216
Tekalign Burka, senior in biochemistry, son of Genet Tezera and Assefa Burka; “Suppressor Screen for The Exc-5 Gene”; Matthew Buechner, associate professor of molecular biology.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY
From Coffeyville 67337
Christopher De La Cruz, senior in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Juan and Donna De La Cruz; Field Kindley Memorial High School; “Martin and Malcolm: Reconciling African American Liberation Politics”; Chico Herbison, lecturer in African and African-American studies.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67207
Van-Anh Thi Hoang, senior in pharmacy, daughter of Minh Nguyen; “Molecular Diversity Via Click Chemistry”; Jeffrey Aube, professor of medicinal chemistry.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66616
Richard Aaron Martinez, senior in American studies and psychology, son of Kirsten Martinez; Topeka High School; “The Effects of Sexual Priming on Conflict Resolution Strategies in Romantic Relationships”; Omri Gillath, assistant professor of psychology.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66103
Rehmatullah Jaghoori, senior in art; “A Personal Response to the Art of Anselm Kiefer and Paul Cezanne”; Tanya Hartman, associate professor of art.

From Kansas City 66109
Daniel J. Barrera, senior in biochemistry, son of Henry and Teresa Couchman; Piper High School; “Efforts Towards Anthranillic Acid Derived Keto Sultams for Library Production”; Paul Hanson, professor of chemistry.

From Kansas City 66112
Derrais Armarne Carter, senior in sociology and African and African-American studies, son of Roy and Sheryl Carter; Washington High School; “From Habermas to Hip Hop: A Look at Symbolic Power in Hip Hop Culture”; Chico Herbison, lecturer in African and African-American studies.

MISSOURI
From Belton 64012
Ken E. Kmak, senior in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Lorraine Kmak; Oak Forest (Ill.) High School; “The Crusade for Lawrence: America’s Holy War”; Rita Napier, associate professor of history.

From Kansas City 64111
Christopher James Reine, junior in psychology, son of Camille Reine; Lincoln College Prep; “Therapeutic Lifestyle Change for Depression: Examining Rapid Early Symptom Response as a Placebo Effect”; Stephen Ilardi, associate professor of clinical psychology.

From Springfield 65802
Michael Shane Speak, senior in East Asian languages and cultures, granddaughter of Debbie Lewis; Central High School; “Girls in Japanese Comic Book Land: A Language Study”; William Tsutsui, professor of history.

NEBRASKA
From Omaha 68134
Jessica Frances Fleming, senior in political science, daughter of Geralyn Fleming; Northwest High School; “Ethnic Identity Development in Multi-Ethnic Individuals”; Glenn Adams, assistant professor of psychology.

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