You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

McNair program receives $1.1 million grant

By Kari VanDerVeen
September 19, 2012

The United States Department of Education has awarded St. Olaf College a five-year grant totaling $1.1 million to continue its TRiO McNair Scholars Program.

The McNair Scholars program aims to increase the number of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students who go on to graduate school and attain doctorate degrees. The new grant will provide the St. Olaf McNair Scholars Program with $220,000 annually through 2018.

St. Olaf supports 28 McNair Scholars each year. All of them participate in undergraduate research and more than 90 percent complete a summer internship. Of the St. Olaf students who were McNair Scholars from 2008 to 2012, more than half of them have been accepted to or are currently enrolled in graduate school.

The McNair Scholars Program is one of eight programs that makes up TRiO, a federal umbrella organization with a mission to serve low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students from middle school through postbaccalaureate programs. St. Olaf sponsors four TRiO programs.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.