On Friday, May 3, master’s degrees will be conferred at 6 p.m., and Saturday, May 4, baccalaureate degrees will be awarded at 9 a.m. in Bloomer Sullivan Arena. Both ceremonies be available for viewing online at www.SE.edu/live and on the SE Facebook and YouTube pages. More information is available at www.SE.edu/graduation.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University inducted four students to the 2024 class of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program and celebrated the graduation of seven program members at a banquet Wednesday.
The four McNair Scholars Program inductees are junior history and biological health science major Kaisey (Kai) Jones of Durant, junior biological health science major Makinsy Ringels of Mead, junior sociology major Kayla Strong of Cypress, Texas, and junior psychology major Karina Trevino of Madill.
The seven graduates in either the Fall 2023, Spring 2024, or Summer 2024 commencement ceremonies are health and human performance major Alani Calahan of Arlington, Texas, elementary education major Olivia Carmona of Madill, vocal performance major Lauren Manon Gibson of Antlers, psychology major Doris Henderson of Ardmore, psychology major Kendra St. Clair of Durant, occupational safety and health major Lilly-Anna van Gaal of Idabel, and psychology major Rebecca Vinson of Marietta.
Carmona, Manon Gibson, Henderson, and Vinson also earned the right to wear the McNair Scholars honor cord at their commencement ceremony, which entails participation and completion of at least one Summer Research Institute, presentation of their research from the Summer Research Institute at a conference, and participation in scholarly activities.
Several McNair Scholars have displayed outstanding academic achievements and commitment to continuous learning and personal growth. Each of them has demonstrated resilience, curiosity, and a passion for knowledge that sets them apart.
Reece Garcia and Anna Ritter have been accepted to the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy beginning Fall 2024.
Kai Jones has been awarded the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Fellowship at Koobi Fora Field School in Kenya and will be training in archaeology, geology, biological anthropology, human biology, ethnography, and interdisciplinary approaches.
Wren Pettett participated in the Marine Science Undergraduate Research Experience Professional and Research Preparation Program in Florida before spring break to examine the correlation between straight-line carapace length and age in sea turtles. Leveraging the expansive database at MOTE, students compared both captive and wild specimens.
Karina Trevino will be studying abroad in the Fall semester at Webster University in Vienna. This opens up opportunities to make new friendships, learn the local culture, and be exposed to new ways of thinking.
The McNair Scholars Program at Southeastern is designed to provide 25 underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation students with mentoring from staff and faculty, academic counseling, tutoring, and opportunities to conduct and present research. Through seminars, lectures, and a summer research institute geared to providing information on applying to graduate school, teaching assistantships, and developing a research-based thesis, SE’s McNair Scholars will be prepared to successfully complete graduate school studies. Scholars are encouraged to continue through the attainment of the Ph.D.
The Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program was created in his honor by the U.S. Department of Education in 1989. Dr. McNair was one of seven crew members killed in the space shuttle Challenger explosion on January 28, 1986.
