Contents

A Note from the Collaborative Director

Undergraduate Research: Adjusting to Life at a Liberal Arts College

2012-2013 McNair Scholars

• Louis Ayensu-Mensah
• Samantha Finnigan
• Rachel Ginter
• Tara Lovdahl
• Maira Rodriguez
• Crystal Skenandore

Fall-Summer Collaborative Grants

Convention Spotlight

NCUR

• Field Notes from NCUR: Dr. Anindo Choudhury
• Eric Gale
• Steven Garza
• Sarah Lottes

AACR

• Isabella Benassi
• Shanna Dennis
• Emily Goetz
• Nicole Nelson
• KateLyn White

Important Dates

May 4, 2012 Student Academic Travel Grant and Attendee Grant applications due

McNair Scholars 2012-2013

Maira Rodriguez

Sociology with a Concentration in Human Services and Spanish Double Major with a Minor in Psychology

I was raised in Mundelein, Illinois my entire life. Mundelein is a northern suburb of Chicago. I love the state of Illinois. Even though I decided to go to college in Wisconsin, I still have a huge heart for my Chicago sports team. Go Bears! Another passion of mine, besides my Chicago sports teams is dancing. I’ve been dancing since I was three years old. I dance a variety of styles, which include: ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, pointe, modern and pom. I’m having a delightful college experience so far with so many more memories to come my way. I’m involved in quite of few different areas: I’m on the St. Norbert College Dance Team, I’m a Student Ambassador for the Office of Admissions, I’m a First Year Experience Mentor, I’m a tutor through the Connections Program, I went on a service trip that focused on HIV/AIDS in New York City through the TRIPS (Turing Responsibility Into Powerful Service) Program, I’m a leader through Campus Crusade for Christ, also know as Cru, and volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club through Michel’s Service.

I would personally like to do an independent research project on children’s education. What I mean by this is I want to see how much of an influence of their parents’ backgrounds effect their children’s education, in other words how the children’s home background effects their education. The reason why I would like to pursue an independent research project on this particular topic is because I want to find answers to recommendations for parents on how to overcome their personal and economic challenges and to help their children with school, based on the influence of parents’ educational backgrounds and influence of parents’ economic background.

This particular topic means a lot to mean because education is something that is very dear to my heart. I feel that an education in a child’s life is very crucial. Children are fundamental to society because they are our future; they hold the key to change, and in turn a successful future, in their hands. Therefore, it is society’s duty to provide them with a complete education that teaches them how to work together successfully and how to question what is in front of them. This education starts with what children learn from their parents and from what they learn in the first few years of their lives. This initial education impacts the rest of their lives.

Honestly, prior to being asked to attend an information session about the McNair Scholars Program, I had no idea of what this program consisted of. The first thing I did when I heard about this program was to go on the Internet to see what this program was all about. Once I learned more about it, I started to become fascinated with this program and here is why. Right away I knew that this program was the right way to go because I knew that if graduate school was on mind, I would need encouragement to continue that route after receiving my undergrad. Being accepted to this program will help me evaluate my life and support me to continue my education after my undergrad. I hope for it to prepare me for graduate school. My desire is to go to graduate school to get my masters in social work, however with this program I have high hopes for it to give me strength to pursue doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. I have the chance to go to different conferences to different schools and that would be a great experience. Not only do I think this program would be very helpful, but it will help me in my areas of growth; which include being able to get out of my comfort zone.