McNair Scholars attend Research Conference

Ten students from Henderson State University's McNair Scholars Program recently attended the 2024 MKN Heartland Research Conference for McNair Scholars and Undergraduate Research in Kansas City.

The conference featured prestigious keynote speakers and research informational workshops. Students also attended a graduate school fair with more than 20 graduate and doctoral universities present.

Three Henderson students gave oral presentations on their academic research, including:

• Bessie Dixon, "Understanding the Role of AAU Basketball in Shaping Athletes' Future Opportunities"
• Sally Santillan, "BRK-Mediated Dysregulation of TGF-B/SMAD Signaling in Metastatic Breast Cancer"
• Rocky Hughes, "Exploring Equity: Challenges and Solutions in African American Healthcare"

Other McNair Scholars attending were: Otisha Burton, D'Allan Sealy, D'Andriel Smith, Sidney Hansberry, Katelyn Scott, Jasmine Clark, and Jamesia Sapp. They were accompanied by Reo Cummings and Dr. Don R. Kelly.

The Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program assists low-income, first-generation college students and those from underrepresented groups in preparing for graduate education. Henderson's program is federally funded and serves 25 undergraduates each year.

For more information about the McNair program, go to hsu.edu/mcnair.