WT’s McNair Scholars to Showcase Wide Array of Research

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — From black widow spiders and fruit flies to bilingual education and artificial intelligence, student-led research from a prestigious West Texas A&M University scholars program will be on display in an Oct. 13 event.

The McNair Scholars Research Showcase will run 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 13 in the atrium of Cornette Library on WT’s Canyon campus.

During the showcase, 12 McNair students will display posters and discuss their research with WT students, faculty and staff, as well as community visitors.

McNair Scholars conduct and present undergraduate research guided by a faculty mentor, said Dr. Victoria Salas, director.

“WT students who are part of McNair Scholars gain research skills that are equal to those of a first-year graduate student, ensuring their success in postsecondary education,” Salas said.

Currently, 70 percent of WT McNair Scholars will enroll in graduate/professional school within a year of earning their bachelor's degree.

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, or the McNair Scholars Program, at WT prepares income-eligible and first-generation undergraduate students for doctoral study through research and other scholarly activities.

In 2022, the program won a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, providing $275,000  in annual funding for five years.

The program has been offered at WT since 1999. In that time 301 McNair Scholars have earned their bachelor’s degrees, and another 169 have earned graduate or professional degrees.

WT’s McNair Scholars program now serves 30 students per year, who receive the guidance of a mentor overseeing the research project; seminars on graduate school admission process, research methods and financial aid; a $2,800 research stipend; a $300  $500 research supply allowance; tutoring, academic counseling and intense GRE preparation; admission and financial aid assistance; preparation for research conference preparations; fee waivers for graduate applications; and paid conference travel.

Applications for the next cohort open Oct. 14.

Participating students and their research topics include:

• Avelyn Barrera, a junior biology major from Amarillo: “Effects of Thermal Acclimation on Locomotor Activity in Drosophila Mojavensis”
• Kimberly Beltrán, a senior psychology major from Amarillo: “Affirming the Healer, Honoring the Patient: Psychological Strategies for Equitable BIPOC Care”
• Caleb Butler, a senior geology major from Happy: “Working on and Determining the Geology and Origin of Quartzites in the Ogallala”
• Yesenia Cruz, a junior Spanish major from Scottsbluff, Nebraska: “Cuban Community in Amarillo, Texas: Migration Experiences and Social Barriers”
• Abby Gaytan, a senior biology major from Amarillo: “Thermal Tolerance in Response to Larval Acclimation in Cactophilic Drosophila”
• Fatima Gomez, a senior biology major from Wiley, Colorado: “The Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Black Widow Spider Mortality”
• Samantha Holt, a senior wildlife biology major from Cañon City, Colorado: “Mitochondrial DNA Based Assessment of Genetic Diversity and the Evolutionary Origin of Game-Farm Ring-Necked Pheasants in Texas”
• Jacob Liscano, a junior biology major from Hereford: “Transgenerational Effects of the Parental Thermal Environment on the Offspring Performance in Cactophillic Drosophila”
• Jocelyn Macias, a junior speech and hearing sciences major from Amarillo: “Educators’ Beliefs on Bilingual Education”
• Jorge Mejia, a junior biology major from Amarillo: “Glucocorticoid-Driven Liver Muscle Crosstalk in MASLD-Associated Sarcopenia”
• Baylee Nix, a senior biochemistry major from Amarillo: “Effects of Continuous and Pulsed Dexamethasone Exposure on Proliferation-Associated Gene Expression in High-Glucose C2C12 Myoblasts”
• Emilie Schumacher, a junior wildlife biology major from Borger: “Development of a Raman Spectral Reference Library for the West Texas A&M University Mineral Collection”
• Elaina Stoker, a junior psychology major from Brownfield: “How AI Affects Emotional Regulation Following Performance Feedback”
• Derek Valdez, a junior education major from Amarillo: “The Council Movement in the German Revolution”

Students represent four of WT’s Colleges: the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts & Humanities and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

McNair was one of six crewmembers who died Jan. 28, 1986, when the Challenger exploded shortly after launching at Cape Canaveral, Fla.

After his death, Congress named a research program in his honor — the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, or the McNair Scholars Program. It is designed to prepare income-eligible and first-generation undergraduate students for doctoral study through research and other scholarly activities.

McNair — who, in addition to his work as a physicist, also was a talented musician and decorated martial arts champion and instructor — was the second African American to fly in space.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of about 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 65 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 41 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and three doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference; WT offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: West Texas A&M University's McNair Scholars will take part in the annual research showcase Oct. 13. This year's presenters will include, front from left, Avelyn Barrera, Samantha Holt, Baylee Nix, Emilie Schumacher, Elaina Stoker, Fatima Gomez, Abby Gaytan, Kimberly Beltran and Yesina Cruz and, back from left, Derek Valdez, Jocelyn Macias, Jorge Mejia, Jacob Liscano and Caleb Butler.

—WT—