The St. Louis McNair Scholarship will provide life-changing financial support for Truman students participating in the highly selective Ronald E. McNair Postbaccaulareate Achievement Program. A $400,000 donation from an anonymous alumni couple living in St. Louis established an endowed scholarship to provide a permanent source of funding.
Truman’s McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO initiative designed to address obstacles that prevent highly qualified students with strong academic potential from pursuing graduate degrees. Truman has continuously received this competitive funding since 1992 and offers academic and social support through faculty-mentored research experiences, holistic advising for graduate school preparation, peer-to-peer mentorship and paid summer research internships.
Named after NASA astronaut Dr. Ronald E. McNair, Truman’s McNair Program is dedicated to providing academically driven students from first-generation, low-income and minority backgrounds with opportunities to set high career goals in the spirit of McNair’s dedication to his own education. McNair died on the Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986, and his legacy lives on through the strengths, hard work and successes of McNair Scholars at Truman and across the United States.
Currently, 85% of Truman’s McNair scholars qualify as low-income. This unique scholarship will provide help for talented students who may not otherwise graduate or attend graduate school without financial assistance. The scholarship is available in their junior year and renewable for seniors progressing through the program. The timing allows students to focus on undergraduate research experiences and graduate application preparation and submission without the burden of taking on additional debt or working long hours while in classes to afford education expenses.
McNAIR PROGRAM BY NUMBERS:
377 Scholars served who are now Truman alumni
82% Truman McNair Program alumni have completed or are currently enrolled in graduate programs
18% attained doctoral degrees
34 McNair Scholars served in 2021-2022
