Concord received a grant of $266,049 for the Robert E. McNair post baccalaureate achievement program, announced U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins on Monday, September 11.
The McNair program is designed to help first-generation and low-income college students succeed in school and prepare for their further careers in academia. It is one of the federally funded TRIO programs that help students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Currently, more than 8,300 students in West Virginia participate in TRIO. Jenkins said that Concord’s federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education for the McNair program would be renewed.
“This support network is vital to ensure students not only enter college but complete their degrees successfully,” said Jenkins about TRIO programs, according to Bluefield Daily Telegraph. “Thousands of West Virginia students are succeeding in college today thanks to TRIO, and I was proud to help secure increased funding for TRIO programs through the House Appropriations Committee.”
“Federal grants now are so competitive. You have to worry if you would continue to get them,” says President Kendra Boggess. “We are most appreciative of Congressman Jenkins’ assistance in this important award for funding. The McNair scholars program helps so many of our students, with the help of our faculty, and inspires them to greatness.”
Concord students selected for the McNair program get a chance to travel across the country to visit possible graduate schools and to work individually with faculty on professional-level research projects.
“It’s a very enlightening experience. When I went, it really helped me narrow down what I wanted out of a graduate college that maybe other people might not care about,” said James Trent, student at Concord and McNair program participant. “It’s also given me a lot of experience doing interviews, knowing what questions to ask professors at graduate schools, and what kind of preparation I should do to make sure the program I choose wants me as much as I want it.”