I was born and raised in Colorado Springs, CO. I am majoring in Dietetics and my goal is to go to Physician ’s Assistant school. I hope to work in a hospital, Pediatrics or with cancer research. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others and hope to find a better way to help the community become more informed about nutritional issues and how to decrease the prevalence of nutrition-related diseases. My family is the most important thing in the world to me. I also cannot make it through the day without music and I am addicted to snowboarding. I really love Colorado and hope to live in Vail or Keystone one day.

Hygiene, Colorado
Geography GIS
For an eventual goal I know I want to teach, however long it takes to accomplish that goal is no problem with me. I am also General Manager of UNC Student Radio, so make sure to listen in on Channel Three in the dorms and online at our website, www.unco.edu/uncradio

I am Letisha Engracia Cardoso Brown, and I was born at St. Josephs Hospital in Denver Colorado, however, I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Richmond, Kentucky, Pullman, Washington and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.   I am an Africana Studies Major with a Minor in Multicultural Anthropology; I hope to earn my Doctorate of Law, as well as a Masters in International Relations and eventually a PhD in Africana Studies.  Being a McNair Scholar for me is a huge blessing, because it is something that according to several doctors was never to have been a possibility for me.  I was born three months premature, and the doctors worried about the amount of oxygen that was getting to my brain, and as far as they were concerned I would be lucky to turn out average.  Being a part of the McNair Program and working on this project lets me know that anything is possible, no matter what anyone says.  I hope that with this program doors and opportunities will be opened up to me as far as graduate school goes, and that I will be able to achieve the goals and dreams that I have laid out for myself.  I hope that I get to spend at least a portion of my graduate education abroad, and to perhaps someday find myself working with the UN, as a Foreign Ambassador, or practice law as an attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office, and perhaps even someday become a federal judge.  No matter what I end up

Aloha! My name is Roxanne Dacuycuy.  I am from Waialua, Hawaii, a small town in the North Shore of Oahu. However, I was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States when I was seven. I am in my first year of nursing school here at UNC. I am so happy to have gotten accepted in the program. It’s definitely a challenge, but I’m excited to become a registered nurse and become an essential part in the care of people’s health. I also want to pursue graduate studies in nursing education. Being a McNair Scholar has definitely given me the opportunity to pursue these goals. I hope that I can portray the same attributes and meet the excellence Ronald McNair had in his influential life.

My name is James Davey and I was born in Colorado Spring, Colorado. I have spent the majority of my life living in Greeley. I plan to major in psychology with a minor in business administration. I am currently applying to graduate schools for industrial psychology.

I am Leslie Dias, a junior at the University of Northern Colorado.  I am majoring in Political Science and working on a minor in History.   I was born and raised in Lafayette, Colorado.  I am currently very interested in Middle Eastern affairs and recently returned from Israel.  I plan on attending law school to study international law or working towards a PhD in the field of International Affairs after finishing my B.A. at UNC.  I am very passionate about foreign affairs and international politics and would love to play a role in America’s future role on the international scene one day.

My name is Ashley Knobbs and I am a senior here at UNC, and loving every minute of it! I have had the pleasure of meeting amazing people and learning amazing things here, as well as having the opportunity to become a McNair Scholar. I was born and raised in Golden, Colorado with a wonderful family that assisted in making me who I am today. I am currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in psychology, as well as applying to eight different graduate schools where I plan to receive my PhD. With this degree I would like to enter into the world of academia, eventually open up my own practice, and begin to create and support a family of my own.

HEY! I am Becca Martinez, born and raised in suburbia (a.k.a. Broomfield, CO). I am currently double majoring in Psychology and Human Services. After receiving these two humanistic degrees I will attend graduate school in pursuit to become a Marriage and Family Therapist. As a licensed Psychologist, I plan to heal broken marriages, protect hurt children, and learn a thing or two about myself along the way. I live by the mantra “I will not stay stagnant in mediocrity; I will always strive for the best”! I believe in education, and in myself, and THANK YOU McNair Scholars Program for giving me my future.

My name is Aundrea Montaño and I am majoring in International Studies with an emphasis in Asia. Additionally, I have three minors in Economics, Asian Studies, and Chinese language. I grew up in Loveland, CO and consider it my official hometown. However, I called Las Vegas, NV home for nearly seven years and consider that my hometown as well. I left my career in Las Vegas with Special Olympics Nevada to return back to the academic world to receive my bachelor’s degree, and ultimately a master’s degree. Although challenging, returning to school was an amazing decision and I am having a wonderful time advancing my knowledge.  My passion is traveling! I have been able to feed my passion by traveling extensively throughout East and Southeast Asia. During my travels I have taught community health programs to educate local people how to avoid infectious diseases such as malaria. Traveling has provided me a glimpse of the world at large and I look forward serving people around the globe.

My name is Amy R. Nelloms.  I was born in San Diego, CA, but I consider Greeley to be home.  My major is Audiology/Speech Language and I am planning to minor in Sign Language when it is offered.  My goal at this point is to go to grad school and get my Au.D. (Doctorate of Audiology). I am not sure what setting I would like to work in at this point but I can’t wait to learn more about the field I’m about to enter!!!  A random fact about me is that I have a pet guinea pig named Winston that I absolutely love to death!!!

Hello. My Name is Shiraya Soto. I am from Denver Colorado and I am beginning this program with nerves coming out of my pores!!! BUT, I am very excited to earn all the opportunities ahead. I am majoring in Psychology with a minor in Coaching. I hope to go into the new field of Sports Psychology or become a coach in the sport of basketball. Something unique about me…I am 21 with a big kid heart; I love The Lion King and Shrek (the original) and have 4 little brothers to share it with!!

My name is Whitney Walker. I was born and raised in Aurora, Colorado. I will be graduating after three years in May of 2009 from UNC, with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology. With this B.A. I hope to get into a graduate program and eventually obtain my PhD. I am unsure of specifically which field I want to go into, but am leaning toward Social Work. I want to work with at risk youth and preventative programs. I come from a pretty big family with three brothers and two sisters. Being involved in juvenile delinquency at one point in time, I would like to help others get out of trouble as early as possible (like those who helped me). Having personal experience sets a deep passion in my heart to help and spread my knowledge to others.