Dan Beal
My name is Dan Beal I am majoring in Communication and a minor in Sociology. I recently transferred to UNC from Aims Community College where I served as the Student Body President. I have some very healthy educational goals in which one includes receiving a PhD. in Education Leadership. I have returned to school after a twenty-one year hiatus due to the inability to work due to colon cancer. I have been five years cancer free and doing great. In my spare time I have volunteered with the Aims Volunteer Project, Poudre River Trail cleanup, Redarta Center Christmas, a Bi-County food drive for Weld and Larimer counties. At Aims, I was also a founding member and co-producer of the Aims Spotlight cable TV show as well as, a founding member of the Student Support Services Helping Hands Club.

Morgan Byrd
My name is Morgan Byrd and I am from Smithfield, VA. My major is Psychology and my minor is Chemistry. My academic goals are to graduate from UNC with honors, get into George Washington Medical School, and get my MD as an OB/GYN. I love to sing and dance.  My favorite group of all time is Boys to Men. I also love to cook. I cook all kinds of food but my favorite is Soul Food. I have just started my training at the Pregnancy Resource Center as a counselor and it is so interesting and fun. I love to learn about the development of infants and how the woman’s body works.

Sataira Douglas
My name is Sataira Douglas. I am from a small town in Iowa but have lived majority of my life in Aurora, Colorado. I am an Interdisciplinary Studies, Elementary Teaching major. I have an endorsement in English as a Second Language as well. I want to be an Elementary teacher in an inner city school with a large low-economic student population. I would like to go to graduate’s school to further my education about diverse minorities in education. I would like to work hard for students who it seems no one is listening to and hopefully impact one student at a time to contribute to a better, loving, and educated society.

Stacy Duncan
Hello! My name is Stacy Duncan; I was born and raised in Denver, CO. My major is Sociology with an emphasis in family studies; my minor is women’s studies. I plan on receiving my MA/PHD so I can become a marriage/sex therapist. I want to help couples build healthy relationships because it will untimely help the family as a whole. I am also interested in being a college professor. This year I will be the Diverse Events Coordinator for University Program Council at UNC! I am so proud and excited to be a McNair Scholar!

Michel Infante
I was born in Torrance, California; however, I was raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco and lived there until I was twelve. I am majoring in Sociology and Spanish. My academic goal is to graduate from UNC, and later attend Graduate School. I want to get a Master’s degree in Sociology and get involved as a Sociologist with government and public agencies that administer human services. In the spring of 2007 I received the Academic Excellence Award. Additionally, I have received 1st Place on the Spanish Poetry Contest hosted by Sigma Delta Pi (Spring 2006, Spring 2007). In addition, I am a member of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and The National Scholar Honors Society.

Carlos Marin
My name is Carlos Marin. I was born and raised here in Greeley. I graduated from Greeley West then attended Aims Communty College for two years, and transfered to UNC just this fall! I’m so thrilled and happy to be here. I’m music major with an emphasis in classical guitar performance. One day I hope to get my Doctorate and become a professor of classical guitar. I would also like to get a degree in music composition. Besides playing guitar, I play the piano, and I also write music. My favorite type of music is Broadway showtunes and my favorite composer is Stephen Sondheim. For any people who are Sweeney Todd fans, he wrote the music to that musical. Stephen Sondheim is my idol and his style of writing is reflected through my writing. Just this July, I got my first song ever written performed by two Aims students. So, I’m very happy. All in all, I love music and I’m happy to be a part of the Mcnair program.

Cheerish Martin
Bueno! My name is Cheerish (Cherish) Martin I am an astounding junior at UNC studying Musical Theatre and Speech Pathology. I grew up a military brat and was privileged to live and travel through Europe. Finally I moved to Colorado Springs, CO when I was five years old. I moved to Texas at age ten and enjoyed scorching heat and amazing family members. I couldn’t stay away from the beautiful and infamous purple mountains, which look rather blue to me. I graduated from Sierra High School in Colorado Springs, CO and plan on being the first in my family to graduate from college. I plan on earning my bachelors in musical theatre and speech pathology and eventually my masters in speech pathology. Freshman year I was honored to play a major supporting role in Greeley’s first African American play “Crumbs from the Table of Joy”.

Dena Mawlawi
My name is Dena Mawlawi, I grew up in Fort Collins and I’m currently in the Elementary Education program here at UNC. My concentration is in Mathematics, but I’m also very interested in literature and multiculturalism in schools. I hope to be a teacher when I graduate, however I am also interested in curriculum development and I would like to help develop a curriculum that focuses on bringing the entire student to the classroom -especially their cultural backgrounds. One thing others should know about me is I’m a big sister. I have three younger sisters and even though I don’t live with them anymore, I still play a very large roll in their lives.

Courtnee Mendes-Persson
My name is Courtnee Mendes-Persson, I am Colorado Springs, Colorado. I am a Journalism Major with an emphasis in public relations and a political science minor. I plan to attend graduate school and receive a PhD to become a lobbyist. I have solely paid my way through school.

Lauren Mieszala
My name is Lauren Mieszala from Broomfield, Colorado. I am a senior Pre-Health Chemistry Major with a strong passion for the medical field. I hope to attend medical school or a few select masters programs within the health sciences field, eventually becoming an anesthesiologist.  Along with McNair Scholars Program, I am also a member of Alpha Phi International Fraternity, Order of Omega Greek Honors Society, Pre-Health Professionals Club, and of Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society. Though I do love Colorado, my life goals include living on a beach somewhere at one point in my life, and I absolutely love the sun and water and summer is my favorite time of the year! Give me palm trees and sun, and I am one happy camper!

Luis Morales
My Name is Luis Morales. I was born and raised in Colorado. I come from Platteville, Colorado, which is a rather small town. I am a Liberal Arts Music Major. The instrument that I concertrate on is the electric and Double Bass. I have not picked my minor yet, but because of my passion for film and the expericance of making a short film in the CHE program, I am interested in picking a film minor. What I strive for is being the best musician I can be. I hope to become a professional musician in any genre of music or a Sound Engineer. I am a very decicated musician and am involved in several musical projects outside of school which include an alterative band called "Floof and The Time Bandits" and live hip-hop band called "The Squid Kids."

Anthony Severtson
My name is Anthony Severtson but I prefer to be called Tony. I am 21 years old and from Denver Colorado. I am a senior psychology major and I am interested in obtaining a doctorate in either clinical or counseling psychology. I would like to either contribute more research or provide counseling in the areas of child and adolescents or relationships.  I am a HUGE fan of the New York Yankees and have been all my life and I also love to play golf as much as I can.

Michael Spindle
My name is Michael Spindle, I hail from Lafayette, Colorado. I am a Psychology major with a minor in Biological Sciences.   intend to pursue a PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Cognitive Neuroscience at a Research I University and, in the long term, I intend to teach and conduct research at a University.   am the proud owner of a beautiful new drum set, which occupies most of my free time. Besides drumming, I also like to listen to music, read, or just sit and let my mind wander.

Tia Stroup
I am Tia Stroup from Colorado Springs, Colorado. I am a 3rd year Psychology major, graduating this May. I plan to earn my Ed.S. in school psychology to work at an alternative high school. Since moving to Greeley, I have been part of a non-profit in Evan called c.a.r.e. We work to prevent child abuse by providing parenting classes and supervised visits. We hold several fund raisers a year that I have had the opportunity to work in creating. Working with c.a.r.e. has allowed me to work in a field that I am truly passionate about and hope to make a difference in. The McNair program will allow me to further interact with these high-risk populations through my research project.

Beatriz Valdez
My name is Beatriz Valdez. I am coming at you from Fort Morgan, Colorado, a small own in eastern Colorado. I am an English major with a minor in Asian studies. I absolutely love my degree because it combines my love of English with my love of foreign language. With my degree I want to enter law school. Ever since my freshman year of college, I have always dreamed of defending people and interpreting laws. Did you know that I absolutely hate plants with giant leaves? I don’t know if there’s a name for that phobia, but I have it!

Tamara West
My name is Tamara West. I am from Colorado Springs, Colorado. I am an IDLA major for elementary education with an emphasis in music education. I hope to graduate in December 2010 with my BA, and then go on to graduate school. I love to be outdoors, especially in the mountains. My favorite outdoor activities are hiking, snowboarding, and camping. I also love to listen to music, sing, and write my own music.

Khadijah White
My name is Khadijah White and I am a Senior graduating this spring. I grew up in a neighborhood called Park Hill down in Denver. I lived there for 19 years and I now live in Green Valley Ranch. My major is Computer Graphics. Some academic goals I have are to graduate from undergrad and go on to graduate school. My ultimate goal is to work for Dreamworks as an animator. One unique quality about me is that I am a visual learner.

Shannon Worrell
My name is Shannon Worrell. I am originally from a small mountain town, Idaho Springs, and this is where I spent a majority of my life. I attended high school at Green Mountain High in Lakewood. I am an elementary education major, with an emphasis in English as a second language. I plan to teach kindergarten in Jefferson County, hopefully in the Green Mountain area. After I teach for a few years I plan to obtain my masters in either school psychology or administration. I have always loved working with kids and am still, and always will be, a kid at heart.