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example), summer internship opportunities,
conference attendance, graduate school
visits, preparation for the Graduate Record
Examination (GRE), assistance with graduate school applications—and a generous
stipend, on top of all that.
Money makes the program somewhat challenging to administer, Kanno admits. Potential scholars are attracted by the money “but
we want students who are looking for more
than money,” she says. “We look for students
with character and a vision.”
They don’t need to have all the advantages,
she adds; in fact, many are “diamonds in
the rough” who have survived poverty,
homelessness or worse. What Kanno does
look for is capability and something else: a
dream—and the courage to go beyond familiar horizons.
Community is an important element of
the McNair program. Students share their
research and experiences with other students
at various campus events. By working with a
mentor, they also learn to discuss