UF McNair Celebrates 30th Anniversary

April 23, 2025
Making a BIG impact since 1995.

Three decades. That’s how long the McNair Scholars Program has supported University of Florida undergraduate students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds in pursuing a Ph.D. Faculty and students celebrated this incredible milestone last night during the Spring Recognition Program & 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Harn Museum of Art. 

The event’s agenda was a packed one. Gratitude was shown to UF McNair’s supporters. Senior students walked across the stage to receive recognition as graduates. New McNair Scholars were introduced and inducted. Lastly, graduates provided their testimonials, inspiring the room with real-world stories of what they achieved with support from the McNair Scholars Program. 

The McNair Scholars Program, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO initiative, was created to help undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds gain the skills and experiences needed to pursue doctoral programs. UF is one of two hundred institutions participating in the program. 

The program was first funded at UF in 1995 and has continuously served students for 30 years. Initially housed in the Graduate School, the program transitioned to the Office of Undergraduate Affairs in 2009, where it continues to thrive under the Student Success umbrella. 

Each year, UF McNair supports up to twenty-five scholars who demonstrate strong academic potential. Eligible participants are first-generation college students with financial need, as defined by federal guidelines. These scholars receive many benefits, including research stipends, travel to professional conferences, graduate school visits, mentorship, and guidance throughout the graduate school application process.  

To date, UF McNair has proudly produced 102 Ph.D. recipients and 62 professional doctorate holders (M.D., J.D., etc.), including five alumni who have earned dual doctorates. 

Looking ahead, the McNair Scholars Program is poised to continue its legacy of empowerment. It is a community of lives transformed, opening doors for future academic excellence. 

Interested in becoming a McNair Scholar? Learn how to apply to this little program with a BIG impact. 

Written by Braden Blue.