Established in 1986 by the U.S. Department of Education and named for astronaut-physicist and Challenger space shuttle crew member Ronald E. McNair, Ph.D., the McNair Scholars Program aims to increase the number of first-generation students with financial need in doctoral programs.
The UNL McNair Scholars Program is structured to support talented, highly motivated students as they strive to achieve their educational goals, introduce scholars to the many opportunities an academic life offers, provide scholars with a foundation for graduate school, and create a "pipeline" of talented, dedicated, and prepared future researchers and faculty.