John Armour is a senior residing in Morgantown, West Virginia.  He is president of West Virginia Universities’ chapter of Habitat for Humanity, treasurer of Sigma Tau Delta, and the recipient of the Eleanor Tucker Donley Memorial Scholarship. He plans to graduate in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a concentration on creative writing.   His McNair project will involve researching multimedia fiction under the direction of faculty mentor Dr. Sandy Baldwin.  John likes cats.

Nicholas Fagundo is a rising junior in English from Wheeling, West Virginia. For his McNair research project he will be conducting a study of the Persian novel The Blind Owl by Sadegh Hedayat using existentialism and postcolonialism to analyze the themes, imagery, ideas and problems the novel presents. He spent the fall semester of his sophomore year studying at Al Akhawayn University in Morocco and will be spending the upcoming fall semester studying Spanish and Mexican literature at the University of Guanajuato. After graduating from WVU, Nicholas hopes to continue with both his love of learning and traveling.

Mariana Freitas is a rising junior, from Bridgeport, West Virginia, originally from Salvador, Brazil. She is pursuing a double major in Sociology and Chinese, as well as a minor in Business. She plans of furthering her education by attending graduate school to refine her Chinese knowledge and skill with the hope of spreading the opportunity to learn the language to younger students. Mariana’s interests also include being outdoors, staying healthy and in shape, visiting friends and family, and traveling.

Chelsea Fuller is a rising junior majoring in Journalism with a minor in Africana Studies.  She is a member of National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and an active member in the Black Student Union at WVU.  As a McNair Scholar, she is conducting research on the experiences of African American graduate students at historically Black institutions versus those of students at predominately white institutions. Her research is being conducted under the guidance of faculty mentor Dr. Shelley Savage.  Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Chelsea plans to pursue a master’s degree followed by a PhD.  She then intends to work in the print media reporting on the political, social and economic issues of people of color while continuing to conduct research in related fields.  Eventually she would like to teach college level Journalism and Pan- African Studies.  In her spare time, Chelsea likes to write, read, and play volleyball with her friends.

Deanna Hoard is a senior from Morgantown, West Virginia.  She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree through the Board of Regents Program with an emphasis in Native American Studies and Creative Writing.  She is conducting her McNair research under the direction of Dr. Cari Carpenter through the English department.  Her project focuses on images of Native American adolescents in young adult novels and issues of reader-character identification.  She is interested in post graduate work in either creative writing or Native American studies.

Jeffery Mahaney is a senior from Pennsboro, West Virginia majoring in Philosophy.  His interests relating to philosophy include, but are not limited to, the ancient philosophers (especially Parmenides), the philosophy of language, metaontology, and continental philosophy.  Jeff was the 2007-2008 recipient of both the McKay-Coast Scholarship and the Jerry L. Knight Scholarship. His non-philosophy interests include reading, listening to music, and the computer.  His McNair research concerns an explication of matter and substance in Aristotle, focusing on the Metaphysics Zeta and the Categories, along with important secondary literature.  He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in philosophy following his undergraduate career at West Virginia University

Sunny Narayanan is a rising sophomore with junior status.  He now lives in Morgantown, West Virginia, but is originally from Bonn, Germany. A student in the Honor’s program, he is pursuing a double-major, with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Biology.  He is also working in the WVU Nanosystems emphasis program. His McNair research focuses on working with various members of WVU faculty on the development of an electrochemical biosensor to detect concentration levels of chemotherapeutic drugs in vivo, specifically at tumor sites. Sunny’s particular role is working with Dr. Peter Gannett from Health Sciences in determining what kind of aptamer, a component of the sensor, will bind most effectively with cisplatin. In his free time, he likes visiting with friends, practicing Tae kwon do, reading, and enjoying the outdoors.

Robin Nelson is a senior from Pocahontas County, West Virginia.  She is currently working on a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Investigating, while pursing minors in Child Development and French.  She plans to continue her education by attending graduate school with the hope of changing her community in a positive way.

Luisa Padilla is a senior from Morgantown, West Virginia.  She plans to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology and a minor in Italian studies. After completing her undergraduate studies, she intends to enroll in an M.D/PhD program. Luisa has been involved in several organizations on and off campus. In addition to acting as the membership and fundraising chair of the pre-health honorary Alpha Epsilon Delta, Luisa is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Exercise Physiology Club, and the Latin American Association.  She has also volunteered at Monongalia General Hospital’s birth center.  Her McNair research will involve studying the use of biofeedback on the tongue to improve postural control in subjects with dizziness related to migraine headaches.  Luisa’s other interest include the study of foreign languages, bowling, watching movies, spending time with friends and/family, and dancing to Latin music.

Norly Prucien is a senior at West Virginia University majoring in Exercise Physiology.  He is a first generation college student from Boston, Massachusetts.  He is a member of the Exercise Physiology Club and the Lutheran Disaster Response Collegiate Corps (LDRCC).  He has performed community service in clinical settings and has aided in rebuilding the homes of hurricane Katrina victims.  After completing an undergraduate degree, Norly hopes to pursue a Masters in Exercise Physiology and then a Doctorate in physiology.  He has a passion for exercise and all around health and well being.  His passions include Olympic weightlifting, dancing, music, running, and karaoke.

Rita Anne Snyder is a junior in the WVU Honors College majoring in Political Science and Women’s Studies while pursuing a minor in History.  Snyder is from Akron, Ohio. She is a 2008-2009 Eberly Scholar and is the current president of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance as well as the secretary of the American Civil Liberties Union on campus. Rita’s interests include politics and the electoral process.  She has worked on congressional, gubernatorial and presidential elections within the state of Ohio. She is also interested in social welfare issues affecting women and children and plans to earn a PhD in Public Policy to help formulate policies targeted to benefit disadvantaged Americans. Her current research involves how gender stereotypes might affect the electability of a female president, focusing specifically on the campaign of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Jenny Erin Steele is a senior from Ripley, West Virginia pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology as well as Bachelor of Arts degrees in Criminology and Women’s Studies.  Her McNair research will examine the correlation between poverty and domestic violence under the guidance of faculty mentor Dr. Leslie Towers.  Her goal is to teach in a university setting while conducting research involving poverty and family violence in an effort to influence state policies.  She also intends to open a domestic violence shelter somewhere in southern West Virginia in honor of an aunt, who died as the result of domestic violence in August, 2007.  She loves the outdoors and spends her summers camping at music festivals with her children and fiancé.

Brandon Thomas is a rising junior, from Charleston, West Virginia.  He is majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Brandon spent his sophomore year as a WVU resident assistant as well as working with the local Boys and Girls Club. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, he plans to work toward a master’s degree in Public Relations/ Image Management. He then intends to pursue a PhD in a related field.  His ultimate goal is to continue doing research on the influences of media on society.

Kayla Tutalo is a senior in the Eberly School of Arts and Sciences majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Sociology. She holds three academic scholarships through the university and plans to graduate in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies.  Within the McNair Scholars Program, she plans to research the communicative patterns between physician-patient relationships among college students.  Kayla loves to be outside as much as possible and enjoys photography.  She is an avid movie-goer and loves almost all genres of music, especially live performances.  Later in life she plans to own a street bike, try skydiving, and go whitewater rafting. After college, Kayla intends to council couples on interpersonal relationship matters and perhaps pursue a career hosting a television show.

Yolanda Maria Wiggins is a junior from Hyattsville, Maryland.  She is enrolled in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences double majoring in Political Science and Women’s Studies.  Yolanda is a member of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, the Council for Women’s Concerns, the Residence Hall Association Executive Board, and the Gold and Blue Student Ambassador Program. She is also a member of the Student Support Services TRIO program. To Yolanda, McNair represents opportunity.  Ready and willing to accept life’s challenges and make positive contributions to society, she believes that all that is needed for her to realize her goals is opportunity.  Yolanda’s motivation for pursuing graduate and doctoral level study in Public Policy education is to create positive change in the world by representing the very change she wishes to see in the world.  Mentored by Dr. Rachael A. Woldoff through the Department of Sociology, Yolanda’s McNair research focuses on the experiences of black students at predominantly white institutions in Appalachia.  In her spare time, she loves to go rock climbing at the WVU recreation center, watch movies, read, spend time with friends, and travel. She believes that the McNair Scholars Program will equip her with the tools necessary to succeed, while reaching out to help others find their niches as well.