2025 McNair Scholars inductees and graduates honored at annual banquet

March 28, 2025

Southeastern Oklahoma State University inducted 11 students to the 2025 class of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program and celebrated the graduation of six program members at a banquet Friday in the Hallie McKinney Ballroom.

The 11 McNair Scholars Program inductees are Adam Canler, a junior psychology major from Atoka; Shanna Chill, a senior community psychology major from Ardmore; Candice Fisher, a senior psychology major from Durant; Kincade Hise, a junior biology major from Durant; Tessa Jinkins, a junior criminal justice major from Savoy, Texas; Cristen (CJ) Jones, a junior biological health sciences major from Durant; Magnus Laitinen, a sophomore computer science major from Pottsboro, Texas; Daryen Montana, a junior sociology major from Shawnee; Hailie Pittman, a senior English major with a writing emphasis from Atoka; Tracey Rothbauer, a sophomore liberal and applied studies major from Krebs; and Elizabeth Trammell, a senior psychology major from Durant.

The three graduates in either the Fall 2024, Spring 2025, or Summer 2025 commencement ceremonies are biology major Shandra Jones of Durant; psychology and sociology major Cynthia Keeth of Depew; and occupational safety and health major Melissa Kocher of Arlington, Texas. Fall 2024 graduates from the McNair Scholars program were criminal justice major Amanda Keeling of Durant; aviation management major Donald Oakes of Jacksonville, Fla.; and occupational safety and health major Madison Saunders of McKinney, Texas.

These graduates earned the right to wear the McNair Scholars honor cord at their commencement ceremony, which entails participation and completion of at least one Summer Research Institute, presentation of their research from the Summer Research Institute at a conference, and participation in scholarly activities.

Several McNair Scholars have displayed outstanding academic achievements and commitment to continuous learning and personal growth. Each of them has demonstrated resilience, curiosity, and a passion for knowledge that sets them apart.

Kincade Hise has been selected to participate in the Oklahoma IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (OK-INBRE) Summer Undergraduate Research Program at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center for Summer 2025.

Kai Jones has been accepted to present their research from the Koobi Fora Field School in Kenya at the Paleoanthropology Society 2025 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colo., on April 22-23, 2025.

Cynthia Keeth has been admitted to the Sociology graduate program at Oklahoma State University for Fall 2025.

Melissa Kocher has been accepted into Southeastern’s Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health program for Summer 2025.

Wren Pettett has been awarded a scholarship to attend the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society’s Annual National Conference in Riverton, Wyo., on May 12-15, 2025.

Hailie Pittman has been accepted to the 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at Yale University.

Makinsy Ringels has been selected to participate in the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center for Summer 2025.

The McNair Scholars Program at Southeastern is designed to provide 25 underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation students with mentoring from staff and faculty, academic counseling, tutoring, and opportunities to conduct and present research. Through seminars, lectures, and a summer research institute geared to providing information on applying to graduate school, teaching assistantships, and developing a research-based thesis, SE’s McNair Scholars will be prepared to successfully complete graduate school studies. Scholars are encouraged to continue through the attainment of the Ph.D.

The Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program was created in his honor by the U.S. Department of Education in 1989. Dr. McNair was one of seven crew members killed in the space shuttle Challenger explosion on January 28, 1986.