Fellowships Home | International | National | Undergraduate | Scholar Profiles

Sara Hinojos '07 and Randy Gomez '07 Named McNair Scholars

Pitzer seniors Sara Hinojos and Randy Gomez have been named McNair Scholars

Sara Hinojos '07 and Randy Gomez '07 have traveled similar paths in life and share many commonalities. They both were double majors with Sara majoring in sociology and Chicano Studies and Randy in sociology and art. They both have sisters who graduated from Pitzer. They both studied abroad in Parma as part of the Pitzer in Italy study program. They both are active in many of the same collegiate activities, including the Chiapas Support Committee, Chicano Latino Student Affairs (CLSA), and the Latino Student Union. Randy also served on Student Senate's Judiciary Board and assisted in the after-school Heroes program as well as the Pomona Day Labor Center. Sara also sat on Student Senate on the Diversity Committee, and participated in Heroes and the Pomona Day Labor Center.

Their reasons for selecting Pitzer College were similar as well. "I visited a class with my sister while I was still in junior high and was impressed with the small class size. I have found Pitzer to have a strong support network and was especially pleased to learn of the Chicano Latino Student Affairs Office, the social responsibility focus of the College and the opportunities presented by the five undergraduate Claremont Colleges," Sara said.

While Sara plans to pursue a professorship in Ethnic Studies, Randy is interested in either completing an MFA or MBA program. "The McNair Scholarship program will help me determine which course I want to pursue in graduate school as well as advance my research skills," said Randy. Sara and Randy along with the other selected McNair Scholars will present their research at two different conferences. "I am also looking forward to publishing my research as a result of this scholarship program," Sara added.

McNair Scholarship
    The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, known at Claremont Graduate University as the McNair Scholars Program, is for students who have completed at least their sophomore year and are first-generation and low-income students, or who are from a group underrepresented at the doctoral level (African-American, Latino-American, or Native American).
     Established in 1986 by the U.S. Department of Education and named for astronaut and Challenger space shuttle crew member Ronald McNair, the program encourages students to pursue graduate studies by providing opportunities to define goals, engage in research, and develop the skills and student/faculty mentor relationships critical to success at the doctoral level.
     The scholarship award includes a six-week summer session at Claremont Graduate University and a stipend. For more information about the program, visit www.cgu.edu/pages/380.asp