UA HOLMES SCHOLARS ATTEND SUMMER INSTITUTE

September 26, 2008

Marcus McBride and Annie Smith, Holmes Scholars for The University of Alabama, attended the Summer Institute conference August 10-14 at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas where they learned the importance of having a mentor and realizing their purpose as a Holmes Scholar.

“At the conference, I was able to reflect on my reasoning for entering the doctoral program and how it is so important for me to remember that I have something to share with the future teachers of the world,” said McBride, who is earning his doctorate in educational psychology and will defend his dissertation this fall. “I want to help make all students have a rewarding educational experience.”

Smith, who also is earning her doctorate in educational psychology, said she realized at the conference that she was surrounded by people with the same feelings and who are also going through the same struggles.

“As people were giving lectures, I realized that I was not alone being a Holmes Scholar,” Smith said. “Everyone around me was feeling the same thing, going through the same struggles. I realized I was not alone and that the other Holmes Scholars were people who understood everything I was going through.”

For Smith, being a Holmes Scholar means having the resources to help her get through the program, mentors, networking and access to professors from different colleges who she can learn first-hand from.

“The most exciting part of being a Holmes Scholar is going to different conferences and actually getting to meet people we site in our research,” Smith said. “I get to hear about research from the authors themselves.”
McBride said he is honored to be a part of a program aimed at adding diversity to in institutions of higher education.

“This is a national program and I am grateful for the experience,” McBride said. “Being a Holmes Scholar was the most rewarding experience as a Doctoral student. I was able to work with students, teachers and other faculty that I might not have the chance to work with if I was not a Holmes Scholar.”

About Holmes Scholars

Established in 1991, the Holmes Scholar Program was put in place to enrich the experience and professional training of men and women of color who are underrepresented in leadership positions in universities and professional development schools. The program is aimed at increasing diversity. It is a very selective, very competitive and very prestigious program.

About the College

The College of Education at The University of Alabama provides outstanding teaching, research and service while addressing state and regional interests as well as incorporating national and international perspectives. The College of Education is ranked 87th by U.S. News and World Report which places it in the top 3 percent of accredited colleges and schools of education in the U.S. In addition, the College received an 'A' on the most recent Alabama State Department of Education Institutional Report Card. About 10 percent of students in the UA community are College of Education majors.