TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Chantell Smith and DeAndre’ Howard, both of Montgomery, and Basirat Alabai of Millbrook conducted research at The University of Alabama as members of the 2005 McNair Scholars class.

Smith, a 2005 graduate of UA, conducted her research with UA faculty mentor Dr. Miguel Mantero in the ESL Program of the College of Education during the summer of 2004. As well as co-authoring a research report for the UA McNair Journal on “Literature, Dialogue and Learning in the Second Language Classroom,” Smith has also been published in Reallia, with an article on “Engaged in a Dream: Spain, Literature, and the McNair Scholarship.” Her future plans include returning to the Montgomery area to teach and work towards her master’s degree.

Howard, an accounting major at UA, conducted his research with UA faculty mentor Dr. William Samson and Lisa McKinney in the College of Commerce and Business Administration department of accounting during the summer of 2004. Howard co-authored a research report for the UA McNair Journal on “Taxing Internet Sales: Analysis of the States’ Implementation of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project.” After graduating, Howard plans to pursue a master’s degree in tax accounting at UA.

Alabai, a 2005 graduate of UA, conducted his research with UA faculty mentor Dr. Joan Barth in the Institute for Social Science Research during the summer of 2004. Alabai co-authored a research report for the UA McNair Journal on “Relationship of Parent and Teacher Evaluations to Academic Self-Concept.” Alabai plans to attend graduate school at UCLA to pursue a doctorate in developmental psychology.

The McNair Scholars Program is named after Dr. Ronald E. McNair, a first-generation college student who earned a doctorate in physics at MIT. Later, as an astronaut, he became the second African-American in space. He was among those who died in the 1986 Challenger accident. Honoring his legacy, McNair Scholars is a prestigious scholarship and research program that helps prepare accomplished undergraduates for graduate study. A U.S. Department of Education TRIO program, McNair Scholars targets first-generation college students and those from other groups underrepresented in doctoral programs.