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Ronald Ervin McNair, Ph.D. (October 21, 1950-January 28, 1986) was an African American physicist and
NASA astronaut. He attended North Carolina A & T State University where he graduated magna cum
laude with a B.S. degree in physics in 1971. McNair then enrolled in the prestigious Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. In 1976, at the age of 26, he earned his Ph.D. in laser physics. That same year,
McNair won the AAU Karate gold medal. He would subsequently win five regional championships and
earn a fifth-degree black belt in karate.


In 1978, Dr. McNair was selected as one of 35 applicants from a pool of 10,000 for the NASA astronaut
program. Dr. McNair flew as a mission specialist on STS-41-B aboard Challenger from February 3 to 11,
1984, becoming the second African American to fly in space. Following the STS-41-B mission, Dr. McNair
was selected for STS-51-L as one of three mission specialists in a crew of seven. The mission launched on
January 28, 1986. He and the other six crew members were killed when Challenger disintegrated nine
miles above the Atlantic Ocean, 73 seconds after liftoff. Dr. McNair was posthumously awarded the
Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 2004, along with all crew members lost in the Challenger and
Columbia disasters.

In honor and memory of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the Ronald E. McNair Scholarship Fund was established and dedicated to the high standards of achievement inspired by Dr. McNair’s life.

In honor and memory of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the Dr.
Ronald E. McNair Memorial Scholarship Fund was
established and dedicated to the high standards of
achievement inspired by Dr. McNair's life.

In honor and memory of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the Ronald E. McNair Scholarship Fund was established and dedicated to the high standards of achievement inspired by Dr. McNair’s life.

Dr. Ronald E. McNair Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Ronald E. McNair Memorial Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to
college-bound students in the metropolitan Houston area. The fund awards scholarships
in two categories:

  • The Ronald E. McNair Memorial Scholarship - A four-year scholarship awarded
    to outstanding students each year.

  • The Leon Flowers Scholarship - A one-time award given to college-bound
    students.

Dr. Ronald E. McNair Scholars

  • 2023 Recipients
    Ryan Sweat
    Bryce Lanier
    Keith Armwood

Leon Flowers Scholars

  • College/University
    Prairie View A&M University
    Howard University
    Morehouse College

  • High School
    Atascocita HS
    Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
    Pro Vision Academy

  • 2022 Recipients
    Marion Williams
    Kennedy Adams
    Tyler Perkins

  • College/University
    Southwestern University
    Texas Tech University
    Texas State University

  • High School
    Madison HS
    Kingwood HS
    Seven Lakes HS

  • 2021 Recipients
    Charra Bridges
    Ashton Parker

  • College/University
    Dillard University
    Southern University

  • High School
    Hightower HS
    Westfield HS

  • 2019 Recipients
    Iman Davis

  • College/University
    Howard University

  • High School
    North Shore HS

2023 Recipients

Kristen Ashley

Joshua Chacko

Baile Mills

Jessica Whittaker

Darius Gardener

Priscilla Diaz

Grant Jackson

Kameron Allen

Christopher Hernandez

Jeremy Gillespie

Dobeart Williams

College/University

Prairie View A&M University

University of Texas at Austin

Southern University

Prairie View A&M University

University of Oklahoma

University of Texas at Austin

Xavier University

Louisiana State University

Texas A&M University

Sam Houston State

North American University

High School

George Ranch HS

Summer Creek HS

Langham Creek HS

Bellaire HS

Shadow Creek HS

North Shore HS

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

St. Thomas' Episcopal School

North Shore HS

Dawson HS

Foster HS

High School

Summer Creek HS

Summer Creek HS

College/University

Lone Star College

University A&M Alabama

2022 Recipients

Darrian McWilliams

Lynton Wayne Edwards

College/University

Xavier University

University of Texas at Austin

Xavier University

University of Texas

Prairie View A&M University

Loyola University (Chicago, IL)

2021 Recipients

Skye Thunder

Mason Meja

Saige McCann

Jonathan Chacko

Madysonn LaChapelle

Jillian Green

High School

Kerr HS

Brazosport HS

Shadow Creek HS

Summer Creek HS

Cypress Park HS

St. Agnes Academy

2019 Recipients

Justin Mouton

Adorah Barker

Chandler Green

Justin Harrison

Zachary Steward

Langston White

College/University

Illinois Institute of Technology

Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State University

Morehouse College

North Carolina A&T University

Howard University

High School

Westbury HS

Dawson HS

Pearland HS

Jack Yates HS

Clear Falls HS

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