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30 Facts About Challenger Astronaut, Ronald McNair

Tim Flight December 28, 2019 20 min

Ronald McNair - Dr. Ronald McNair — McNair on board the Challenger, 1984. Berkeley

3. The US Department of Education offers a scholarship named after McNair

McNair, Guion Bluford and Frederick Gregory in May 1979. Wikimedia Commons

Beyond his influence as an inspirational figure, Ronald’s name is attached to more literal educational schemes befitting of his memory. Most famous is the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program offered by the US Department of Education. This scholarship aims to encourage and enable students from underrepresented and disadvantaged demographics to pursue doctoral work. In 1996, the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Educational Science Literacy Foundation (DREME) was launched. The DREME Foundation aims to assist in teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It also offers schools for children of all ages and several scholarships. Such aims were close to Ronald’s heart.

Written by

Tim Flight

I am a freelance historical and literary writer based in West Yorkshire, UK. I read for a funded PhD in English at the University of Oxford (Magdalen College) and graduated in 2016. I am a former lecturer in Medieval English Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London. My publications include peer-reviewed articles in academic publications, and pieces in mainstream magazines such as History Today and Fortean Times. For more information, please see www.drflight.co.uk