Theatre major Amber Chaney named McNair Scholar

Congratulations to Theatre major Amber Chaney, an OMSE (Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education) Honors Student who was named a scholar in the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program!

Congratulations to Theatre major Amber Chaney, an OMSE (Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education) Honors Student who was named a scholar in the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program! As an OMSE Honors student, she was required to maintain a 3.5 GPA, and with the support of the McNair Scholars program, she will conduct research on behalf of the University of Maryland. Through UMD’s Academic Achievement Programs (AAP), the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is designed to prepare students who are primarily from low-income, first generation and traditionally underrepresented groups to pursue doctoral studies.

McNair scholars are an “elite group of students [about 4,300 nationwide] selected for their academic achievement and commitment to pursuing a doctoral terminal degree.” Participation in the program enables students to benefit from the following:

• academic counseling;
• mentoring;
• paid summer research internship;
• advanced research and writing seminars;
• assistance with the identification and acquisition of graduate school financing;
• funded conferences;
• preparation for graduate school admission test;
• a special transcript notation;
• and application fee waivers to over 300 graduate programs

Of the honor, Amber says,

“Being a student at the University of Maryland has changed my life. I have no other support in life other then what I receive from my UMD family on campus. I am so grateful for all the opportunities and genuine encouragement I have received.”

Amber is no stranger to scholarships and awards—in Fall 2015, she also received the Mulitz-Gudelsky Fund Scholarship and the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Scholarship. In addition, she will study abroad this summer at the American University of Rome through UMD’s “Maryland in Rome” program.

This year, Amber was cast in two TDPS shows: the fall production of Intimate Apparel by African-American playwright Lynn Nottage as Mrs. Dickson; and the spring production of New Visions/New Voices: International Playwrights’ Initiative, an exciting collaboration with the Kennedy Center.

Amber plans to pursue an MA in Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Maryland’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, and she will continue perform at local theatres in Washington, DC.

Congratulations, Amber!

By Kate Spanos