Progress 02/01/11 to 01/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes under-represented minorities at the college level. Of the scholars supported, most (80%) were firstgeneration college graduates of their families. Changes/Problems:One of the major problems during the last reporting period was that two of the scholars were still defining their major and terminal degree. Finally, all scholars have already defined their short and medium-term goals after succesful graduation. They overcome a few personal and academic difficulties and graduated in the spring of 2016 and look forward to continuing their professional development. Out of the four scholars, two are looking forward to postgraduate (MS or PhD) education in the near future and one is already admited to a PhD program. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training opportunities included participation in other undergraduate research-related courses with field experience and serving as mentors for poster design and presentation for younger fellows. We will continue with leadership participation in the MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) localchapter, and with the preparation of scholarship applications for graduate school. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Some results from scholars were disseminated at the 2015 undergraduatesymposia. Informally, among peers of other undergraduate programs at UIUC, they shared their experiences and knowledge gained with fellow students. Scholars are recognized in cross-campus events and are great advocates of our collegeduring summer programs and throughout the academic year. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Students completed their undergraduate training program and all obtained their college degree by 2016. Even two students that were in the original cohort and took time off (dismissed) fromthe program returned and completed their degree. We were able to recruit and graduate talented students that are planning to pursue graduate level education in the short term. Two of them are preparing applications for Master in Science degree programs and one has already beenaccepted to a Ph.D. program. Another student had an internship in the food service industry this summer and was hired immediately after graduation. She is enjoying her work and applying her experience and knowledge in food safety and quality control of meat products. All students contributed to completing our milestones (graduation of four Scholars and incorporation of at least one into a graduate program). Since three of them are incorporated in the workforce shortly after graduation, the impacts of MANNA contribute in the short term to the enhancement of diversity in the workplace and we are confident that MANNA will contribute to U.S. preeminence, competitiveness and sustainability. Overall, the students are role models for their peers and extended families. Their experiences have enriched their academic life and it is expected that they will be ambassadors in promoting the benefits of seeking higher education in the fields of nutrition, biology and health sciences.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Montes, R., Teran-Garcia, M. and Wiley, A. 2015. Promotora model as a method of health intervention in U.S. Latino immigrant populations. UIUC Undergraduate Research Symposium.
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Progress 02/01/14 to 01/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience: Underrepresented minorities at the college level areserved under the Multicultural Scholar Program. Changes/Problems: One of the major problems during the last reporting period was that two of the scholars were still defining their major and terminal degree. To date, one scholar has already defined her goals and seeks to obtain a Master of Science degree after graduation with a major in Human Nutrition. She seeks to specialize in Community and Health Development. Her goal is to obtain a Master's degree inPublic Health, and she is currently applying for a summer research program to increase her experience and preparefor the GRE exam. Another student is still seekingalternatives for graduate education in anutrition or health related field. He will need additionaltime to graduate. All students are overcoming their academic problems andare looking forward to continuing their education. At this moment, we are providing all support possible to facilitate succesful completion of their degrees and preparation of graduate school applications. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training opportunities include participation in poster design and presentation for the NACTA conference, presentation of a poster with their summer research experience at an undergraduate symposiaonthe Urbana-Champaign campus, leadership participation in the MANNERS local chapter, and the preparation of scholarship applications for graduate school. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results were disseminated atthe 2014summer symposia. Informally, among peers of other summer programs at UIUC, they shared their experiences and knowledge gained with fellow students.Scholars are recognized in cross-campus events and are great advocates of our college (ACES) during summer programs and throughout the academic year. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Students are looking forward to earning theirdegrees in 2015. They still need to overcome a few academical dificulties, but have sustained progress to their degree and look forward to graduating on time and continuing their professional development. Out of the four scholars, three are looking forward to postgraduate (MS or PhD) education in the short therm and one is contemplating the idea in the long-term. We expect to complete the program with succesful graduation of all scholars and incorporation into graduate education or into the workforce.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Students are completing their undergraduate training program and 3 out of 4 will obtain a college degree in 2015. We have been able to recruit and retain talented students that are planning to persue graduate level education in the short term. In fact, three of them are preparing applications for Master in Science degree programs or preparing to apply for a Ph. D. program. Anotherstudent had an internship in thefood service industrythis summer and is eager to begin her careerafter graduation. She will apply her experience and knowlege in food safety and quality control of meat products and may eventually return for graduate school. Overall, students are becoming role models for their peers and extended families. Their experiences have enriched their academic life and it is expected that they will be ambassadors in promotingthe benefits of seeking higher education in the fields of nutrition, biology and health sciences.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Teran-Garcia, M., de Mejia, E. and Thompson, J. The Multicultural Advocates in Nutritional Needs and Agriculture (MANNA) program: An update. Presented at the 60th Annual NACTA conference, Montana State University, Bozeman MT. (Poster presentation and abstract published). June 25 28, 2014.
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Progress 02/01/13 to 01/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Under-represented minorities at the collegel level. Changes/Problems: Major changes will come for one or two of the scholars, as they are stillworking on defining their major and terminal degree. In addtion, they are still working towards overcoming academic problems. We are providing advice and additionaltutoring for difficult courses (such as physics, chemestry, and math) and making sure thatremedial courses are taken to maintain a good GPA. It is possible that forsome students it will take an additional semester to graduate. At this moment, we are providing all support possible to facilitate succesful completion of their degrees. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Presentations of research data at symposium and developing technical skills in the laboratory. They are active participants in laboratory meetings and contribute to publications at theresearch laboratorythat is mentoring them. We look forward to offer professional internship opportunities in partnership with industry. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results were disseminated at the summer symposia. Informally, among peers of other summer programs at UIUC they contributed with their experiences to enrich learning activities. Scholars are recognized in cross-campus events and are great advocates of our collegeduring summer programs and throughout theschool year. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Students are looking forward toaproductive summer and will try to enroll into an international internship to continue their research projects and advance their professional development. Some stillneed to overcomeacademical dificulties, but have sustained progress to their degree and look forward to graduating on time.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
There were fourscholars that wererecruited and retained and able to complete college degrees by having this support. We have been providing aunique multidisciplinary experiential learning opportunity (MELO) during the summer that resulted in oral and poster presentations. Students continue toparticipate in research projects during the semester and look forward to presentingresults at the spring symposia and publishing their results. Academically, they are progressing toward their goal of completing their degrees and some are now considering continuing their education.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Presented at the Illinois Summer Research Symposium July 25th-26th:
Characterization of Blueberry Extracts with Potential Benefits for Diabetes by Valerie Munoz.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Presented at the Illinois Summer Research Symposium July 25th-26th: Effects of Text Messaging Health Intervention on College-aged Latinos by Ramona Montez.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Presented at the Illinois Summer Research Symposium July 25th-26th: The Effect of Lactoferrin and Bifidobacteria on Cytokine Gene Expression in Systemic Staph Infection by Francisco Belsis.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Presented at the Illinois Summer Research Symposium July 25th-26th: Berry and Citrus Phenolic Compounds as Possible Inhibitors of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor-1 Alpha in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes by Luis M Real Hernandez.
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Progress 02/01/12 to 01/31/13
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We have four schlars currently doing great progres towards their degrees. All participated in a summer learing experience (SEL) inmmersion during 2012 and presented in a forum of peers their findings. The MANNA-SEL Program offered areas of experiential learning opportunities in nutrition and food safety as per the proposal supported by the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture over the summer at the UIUC. The University of Illinois provided support and assisted with the training of the four academically outstanding Latino students participating in the program. We foster faculty/students interactions to enhance undergraduate education and provided opportunities for our students and seek for integration of the goals of everybody involved, establishing collaborative frameworks. To date, our joint efforts contribute to improve students' educational outcomes, fostering their interest in the food and agriculture workplaces. The USDA MSP Scholar's SEL activities did not jeopardize the satisfactory progress toward degree completion. In fact, we belive that the activities developed during the SEL increased their opportunity to success in their degree. Per example, one of the scholars participated in nutrition epidemiological research and learn about basic use of statistics during her summer experiencea. The following fall semester, the students recalls that her statistical course work was easier to understand and obtained a good grade thanks to her SEL experience. PARTICIPANTS: One of the scholars (Gregory Chavez) has problems on mantaing GPA required for the MSP, it was placed under a special program and remains in campus, but is not a MSP scholar anymor. We replaced him with another well-deserved student (Valerie Mu&oz) and she is doing a great job on both course-work and research experience. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
All students are doing great progres towards their degree. All belong to the local chapter of MANNRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) and actively participate in the meetings. The 4 MANNA students presented in a forum results of their research durning the SEL: 1.Francisco Belsis (Advisor Michael Miller) "Effect of Human Milk Oligosacharides on the colonization of Bifidobacteria" 2. Ramona Montes (Advisor Margarita Teran-Garcia) "Metabolic Syndrome, Diet, and their Effects on Young Mexicans" 3. Gregory Chavez (Advisor Elvira de Mejia) "Anthocyanins, berries and Diabetes" 4. Melanie Christion (Advisor Sandra Rodriguez-Sas)"Survey of prohormone and convertase genes in the dog genome" We presented an abstact at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities "If not an HSI, what? Growing Latinos in graduate programs" Ricardo Diaz, Program Coordinator, UIUC. Irma Lawrence, USDA National Program Leader. Elvira De Mejia, Associate Professor, UIUC. Margarita Teran-Garcia, Assistant Professor, UIUC
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 02/01/11 to 01/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Selection of candidates for scholarship during summmer 2011. Invitation for interview and offer letter. Students start during the Fall 2011 semester. PARTICIPANTS: Scholars names: Ramona Montez, Francisco Belsis, Melanie Christion, Gregory Chavez TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Four students started their college degree in Food Sciences (1),Human Nutrition (2) and Animal Sciences (1)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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