King/Chavez Scholars program honored with Ann Lydecker Educational Diversity Award

October 24, 2008

For the second time in three years, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater program is the recipient of the Ann Lydecker Educational Diversity Award. The highly successful King/Chavez Scholars program is being honored for its exceptional work with first-generation and multicultural students.

Chancellor Richard Telfer will accept the award at 3 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30 at the state Capitol in Madison.

“The King/Chavez Scholars program plays an important role in the success of first-generation and multicultural students at UW-Whitewater,” Chancellor Telfer said.  “Our King/Chavez Scholars are actively involved on campus with student organizations and in undergraduate research.  Many go on to become McNair Scholars.  I am proud that UW-Whitewater has been recognized twice by the State Council on Affirmative Action and the Office of State Employment Relations for programs that support a key element of our strategic plan.  UW-Whitewater has a long, proud history of providing services to multicultural students and this award recognizes that we serve our students extremely well.”

The King/Chavez Scholars program is designed to attract and retain exceptional incoming multicultural and first-generation undergraduate scholars for participation in the McNair Scholars program, the University Honors Program or the Undergraduate Research Program. As freshmen and sophomores, King/Chavez Scholars participate in a three-credit seminar where they investigate critical issues and develop undergraduate research projects to be presented at the American Multicultural Student Leadership Conference, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research or UW-Whitewater’s Undergraduate Research Day.

“We are proud that UW-Whitewater’s commitment to engaging high-achieving students from under-represented multicultural backgrounds is being recognized by the state,” Richard McGregory, interim director of Academic Support Services, said.  “This recognition is especially meaningful considering the McNair Scholars program was recognized with this very same award in 2006.”

Since the program’s inception on the UW-Whitewater campus in 1997, the King/Chavez Scholars have had a strong retention and six-year graduation rate.  The average graduation rate of scholars from 1997-2002 is nearly 60 percent compared to the student body average of 52 percent.  The average first-to-second-year retention rate for the 2002-06 scholars is nearly 82 percent compared to the student body average of 76 percent.

According to McGregory, the success of the King/Chavez Scholars is a result of student involvement on campus including studying abroad, conducting undergraduate research or becoming a McNair Scholar. Of the nearly 300 students who participate in King/Chavez, 27 have studied abroad, 41 have conducted undergraduate research and 30 have become McNair Scholars.

UW-Whitewater as an institution is also being recognized for its financial commitment to the King/Chavez program.  According to the award letter from the state, “The Council appreciates the university’s own financial commitment to ensure the success of the program.  In addition, the program selection criteria for scholarship applicants and the program’s success record since its inception in 1997 have demonstrated the impacts of this program in promoting diverse student leaders who will be needed to advance the future workforce in the State of Wisconsin.”

For more information on the King/Chavez Scholars program, contact Richard McGregory at 262-472-4985 or mcgregor@uww.edu.