News & Updates

From pre-college to college programs, the Kearns Center hosted several events that were particularly impactful. “This spring, our TRIO pre-college programs celebrated a series of vibrant, events that highlighted the power of college access,” says Assistant Director of Pre-College Programs Jerri-Ann Cadet. “From the powerful energy of National TRIO Day to the learning at the Padilla High School Career Fair, and Biomechanics Day, our students have shown up and shown out. With curiosity, respect, pride and a strong bond, our students took ownership of their academic journeys,” Cadet explains.

College programs hosted several events during the spring semester as well, including the annual Douglass Read-a-Thon and MANE Event. But some of the most pivotal moments came when student’s academic achievements got to be celebrated, according to Assistant Director for College Programs, Melissa Raucci. “While I could point to many successes and impactful moments over the course of the semester; welcoming parents, family, and friends from across the globe to welcome our newest class of McNair Scholars during our induction ceremony, watching our junior McNair Scholars thrive absolutely crush their presentations at the National McNair Conference at UMD-College Park, sponsoring the inaugural Rise Together Gala and accepting a certificate of recognition on behalf of the Kearns Center; perhaps my favorite moment came at our 2025 Celebration of Graduates,” Raucci says. “Celebrating our senior class always makes my heart happy, but to hear about all the accomplishments of our seniors, the accolades, their next steps into industry, grad school, medical school, etc., just filled me with joy. To be a part of their journey is truly the best and most rewarding part of this work.”

One of the most rewarding moments of the semester for Cadet was being able to celebrate a handful of high school seniors who earned full scholarships through HEOP (Higher Education Opportunity Program) and similar opportunity programs. “It’s a reminder that when we invest in students early and often, they rise to meet every opportunity. These students—many of whom will be the first in their families to attend college—are walking proof of what’s possible with consistent support, preparation, and TRIO programs. Not only did our students dream big, but they achieved big—and TRIO helped pave the way,” says Cadet.

In addition to all the events and academic achievements celebrated by the Kearns Center this semester, the Kearns team also entered a new chapter. In April, the Kearns team welcomed Dr. Antonio Williams as the new Interim Director of the Center, taking over for Dr. Miguel Baique. “Having worked closely with the Kearns Center team through my role in Graduate Diversity Initiatives, I understand the transformative impact this center has across the student journey. I’m proud to be in a position to help guide its mission during this pivotal time,” Williams says.

Here is a look back at all the featured photos we posted on our website this semester, including a few more that were too good not to share!

February 2025

Kearns Center Students Celebrate National TRIO Day

The David T. Kearns Center's Pre-College and College programs got together on Saturday, February 22, 2025, to celebrate National TRIO Day. The Kearns Center is home to 5 federally funded TRIO programs, those being the McNair Program, the Student Support Services Program, the Upward Bound Program, the Upward Bound Math/Science Program, and the Educational Talent Search Program. The students who attended got the chance to participate in an advocacy exercise by writing postcards to their elected representatives. In addition to that, the students were given a presentation on financial literacy and how to plan for fiscal responsibility.

March 2025

Kearns Center Students Attend McNair Conference in Maryland

Eight McNair Scholars from the University of Rochester attended the 26th Annual National Ronald E. McNair Scholars Conference at the University of Maryland from March 13-16. There, they had a chance to present their research (ranging from audiology to biomedical engineering to history) to a national audience as well as attend graduate school fairs, workshops, concerts, and lectures. Kearns McNair Scholars Program Manager George McCormick and McNair Academic Coach Aaron Banks accompanied the students.

April 2025

David T. Kearns Center Pre-College Students Participate in National Biomechanics Day

A group of high school students in the David T. Kearns Center’s pre-college program visited the University of Rochester’s campus on April 14, 2025, as part of National Biomechanics Day. Members of the Kearns Center’s Pre-College team worked with Dr. Cherice Hill, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering to organize the visit, allowing students to tour several different labs. The students were engaged with demonstrations in each lab, one of which included a demo of motion capture and force plates to discuss quantifying human motion.

Kearns Center Students Recognized During National Student Employment Week

The David T. Kearns Center took the time to celebrate three amazing student workers in honor of #NationalStudentEmploymentWeek. Thank you for all your hard work this semester!

Kearns Center Happenings

In April, the David T. Kearns Center announced that Dr. Antonio Williams, Director for Graduate Diversity, was named Interim Director of the Kearns Center effective April 21. Williams took over for Dr. Miguel Baique who led the Kearns Center for two years.

A group of Kearns staff members also traveled to present at the annual AEEE (Association for Equality and Excellence in Education) conference at the end of April. Their presentation was titled Stronger Together: Inovative Strategies to Foster Student Engagement and Success Across TRIO Programs.

May 2025

The David T. Kearns Center Congratulates the Class of 2025

The Kearns Center congratulated the class of 2025 during its annual Celebration of Graduates on May 5, 2025. Ronald E. McNair Scholar Rosebell Onuma was one of the seniors recognized during the event. Onuma graduated from the University of Rochester on May 16, 2025, with a degree in Environmental Health.