The U.S. Department of Education has awarded California State University, Dominguez Hills a $1.1 million grant to further a program aimed at preparing low-income and traditionally under-represented students for doctoral study.

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program was established by Congress in honor of the astronaut who grew up disadvantaged and became the second African-American in space. He died in the 1986 space shuttle Challenger disaster.

The federal department adminsters funding to universities for the program through a competitive grant process. This is the second four-year grant awarded to Dominguez Hills, which has seven continuing McNair scholars and an additional 19 new students just accepted into the research-intensive program.

"We are thrilled," local program director Michelle Waiters said, calling the school's McNair scholars "a source of pride for the university" and a "dynamic group of students."

Since 2003, some 50 students have participated in the CSUDH McNair program, which boasts a 100% graduation rate and a 93% graduate school acceptance rate.

The McNair program is open to undergraduates with sophomore status or higher, who are either first-generation college students from low-income families or from racial groups underrepresented in graduate degree programs. As McNair scholars, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, participate in scholarly activities outside the classroom, complete a research project in their field of study and present a project at a research symposium.