Fresno State President John D. Welty, other top administrators and staff will participate in the California State University’s annual Super Sunday program during February, telling African American Fresno church congregations about the importance of college.

The Super Sunday program educates students and families in the congregations about the requirements to obtain a college degree from Fresno State and the other 22 CSU campuses.  and the resources available to help make that happen.

The Fresno State leaders will speak and answer questions. They will be joined by University Outreach staff and college ambassadors, who will provide information and answer more specific questions.

CSU and campus leaders visit more than 100 predominantly African-American churches throughout the state, reaching more than 100,000 congregants. In Fresno, there will be visits to eight churches.

Fresno State visits begin Sunday, Feb. 12. Dr. Paul Oliaro, the vice president for student affairs, visits Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church (2529 E. Belmont Ave.) and Cynthia Teniente-Matson vice president for administration and chief financial officer, speaks at Saints Rest Baptist Church (1550 E. Rev. Chester Riggins Ave.). Oliaro and Teniente-Matson will speak at 10:45 a.m. services.

Welty will speak during the 11 a.m. Feb. 19 service at Bethesda Apostolic Church, 3723 E. Dakota Ave.

Other Fresno State church visits scheduled Feb. 19:

  • 9 and 11 a.m. Family Community Church, 2434 E. Nees Ave., Dr. Francine Oputa, director of the Central Valley Cultural Heritage Institute at Fresno State.
  • 11 a.m. Mount Olive Baptist Church, 101 W. Clinton Ave., Dr. Ida Jones, director of the Center for the Scholarly Advancement of Learning & Teaching
  • 10 a.m. Saints Community Church of God in Christ, 3740 E. Ashlan Ave., Dr. William Covino, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs.
  • 9:15 a.m. Westside Church 1424 W. California Ave., Maxine McDonald, assistant vice president of Student Success Services.

Fresno State’s final visit is at 9 a.m. Feb. 26 at New Beginnings Community Baptist Church, 5151 N. Fresno St., where the speaker will be Tawanda Kitchen, a counselor in the Educational Opportunity Program.

CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed, announcing this year’s Super Sunday schedule, said, “The California State University continues its commitment to reach out to California’s communities with the information students need to prepare themselves for success. Education is more important than ever.”

The CSU awarded 99,000 degrees in 2011, Reed added, “and these college graduates return the benefits of their success back to families and communities while also contributing to the economic recovery for all Californians.”

Super Sunday events are produced by the CSU African American Initiative, a partnership between CSU campuses and African American religious leaders.

For more information, http://www.calstate.edu/pa/News/2012/Release/supersunday2012.shtml.