Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro and Dr. Hugo Morales, California State University trustee, will lead a team of university officials who will speak at local African-American churches Feb. 8, 15 and 22, as part of CSU Super Sunday — part of the CSU African-American Initiative that focuses on college achievement for African-American students.
The campaign starts at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 8 at Rising Star Baptist Church (1104 Collins Ave.) where Morales will speak with Pastor B. T. Lewis.
Castro will speak at Saints Rest Missionary Baptist Church (1550 East Rev. Chester Riggins Ave.) at 10:45 a.m. with Rev. D. J. Criner.
The congregations are among nine predominantly African-American churches in Fresno and more than 100 statewide participating in CSU Super Sunday, a system-wide effort to inform communities about opportunities to earn a college degree in California. (See schedule below).
Throughout California, CSU campus presidents, trustees, the chancellor and other higher education officials will speak from the pulpit about college readiness and the possibilities for obtaining financial aid.
After the services, parents and students can speak with CSU representatives, obtain posters on how to get to college and learn how to navigate CSUMentor.edu — a website to help students explore campuses and majors, as well as apply to the CSU.
Launched in 2005, CSU Super Sunday is an annual event where leaders throughout the 23 CSU campuses work together in a united effort to give underrepresented students the tools needed to successfully enter college. To date, almost 600,000 churchgoers have received information about financial aid, been introduced to the 23 CSU campuses and learned how to achieve academic success at the university.
“The power and the purpose of our university is to give every person access to the endless possibilities that higher education offers and to help make college a reality,” said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White. “By collaborating with our church partners during CSU Super Sunday, we are able to start the conversation about college early, empower children to aim high and prepare every student to succeed in college.”
The CSU African-American Initiative is a partnership between CSU campuses and leaders in the African-American community dedicated to increasing the number of African-America students who attend and graduate from college. The CSU has formed many other partnerships aimed at increasing college opportunities, including initiatives for the Asian-American and Pacific Islander, Latino and Native American communities.
For more information, contact Frances Pena, Fresno State’s director of University Outreach Services, or outreach counselor Kornya Lansana at 559.278.2048.
Super Sunday 2015 – Fresno State Speaker Schedule:
Feb. 8
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor Richard L. Daniels
2529 E. Belmont Ave.
10:45 a.m., Feb. 8
Fresno State speaker: Dr. Ida Jones, director for the Center for the Scholarly Advancement of Learning and Teaching
Staff: Rick Chacon
Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor B.T. Lewis
1104 Collins Ave.
10:30 a.m., Feb. 8
Fresno State speaker: Dr. Hugo Morales, CSU Trustee
Ms. Benita Washington, assistant field coordinator, Social Work Department
Staff: Louise Pacheco
Saints Rest Missionary Baptist Church
Reverend D.J. Criner
1550 E. Rev. Chester Riggins Ave.
10:45 a.m., Feb. 8
Fresno State speaker: President Joseph I. Castro
Staff: Kornya Lansana and Frances Pena Olgin
West Fresno Christian Center
Reverend Dr. James Parks
1104 Collins Ave.
10:30 a.m., Feb. 8
Fresno State speaker: Maxine McDonald, associate vice president of student success
Staff: Katie Garcia
Feb. 15
Bethesda Apostolic Church
Tobaise Brookins
3723 E. Dakota Ave.
11 a.m., Feb. 15
Fresno State speaker: Dr. Frank Lamas, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management
Staff: Kornya Lansana and Frances Pena Olgin
Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church
Reverend Edward B. Lee Jr.
101 W. Clinton Ave.
10:45 a.m. Feb. 15
Fresno State speaker: Paula Castadio, vice president for university advancement
Staff: Melissa Rodriguez
Westside Church
Pastor Dr. Paul Binion
1424 W. California Ave.
9 a.m., Feb. 15
Fresno State speaker: Eric Coleman, director of student-athlete service
Staff: Phong Yang
Feb. 22
Family-Word Fellowship Church
Reverend Bruce Franklin
1444 W. Shields Ave.
10:30 a.m., Feb. 22
Fresno State speaker: Dr. DeAnna Reese, coordinator of the Africana Studies Program
Staff: Mailee Lee
Saints Community COGIC
Pastor Bruce McAllister
3740 E. Ashlan Ave.
10:30 a.m. Feb. 22
Fresno State speaker: Dr. Alicia Brown, professor in Counselor Education and Rehabilitation Department
Staff: Jesse Farias