CSU Super Sunday to include Pres. Castro and trustee Morales

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.