Korey Jenkins is going home to the church she grew up in. She and her family watched her grandfather, the Rev. Matthew L. Daw Sr., deliver sermons at Second Baptist Church in Southwest Fresno, where he was the pastor from 1967 to 1990.

This time, she will be the one delivering a message, talking about how higher education empowers young people and transforms lives. Jenkins — who graduated from Fresno State with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies in 1997 — will share her inspirational story with members of Second Baptist’s congregation as part of the 18th annual CSU Super Sunday on Feb. 26. The service begins at 10:45 a.m.

Each February since 2005, the California State University system has partnered with faith-based leaders to host CSU Super Sunday.​ CSU leaders bring an empowering message to churches throughout California about the importance of preparing for college. 

Seven local churches are part of almost 100 predominately African American congregations participating statewide. During the event, CSU leaders, staff and alumni visit these congregations and speak directly from the pulpit to encourage future students to pursue higher education. It is estimated the CSU has reached more than 1 million students and their families through Super Sunday over the past decade.

“Super Sunday is a key initiative to begin early with our outreach to African American youth in the Fresno area,” said Dr. Kent Willis, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Fresno State. “Its goal is to increase the preparation, support, retention and degree attainment of African American students. Faith-based outreach efforts allow us to partner with congregations across the community and state to share inspirational messages of hope and resilience.” 

In the fall 2022 semester, 2.8% or about 670 students at Fresno State were African American.

After the worship services, parents and students will meet with the speakers, alumni and university outreach counselors to receive information about preparing for college, applying to a CSU campus and applying for financial aid, said Wendy Nelson, Fresno State’s African American Initiative coordinator.

Today, Jenkins works as a life coach, helping women and girls live more authentic lives, and is also a mentor for the Girl Power program offered by Fresno Unified School District, working with young women and girls through Kratt Elementary and Tenaya and Tioga middle schools.  

Jenkins reflected back on her time as a student at Fresno State and the people and resources who helped her succeed, including those in the Educational Opportunity Program.

She also gave credit to Fresno State faculty and staff who contributed to her success. “Maxine Mcdonald [a former associate vice president for Student Success Services] and Frankie Moore [a former staff member with the University Student Union] were huge parts of my college experience and made resources available to me for whatever I needed. The Black faculty and staff were there to pour into the African American students. They made sure that Black students were knowledgeable about campus resources and with their encouragement, many Black students were motivated to graduate and give back to their respective communities.” 

Jenkins noted that it continues to be a two-way street in how students and faculty interact.   

“It’s a symbiotic relationship. It’s 50-50.” she continued. “You have to reach out just as much as they reach out to you. … There’s only so much they can do, and you have to show them that you’re there for it.” 

University President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval will represent Fresno State at Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church’s service at 10:30 a.m. Rising Star is at 1104 Collins Ave. in Fresno.

Several other local churches will also participate, with other speakers:

  • Dr. Kent Willis, vice president of the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, will be at Family Community Church, 2434 E. Nees Ave. in Fresno.
  • Dr. Rashanda Booker, university diversity officer for Fresno State, will be at Saint Rest Baptist Church, 1550 E. Rev. Chester Riggins Ave. in Fresno.
  • D.J. Redmond, alumnus and teacher with Fresno Unified School District, will be at Bethesda Churches, 3723 E. Dakota Ave. in Fresno.
  • Leslie Kelly, alumna and program coordinator with the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, will be at Mount Olive Baptist Church, 101 W. Clinton Ave. in Fresno. 
  • Major Crystal Waller-Scott, a faculty member with Fresno State’s Army ROTC program, will deliver a pre-recorded video message at Westside Church of God in Christ, 1424 W. California Ave. in Fresno. 

Jenkins said she would love to see the energy and focus of Super Sunday extend to the rest of the year.

“Higher education is definitely not as stressed as it was when I was a kid,” she said. “But these Super Sunday events give young people an opportunity to see adults speaking about the importance of higher education, and learn about what the college experience is like. Don’t just discount it and be like, ‘No, I don’t want to do that.’ Go, see what it’s like. That may be where you find who you are. It’s very needed, specifically in the Black community. Education has always been power for us, so to be able to go into a church, the church I grew up in, to pour into the new generation of the youth that’s there. That’s awesome to me.”

For more information, contact Nelson at wendyw@csufresno.edu or 559.278.5374.