Sheldon High School student Jaki Mask, 14, and Sacramento State’s Chevelle Newsome discuss college plans at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.
University leaders visited four area churches during Sunday services to highlight the importance of preparing for college.
The outreach initiative was part of the California State University’s fourth annual Super Sunday partnership with traditionally African-American churches.
“Through our recruitment and retention efforts, the goal in the CSU and at Sac State is to provide members of the African-American community a fulfilling campus experience and a richer post-collegiate life,” said Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez. “The first step for students is being prepared.”
Gonzalez was joined by Cal State Fullerton President Milton A. Gordon and Sacramento State’s Joseph Sheley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, and Lori Varlotta, vice president for Student Affairs.
At each church, University officials were on hand to answer the questions of prospective students and their families, as well as to provide information on applying to college, obtaining financial aid and what high school students need to do to prepare for college.
“We want the Sacramento community to know that we are here to serve, and Super Sunday gives us a remarkable opportunity to showcase the help we can provide to future students,” Varlotta said.
Super Sunday visits by campus presidents, CSU trustees, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed and other officials will reach nearly 70 churches throughout the state over two consecutive weekends. Sunday’s visits took in Northern California. On Sunday, Feb. 22, officials will visit churches in Southern California.
The Super Sunday partnerships have helped increase CSU applications from African-American students by 15 percent and enrollments by 8.5 percent.
The Sacramento area visits included Gonzalez at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Sacramento, Gordon at Calvary Christian Center in Sacramento, Sheley at Calvary Christian Center in Elk Grove, and Varlotta at Oak Park United Methodist Church in Sacramento.
For more information, contact Sac State’s Public Affairs office at (916) 278-6156.
About the writer:
Sacramento State’s John Kepley can be reached at jkepley@csus.edu
California State University, Sacramento • Public
Affairs
6000 J Street • Sacramento, CA 95819-6026 • (916) 278-6156 •
infodesk@csus.edu
