Super SundaySacramento State President Robert S. Nelsen addresses the congregation at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church during last year’s Super Sunday. (Sacramento State/Jessica Vernone)

Sacramento State representatives will visit four churches Sunday, Feb. 12, as part of the California State University’s annual Super Sunday outreach.

Now in its 12th year, the program focuses on improving preparation and graduation rates of African American students by visiting their families’ churches.

CSU leaders will visit more than 100 churches across the state over two Sundays, Feb. 12 and 26.

Sac State officials will reach out Feb. 12. University President Robert S. Nelsen will attend the 10 a.m. service at Antioch Progressive Church, Provost Ching-Hua Wang will be at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church’s 10 a.m. service, Student Affairs Vice President Ed Mills will attend the 10:30 a.m. service at Common Ground Covenant Church, and staff also will attend the 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. services at the Center of Praise Ministries.

“The absolute beauty of Super Sunday is that the presidents in the California State University system and other university officials get to go directly to the congregations and meet one on one with parents and students – in our case, with future Hornets,” Nelsen says. “The energy is always amazing. I am very grateful that so many churches are opening their doors for us.”

After each service, representatives from the University’s Admissions and Outreach, Financial Aid and Scholarships, and other offices will have brochures and other materials available about University life, and they’ll help prospective students and their parents with questions they may have.

“The churches play an invaluable role in our efforts to make students and their families more aware of the preparation required to earn a degree,” says Chevelle Newsome, Sac State’s dean of Graduate Studies, acting dean of Undergraduate Studies, and Super Sunday coordinator.

For more information about CSU’s Super Sunday, visit calstate.edu/supersunday. Information about Sacramento State’s admissions and financial aid programs can be found at csus.edu/admissions. – Craig Koscho