Cal State Fullerton President Milton A. Gordon greets church member Donald Sullivan at Glory Christian Fellowship International Church in Carson, where Gordon addressed the congregation during the CSU's Feb. 22 Super Sunday effort in 2009. Photos by Stephen Weissbart

Community Message: College Is Possible

Gordon and Palmer Speak to Area Congregations as Part of CSU Effort

February 17, 2010

Cal State Fullerton President Milton A. Gordon will address congregants Sunday, Feb. 28, at Love and Unity Church of God in Christ in Compton as part of a California State University effort to encourage early planning for college and the involvement of community members as mentors for young people.

On the same Sunday, Robert L. Palmer Jr., Cal State Fullerton vice president for student affairs, will address members of Corona Community Church.

The fifth annual CSU “Super Sunday” campaign began in late January and continues throughout February. Dozens of CSU presidents, trustees and administrators are reaching out to more than 100,000 families in approximately 100 African American congregations throughout the state to encourage early preparation — as early as middle school — for college.

"The path to a college degree starts long before a student sets foot in high school,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “Our message to students is to start meeting CSU's eligibility requirements early, and to be prepared to compete for admission at a CSU campus."

Gordon is scheduled to speak at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Love and Unity Church of God in Christ, 1840 S. Wilmington Ave., Compton, 90220. Palmer will address the Corona Community Church congregation, 321 E. Sixth St., Corona, 92879, at 9 a.m. Following the services, CSU outreach staff and church education counselors will provide information about steps to college and financial aid.

Super Sunday is part of the CSU African American Initiative, which strives to find new ways to educate youth and parents about the value of a college degree and the steps to get to college. Now on its fifth year, the initiative has contributed to the following results:

• A 78 percent increase in the number of African American students applying for freshman admission at CSU campuses, between 2004 and 2008 (15,550 applicants in 08-09 vs. 8,737 applicants in 04-05).
• A 20 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment by African American students from 18,428 in fall 2004 to 22,167 in fall 2008.

In addition to Super Sunday, the CSU African American Initiative includes a yearlong schedule of events, including Summer Algebra Institutes, Train the Trainer workshops, and Super Saturday education fairs.