Since February 2006, California State University system officials have reached around 600,000 churchgoers promoting early preparation for college to improve African-American graduation rates through CSU Super Sunday.
The CSU Super Sunday program developed under the CSU African American Initiative, was started in 2005 by former CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed.
“The goal of the program is to improve educational outcomes for historically underserved populations all across California,” said Stephanie Thara, CSU chancellor office spokeswoman.
“We want to increase the preparation and retention of African Americans to stay in university,” Thara said.
Currently all 23 CSU schools partner with local churches, many of which have primarily African-American congregations. According to the American Council on Education, 37 percent of African American males are enrolled in college.
“A huge continuous challenge is to get the message out of obtaining a college degree, especially to African-American males; we need to get the word out to them,” Thara said.
Every Sunday of February, leaders, trustees, alumni, presidents, counselors and administrators from CSU campuses volunteer in CSU Super Sunday, for what Thara calls a “super” cause.
“CSU leaders inform youth how to pay for college and the benefits to them,” Thara said. “They help teenagers realize the value of higher education and give them the tools they need to get there.”
Many high school students and their parents might see college as unachievable, Thara said, because of the inability to pay for semester fees. CSU Super Sunday also intends to give parents the opportunity to get involved with their children’s future education and help them find financial solutions.
“Right now, 74 percent of CSU students receive federal student aid, and more than half of that number have their undergraduate degree fees fully covered by it,” Thara said.
Saint Rest Baptist Church is one of the churches in Fresno that participates in CSU Super Sunday.
“Last year, about 400 people attended CSU Super Sunday held during our church’s service time from 10:45 (a.m.) to 12:30 p.m.,” said Shaunea Johnson, Saint Rest Missionary Baptist Church secretary.
On Feb. 8, Fresno State President Joseph Castro will be giving a speech and interacting with members of the church.
Johnson, excited by the campus participation, said that she hopes the Super Sunday will have a positive effect in the community.
“I like it. If they can inspire someone to go to school, I am all for it,” Johnson said.
One student, Deccy Curry, knows Johnson personally. Prior to attending CSU Super Sunday, Curry said, she had only planned on attending a junior college. Because of the impact of Super Sunday, she is now pursuing a degree in fashion design from Long Beach State.
Since 2007, Westside Church of God in Fresno has also partnered with CSU Super Sunday.
“Any kind of education exposure to give people is a great thing,” said the church’s pastor, Paul Binion. “It is good to network and ask questions in the booths. We have a number of young members of our church that applied to schools and have been accepted.”
Binion, who has served 38 years as the pastor, said he has met dozens of first-generation Fresno State students who have benefited from CSU Super Sunday.
Kornya Lonsan, who now promotes the event and works for Fresno State, said she was one of those students.
“A lot of students come from poor families and think it is impossible to go to school,” Binion said. “I come from a poor family and I graduated from CSU Los Angeles in 1977, so yes you can.”