By Jennifer Karmarkar
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Published: February 10, 2010

While football fans tuned in to Super Bowl XLIV, the Cal State University system kicked off its own Super Sunday, a month-long drive to encourage early college preparation among African American youth and their families.

Each Sunday in February, CSU representatives, including the chancellor, trustees and campus presidents, will speak to 100 African American congregations in close to 40 cities statewide, stressing the importance of planning for college admission as early as middle school.

Now in its fifth year, Super Sunday is part of the CSU African American Initiative, a joint effort between community, business and education leaders to educate families about the value of a college degree.

CSU Chancellor’s Department officials said the initiative has contributed to a 78 percent increase in African American students applying for freshman admission to CSU campuses, and a 20 percent increase in African American undergraduate enrollment between fall 2004 and fall 2008.

Cal State Fullerton will participate in Super Sunday on Feb. 28, when CSUF President Milton Gordon speaks at Love and Unity Church of God in Christ in Compton. On the same Sunday, Vice President of Student Affairs Robert Palmer will speak at Corona Community Church.

“We want to make sure parents and community members are prepared to help young people be ready for the rigors of higher education,” Palmer said. “It has to begin early. Literacy and math are key.”

Palmer added that that one of his goals is to increase the presence of African Americans on campus “to better represent the pluralism of our state.” African American enrollment at CSUF has increased significantly since 2004, even in the face of declining enrollments, Palmer noted.

“We have to give some credit to Super Sunday, but we have been very assertive in a variety of manners,” Palmer said.

CSU officials hope the program, which coincides with Black History Month, will reach 100,000 families this year.

“We want to show students that college is achievable academically and financially, and the life-long benefits of the degree,” CSU spokesperson Erik Fallis said.

He added that the system-wide budget cuts at CSU make the Super Sunday message even more important, as students need to be academically prepared to compete for admission at the 23 CSU campuses.

“By the time students reach high school, they should have many of the math and language skills in place to take the challenging courses that are required to attend a four-year university,” Fallis said. “The earlier students begin to focus on essential subjects, like algebra, the better.”

This year, the CSU system added 30 churches to its Super Sunday lineup, including churches in Santa Ana and Yorba Linda.

First-time participant Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda will hold Super Sunday activities on Feb. 28 at both morning services. Friendship has a congregation of more than 3,000, making it the largest African American church in Orange County.

Church administrators hope Super Sunday will help solidify programs currently in place, including academic scholarships and a Saturday academy.

Youth Minister Kenneth Curry said nearly 75 percent of Friendship’s high school graduates go on to 2-year or 4-year colleges.

“Starting early is very important,” Curry said. “We not only do scholarship programs with our middle and high schoolers, but we also start with our kindergartners. Even if they don’t do so well (academically) they get the support and encouragement of a mentor. We have a wonderful, committed group of men and women. Education is … important to us as a church.”

Following the Super Sunday services, CSU outreach staff and church education counselors will provide information to families about steps to college and financial aid along with information about CSU Mentor, a Web site that guides families through the admission process.