Education Summit draws a record attendance

• March 5, 2013 11:45am

The leadership of Cal State East Bay, as well leaders of surrounding Bay Area communities, were out in force to welcome prospective college students and their families to the university’s “Education Summit 2013: It Takes a Community” on Feb. 23.

A record turnout – more than 1,100 prospective college students – attended the summit that brought together first generation, African American, Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander students.

In addition to hearing encouragement from East Bay Congressman Eric Swalwell, State Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett and Cal State East Bay President Leroy M. Morishita, the future college students learned ways to make their college pursuits easier through more than 20 workshops and motivational presentations.

“I am an example of how education can change one’s life,” Morishita said.  “My parents, who faced hardship and discrimination in their lives, believed that a college education was the path to a better life for their children. The profound changes that the college experience provided for me and my family, can be the same for you and your families.  One of you may become a president of a university one day.”

In addition to an inspiring keynote address from new Merritt College President Norma Ambriz-Galaviz, all in attendance gained access to information on the numerous fields of study available, including biochemistry, computer networking, engineering, education, mathematics, pre-nursing and business.

Other topics included student life experiences on campus; college admissions; and financing a college education through grants, scholarships and financial aid; STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers; and community support programs.

“The summit was designed to engage and motivate the youth of traditionally underserved communities and their families to pursue and live the dream of obtaining a college education by providing information and resources in a festive, family-friendly environment,” said Greg Smith, CSUEB associate vice president for Planning and Enrollment Management, who chairs the event.

The summit was co-sponsored by Cal State East Bay with Alameda County Office of Education, Fremont Bank Foundation, Hayward Chamber of Commerce, Chabot College, Laney College, the Contra Costa County Office of Education and the U.S. Department of Education through its “Asian American-Pacific Islander  Student Service Operation for Success” (AANAPISI) grant program.

BZ