Friday, October 19, 2007
On Wednesday 350 black students from Kansas City-area high schools visited the University of Kansas. They attended the 22nd annual Black Leadership Symposium designed to encourage students to attend college.
Pamela Scott, associate director of Multi-Cultural Affairs, said the event informed students about college and offered keys to success in the future.
Erica Hawthorne, 2001 graduate, performs Thursday afternoon in Woodruff Auditorium. Hawthorne's performance was part of the Black Leadership Symposium. Hawthorne lives in Philadelphia, Pa.
“We just want to get information out to high school students about college and it doesn’t necessarily mean KU,” Scott said. “We’re talking about college, a college education and how it is so instrumental to success in the future. We’re raising awareness of opportunity.”
During the symposium, high school students learned about leadership and possible post-high school careers. The event featured guest speakers that included Erica Hawthorne. She is CEO of a private company and works as a performing artist. A panel of KU students shared their personal college experiences.
Cherie Moose, panelist and Wichita senior, attended the event when she was a high school senior. Moose said although she had already planned to attend college, she remembered the event being helpful because it gave information high school students wouldn’t otherwise receive.
“It shows a lot of people have options with higher education even though they might not be considering it,” Moose said. She said it was rewarding to come back as a panelist and encourage her younger peers to enroll.
University entertainment groups that performed were Alpha Phi Alpha, Phi Beta Sigma Unity Hip-Hop squad, Zeta Phi Beta and Inspirational Gospel Voices.
Kasey Cullors, Wichita senior, was one of the student coordinators of the event. She said it took nearly two months to plan it and that students were chosen by their high schools based on GPA performance. He said he wanted students to have an open mind after the event.
“My hope is students really gain insight to college and what it’s about,” Cullors said.
— Edited by Rachael Gray
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