On Friday, November 9, Concordia University Wisconsin welcomed over 150 male students of color from Milwaukee area high schools to the inaugural College Readiness Summit. Hosted by CUW’s Black Student Union (BSU) and the School of Education, the summit was designed to demystify the college experience and application process so more young men of color consider college as an option.
“For many, this is their first time on a college campus,” says Eugene Pitchford III, assistant professor in the School of Education and faculty advisor for the Black Student Union. “Our overarching goal is to introduce students to the professionals on campus and different areas in a university so that they can start to envision themselves as college students.”
Students came from Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School, Riverside University High School, and Nathan Hale High School to meet with university leaders and learn successful student strategies. The schools and the chaperones were intentionally selected with a goal of creating a network of students and high school faculty/administrators who share a common interest in building a college bound culture among Milwaukee’s male high school students of color.
“This is a place where our students could really come into their own,” notes Shawn Sprewer, assistant principal at Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School. “For some, college is a long shot, but, for many here, it’s a matter of finding the right fit. It’s important for them to know that Concordia is an option.”
Plans are underway for a College Readiness Summit designed for female students of color in spring. For more information, contact Eugene Pitchford at Eugene.PitchfordIII@cuw.edu.
— Lisa Liljegren is vice president of marketing and strategic communications.
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