BSCTC TO HOST SUPER SUNDAY COLLEGE FAIR MARCH 29 IN PIKEVILLE

Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) will host its fifth-annual Super Sunday event at noon, Sunday, March 29, at the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Pikeville. Super Sunday is a student recruitment initiative specifically targeting African-American and Latino students.

BSCTC will join Kentucky Community and Technical College System colleges across the state to connect with prospective college students and their families.

Super Sunday helps to eliminate the roadblocks many students face when pursuing their higher education goals, said KCTCS President Jay Box. Through our partnerships, we are able to encourage youth to pursue their dreams directly from the pulpit.

Higher education begins at KCTCS for most Kentuckians, and so it is a vital part of the KCTCS mission to increase the educational opportunities for people of color. On Super Sunday, thousands of prospective college students and their families are expected to attend the statewide college fairs. Many will take place at African-American and Latino churches, and the church service will be followed by a college fair with college representatives on hand as advocates to assist with college planning, admissions, scholarships and financial aid information.

Dr. Charles Chrestman, interim president and CEO of BSCTC, said Super Sunday presents an opportunity for the college to spread its message of quality higher education close to home to the African-American community in the Big Sandy region.

A college education is not out of reach for anyone, said Dr. Chrestman. Since 2008, more than 21,000 first-generation college students have enrolled at BSCTC. Through financial aid and scholarships, students can attend college, complete a degree, further their education or earn a credential and go to work.

To date, KCTCS has partnered with more than 150 churches and has shared the Yes You Can Go to College message with more than 33,000 individuals. This community-based outreach has been extremely beneficial, resulting in increased attendance among diverse students at KCTCS colleges statewide. In fall 2014, 14.4 percent of the total student population self-identified as being African-American, Latino or two or more races. This represents a 19 percent increase since fall 2010.

To learn more about Super Sunday in Kentucky, visit super-sunday.org.