SJSU to Host African American College Readiness Summit

The third annual African American College Readiness Summit, sponsored by San Jose State University, the Santa Clara County Office of Education and community organizations, will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at SJSU.

Organizers will provide 500 high school students with the tools, information and contacts they need to pursue higher education. The keynote speaker is teacher, minister and aspiring charter school founder Sean Gardere, ’08 Sociology.

This year’s summit is informed by the First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative, which encourages all students to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school.

The day will begin with entertainment by the Gunderson High and Independence High step teams, plus Akoma Arts. Speakers include SJSU Vice President for Student Affairs Reginald Blaylock and Associate Vice President for Student Services Romando Nash. Workshops will cover financial aid, fields of study, trade school, community college, and career planning.

For the first time, two sessions will be offered this academic year. Friday’s session will focus on high school students. A second session this spring will bring middle school students to SJSU. Organizers are responding to growing interest in the event and the need to customize offerings for each age group.