ROCHESTER, N.Y. (PRWEB) October 18, 2017
With a college education more important—and costlier─ than ever, UNCF (United Negro College Fund), the country’s largest private provider of scholarships to minority students, will bring its campaign for higher education for all to Rochester Monday, October 23rd, with a lineup of events designed to help students go to and through college.
“Education is the key that opens so many doors," said Rochester Mayor Lovely A. Warren. "That's why I'm proud to partner each year with Councilman Adam McFadden to bring the UNCF luncheon and college fair to Rochester. One of my goals as mayor is to provide more educational options for our children, and exposing them to UNCF-member colleges and universities is a great step towards achieving that goal.”
The day will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center with UNCF’s HBCU College Fair, a free college-and-career readiness road show for high school juniors and seniors as well as Monroe Community College transfer students. The event, which runs until 2 p.m., features inspirational discussions and workshops on preparing and paying for college. Representatives from over 25 colleges will be on-site to offer information, and many will review students’ transcripts and resumes and offer on-site admissions to qualified applicants. Most of the participating colleges are historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and 12 are UNCF-member HBCUs. There will also be several career-organizations present, as well as Fraternity and Sorority chapters from the Greater Rochester area.
Committee member, Councilman McFadden, who has served on the Rochester City Council for the past 14 years, is a proud alumnus of UNCF-member institution Claflin University.
“This is about remembering what helped me become the leader I am in Rochester today, and also about knowing that there will be young people who will have a similar experience because of the opportunity we’re providing for them through this luncheon and HBCU college fair,” said McFadden. “I think the value that HBCUs provide is really knowing how to meet students of color where they’re at and placing them in a supportive and structured environment that only helps them to succeed; not fail”.
The day’s second event, UNCF’s Rochester Leader’s Luncheon, starts at 11:30 a.m. in the Highland Room of the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, featuring Mayor Lovely Warren, School Superintendent Barbara Dean Williams, and Councilman Adam McFadden. Luncheon emcee, Spectrum News journalist and multimedia reporter for 103.9 WDKX Radio, Melanie Johnson, is also a graduate of an HBCU, Howard University. The luncheon’s keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Ronald A. Johnson, president of Clark Atlanta University, UNCF’s largest member institution. Proceeds from the luncheon will help all of UNCF’s member HBCUs keep academic programs strong and tuition affordable, and fund last-dollar scholarships. Luncheon sponsors include: lead sponsors, City of Rochester and the Mayor’s Office, Rochester City School District, JP Morgan Chase, and Delta Airlines; luncheon sponsor, Farash Foundation; and table host sponsor, C&S Companies.
“UNCF has years of experience helping young people receive the college education they need, and that we as a nation need them to have,” said UNCF New York regional development director David F.A. Walker, “and these two events are designed to put that knowledge and experience to work for Rochester students, families and employers. At UNCF we say that ‘A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in.’ UNCF is grateful to all the people, organizations and agencies who have invested their time and treasure in making this day of events a success. The education that Rochester students will receive and the careers they’ll launch are the return on that investment. They are our dividends.”
For more information and to stay connected to the New York office of UNCF, please visit: http://www.uncf.org/newyork
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About UNCF
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships annually and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in.”® Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities. Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous news and updates, follow UNCF on Twitter @UNCF.