Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás D. Morales came to Allen Chapel AME church in Riverside on Feb. 23 to share with congregants a simple message on the importance of a college education for their children and for themselves.

“Those of you who started college and for some reason had to leave or perhaps always wanted to go to college – don’t give up on that dream,” Morales said. “It doesn’t matter how old you are.”

Morales, now in his eighth year in leading the university, visited the Riverside church as part of the California State University’s 15th annual Super Sunday outreach to encourage the pursuit of a college education, especially in the African American community.

The president was among the CSU leaders, including CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White, who visited African American churches throughout the state. This year’s Super Sunday theme was “College Is Within Your Reach … and It Powers Opportunity.”

Morales told the congregants that “it’s never too late to go back to college. My mother went back when she was 39 years old. She was a high school dropout when she started her higher education journey. I would not be here before you if she hadn’t been my role model.”

He urged them to make sure that when their children are entering high school, that they are enrolled in the A-G precollege curriculum to ensure they would be eligible for admission to a CSU or a University of California campus.

“We have to be mindful,” Morales said.

The presentations included information and resources from the CSU that were provided to help students and families foster a college-going culture at home, including information about preparing for college, applying to a CSU campus and applying for financial aid.

More than a million people have attended Super Sunday outreach efforts over the last 15 years with more than 100,000 congregants, students and families slated to do so this year.

Along with Allen Chapel AME, CSUSB administrators visited churches in the inland region. Student Affairs Vice President Paz Olivérez spoke at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in San Bernardino; Information and Technology Services Vice President Sam Sudhakar spoke at Immanuel Praise Fellowship church in Rancho Cucamonga; University Advancement Vice President Robert Nava spoke at Ecclesia Christian Fellowship in San Bernardino; and College of Education Dean Chinaka DomNwachukwu spoke at Temple Missionary Baptist Church, also in San Bernardino.

On Feb. 9, CSUSB administrators also visited Life Church Of God In Christ in Riverside.

“In my nearly 45 years in higher education, I have always been a strong advocate of the importance of education,” Morales said earlier. “A college degree can unlock life-changing and transformative opportunities not only for the graduates, but for their families and ultimately for their communities. Our goal is to help prospective students, their parents and families realize that earning a college degree is attainable and help them achieve it.”

CSU Super Sunday is one of many events supported by the CSU community to increase the preparation, retention and graduation of African American students. The year-round partnership between the CSU and faith-based community leaders throughout the state provides additional outreach, support and preparation events such as campus college fairs, financial aid completion workshops, Cal State Apply clinics and more.