NY Urban League Hosts College Fair
NEW YORK - For many potential college students the increasing cost of college tuition can serve as a roadblock. African American students may face additional obstacles related to how to complete college applications as well as how to identify those schools which are best suited for their personalities and lifestyles. The New York Urban League (NYUL) is working to help students attain high-quality education despite those challenges. In conjunction with Children’s Aid Society, and Malcolm Bernard HBCU College Fair, the NYUL will host its annual HBCU Fair on November 13, 2010 at Riverbank State Park in New York City from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
The college representatives coming to the Fair are aware of the numerous barriers that students of color face during the admission process and look for ways to make the process more manageable. To address some of the common challenges that students face many of the participating HBCUs will offer application fee waivers, scholarship awards, and even on-site admission acceptance offers. Last year nearly 200 students left the College Fair with college acceptance offers to their dream college or university. More than 65 scholarships were awarded and over 1,100 application fee waivers were offered. These concessions allowed students to take positive action toward their futures.
This one-day event allows students and their families to see the abundance of opportunities and resources available to them. Arva Rice, President and CEO of the New York Urban League believes that this annual event bridges the gap between perception and reality for college hopefuls. “The college admissions process can be daunting. Thankfully, many of the HBCUs are willing to go above and beyond to provide students with the resources they need to successfully navigate the process. This annual Fair is the only opportunity some of our young people will have to get in front of Admission Directors outside of the immediate NYC area,” said Rice.
Morning workshops will help with college preparation and offer tips on financial aid for students, parents, and school counselors. An enlightening mid-day panel will help prospective students decide how to navigate along their educational paths. Elected officials and members of the New York Urban League Young Professionals will be on hand to discuss their own college experiences and share encouragement based on their personal journeys. The panelists will talk about the importance of a college education and the relationship between majors and career choices. Entertainment will not be lacking at the HBCU Fair this year-- a vibrant Step Showcase will give attendees a firsthand experience of a prominent component of HBCUs.
About the NYUL
The New York Urban League was founded by a group of prominent New Yorkers concerned with the poor state of blacks migrating to New York City from the south. From its inception it provided employment and connections for migrating blacks bridging the adjustment from the agricultural/rural life to the industrial urban center. Each decade following, “The League” provided critical services such as emergency aid for the unemployed during the Great Depression; formed the Committee for Interracial Voluntary Hospitals to provide care and work in local hospitals; negotiated the opening of employment for blacks in the airline, brewing, and baking industries; created “Street Academies” which became a national model for high school students; published the first State of Black New York report; and created its signature events including Frederick Douglas Dinner, Whitney M. Young Jr. Classic, and Champion of Diversity Breakfast among many other milestones.
