KU News Release

KU symposium on black leadership to draw 300 students, feature Penn Valley president

LAWRENCE — Bernard Franklin, president of Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Mo., will be the keynote speaker at the 21st annual Black Leadership Symposium, to be held Oct. 19 at the University of Kansas.

The symposium draws approximately 300 African-American high school students and faculty sponsors to KU for workshops and dialogues promoting leadership. This year’s theme is “Educating our Youth of Today to Become Leaders for Tomorrow.”

Student participation in the symposium is handled by Kansas schools and is based on academic achievement and leadership potential. Students will attend workshops about leadership, the importance of a post-secondary education and preparing themselves for college.

Franklin has recently assumed the post of Penn Valley president. For the previous three years, he served as executive director of Kauffman Scholars, a multi-year initiative funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to help urban students from low-income families in Kansas City prepare for and complete a college education.

This year’s symposium also will include:

— “All You Ever Wanted to Know About KU,” a panel presentation by KU students who will answer questions about university life
— A workshop for high school counselors and advisers on issues that students and staff face as they navigate the college search process
— A multicultural information fair showcasing programs and resources available to KU students
— Travis Watkins, spoken word and poetry.

Information and registration are available by calling (785) 864-5823 or toll-free (877) 404-5823, or visiting the Continuing Education Web site.

The conference is sponsored by the KU Office of the Provost, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, Multicultural Resource Center and KU Continuing Education.

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