KU News Release

Media advisory: KU’s Black Leadership Symposium to draw 300 students

WHAT: 22nd annual Black Leadership Symposium at the University of Kansas for about 300 African-American students and faculty from high schools in Kansas and Kansas City, Mo. This year’s theme is “Empowering Youth: Implementing Diversity.”

WHEN, WHERE and WHO: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, in the Kansas Union.

Schedule:

8:30 to 9:15 a.m. — Multicultural information fair showcasing programs and resources available to KU students; Big 12 and Jayhawk rooms, Level 5
9:15 a.m. — “All You Ever Wanted to Know About KU,” a panel presentation by KU students who will answer questions about university life; Woodruff Auditorium
9:45 a.m. — Opening welcome by Marlesa Roney, KU’s vice provost for Student Success, and presentation of $100 reading prizes by Marshall Jackson, associate director of KU’s Academic Achievement and Access Center; Woodruff Auditorium
10 a.m. — Keynote address by Erica Hawthorne. Hawthorne is CEO of her own creative consulting business and has combined a career helping high school students prepare for higher education with a successful performing career. Her debut album, “Spoke Inward,” was released under her pseudonym, RhapsodE. She has combined her public relations and higher education skills to create a consulting firm that involves creative initiatives, products and programs that help others reach their fullest potential; Woodruff Auditorium
11 a.m. — Concurrent workshops for high school counselors and advisers on issues that students and staff face as they navigate the college search process (Alderson Auditorium) and for students on Black Female Leadership led by Kansas Rep. Barbara Ballard, associate director for civic programming and public outreach at KU’s Dole Institute of Politics (Woodruff Auditorium) and on Black Male Leadership led by Michael Conley, program director for Educational Talent Search at KU (Kansas Room)
2 p.m. — Performance by RhapsodE; Woodruff Auditorium

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

KU’s Office of the Provost, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, Multicultural Resource Center and Continuing Education sponsor the conference.

For more information, call (785) 864-5823 or toll-free (877) 404-5823, or visit the Continuing Education Web site.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.