KU News Release

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas will host to more than 500 Kansas high school students with African-American, Asian-American or Latino heritage for three youth leadership symposiums.

All three symposiums are scheduled on Wednesdays in the Kansas Union beginning Oct. 7 with the fourth annual Latino Leadership Symposium. The 24th annual Black Leadership Symposium will be Oct. 21 and the Asian American Leadership Symposium will be Oct. 28.

The leadership symposiums have a central theme this year — “Expand Your Horizons and Opportunities.” The programs will run from 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. and provide high school students with information on college preparation and leadership development. Topics to be addressed include breaking stereotypes and empowerment in addition to higher education and leadership.

Participants must be enrolled in grades nine to 12 and demonstrate leadership potential and success in the classroom. Students are selected for participation by their teachers and counselors.

Each symposium begins with a multicultural information fair showcasing the outstanding programs and resources available to students at KU. The information fair will be in the union’s Big 12 and Jayhawk rooms.

Marlesa Roney, vice provost for Student Success, will greet the high school students and their counselors at each symposium and introduce keynote speakers during opening sessions in Woodruff Auditorium.

KU alumna Sandra Olivas, general assignment reporter for KCTV5 in Kansas City, Mo., will be the keynote speaker for the Latino symposium.

Mark Anthony Dupree, assistant prosecuting attorney for Jackson County, Mo., and an alumnus of KU and Washburn University, will speak to the African-American high school students.

Robert N. Page Jr., director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs for KU, will speak to the Asian-American students. He is a graduate of Central Missouri State University.

KU’s offices of admissions and scholarships, multicultural affairs and the provost, along with the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and Continuing Education, sponsor the symposiums.