FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3^RD ANNUAL  COLLEGE DAY                          

TO BE HELD JANUARY 10^TH

            DANVILLE, VA, December 17, 2004 -- College Day 2004 will be held Saturday, January 10, at the Cherrystone Association Center in Ringgold (5551 Tom Fork Road).  Sponsored by Danville Community College’s Alliance for Excellence program and the Cherrystone Missionary Baptist Association of Churches, Inc., this third annual event will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. This major event, featuring representatives from colleges and universities, is being offered for area youth, parents, and others.

            College Day was first established in 2002 to promote higher education awareness among African-American students.  Admissions counselors and financial aid officers from historically black colleges and universities throughout the region, along with DCC and Averett University, have been invited to share college admissions information with prospective students from Danville, Pittsylvania County, and Halifax County. 

Representatives from the following colleges have been confirmed: Allen University, Bennett College, Elizabeth City State University, Hampton University, Livingstone College, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A & T State University, North Carolina Central University, Saint Augustine’s College, Virginia State University, Winston-Salem State University, Danville Community College and Averett University.

In addition to college displays, representatives from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will provide information on Greek life in colleges. Greek step teams will also perform, and information on the admissions process and financial aid will be available.  The Cherrystone Association will have food available for a nominal cost.

            “We are expecting an even larger turnout than last year’s event,” said Paula Coleman, DCC’s Alliance for Excellence Coordinator. She explained that more than 300 area youth and their parents attended in 2003.

“This event is the place to be,” she continued. “In many instances, college representatives bring special incentives, such as new scholarships, and some offer to waive the cost of the admissions application. If you are looking at colleges, then you will not want to miss this event.”

The event is open to the public. For more information on College Day 2004, click here or  contact:  Paula Coleman, Alliance for Excellence Coordinator at (434) 797-8516 or (800) 560-4291, ext. 8516; email: pcoleman@dcc.vccs.edu.