Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Wilmington, N.C.-The Office of Admissions at the University of North Carolina Wilmington will host its first "Connecting Communities" special visitation day for area minority high school students at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8.

In partnership with Wilmington area churches and community organizations, the university is inviting minority high school students to visit and tour the campus, interact with members of campus Black Greek organizations, and attend a luncheon with administrators, faculty and staff.

"As an institution, we want to reach out to the African-American community and encourage high school students to consider attending UNC Wilmington," said Keryn Vickers, assistant director of admissions, who joined UNCW in fall 2006 with the assignment of building and strengthening community relationships. "A lot of students of color who have never been to our campus have no idea what we have to offer.

"This program will help give them exposure to the student experience at UNCW. If it turns out that our school is a great fit for them, we would welcome their application. If not, we still want them to attend college somewhere and we can provide them with information to make that personal decision."

Churches and community organizations involved in the event include Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Union Missionary Baptist Church, Mount Calvary, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, New Beginnings Church, The Love Center, St. Phillip AME Church, Wilmington YMCA and the Community Boys and Girls Club.

NOTE TO MEDIA: You are invited to attend and cover this event. A schedule of activities and locations follows:

Connecting Communities

September 8, 2007

1 p.m.-4 p.m.

1 p.m., Pre-tour Presentation (Computer Information Systems Building, Room 1008)

1:30 p.m., Tour of Campus

2:15 p.m., Black Greek Organizations "Step Show" (Wagoner Hall)

2:30 p.m., Lunch with UNCW Faculty/Staff (Wagoner Hall)

3:45 p.m., Closing Remarks

For more information, contact:

Keryn Vickers, assistant director of admissions, 910.962.3134 or vickersk@uncw.edu

Dana Fischetti, manager of news and media relations, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu