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Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 – 9 a.m. EDT
Join the First Baptist Church of Glenarden Education Ministry on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, for the Virtual College Symposium! The theme this year is Steppin’ in a New Direction. Our goal for this event is to provide parents, guardians and high school students with knowledge and information about the necessary steps to pursue and pay for a college education. If you’re ready to step in a new direction for your future, register for the 2021 Virtual College Symposium today!
Participating Colleges and Universities (More colleges will be added soon)
Benedict College, Bowie State University, Delaware State University, Grambling State University, Lancaster Bible College, Morgan State University, North Carolina Central University, Regent University, Shaw University, South Carolina State University, Spelman College, Tuskegee University, University of the District of Columbia
Anthony Armour is often described as an optimist. Based in Fairfax, Va., he has 3 years of professional engineering experience. Armour has a degree in Security and Risk Analysis from Penn State University, along with other professional certifications (Security +, Certified Blockchain Consultant, Python Full Stack Development).
He enjoys entrepreneurship, helping people solve problems through technology/law and fighting social norms/medicine. He has a natural gift for speaking and a contagious mindset that attracts people to him.
After three years of professional engineering experience with a government contractor (two in cyber, one in quality), Armour decided to leave the corporate world to try entrepreneurship. His primary focus was to build a millionaire-dollar passive income business, with the goal of using it to pay for medical or law school.
Armour brings to the table perseverance and a hunger for knowledge.
Robbi Goodyear is a student at Louisiana State University, where she majors in Petroleum Engineering and minors in Energy. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking and art.
Deacon Lou Holder and Charisse Holder are the proud parents of a teenager and young adult: Jasmine, 17 and Jordan 22.
Charisse is the owner of Transformations Home and Life and an author of a book titled “Interior Joy.” She uses her spiritual gifting of exhortation to teach, uplift and encourage others to live their best lives. She has led many sessions through the FBCG’s Women’s Focus Study – “The Home Experience” for more than 10 years. In addition, she has served as an instructor in the continuing education department of Prince George’s Community College. She has a corporate background in pharmaceutical sales with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and won the Hall of Fame award. Charisse is a graduate, with honors, from Hampton University with a BA in Marketing.
Deacon Lou is an Emmy award-winning sports personality, speaker, and teacher. He created HolderSports, a sports media consultancy, and is a college professor teaching a variety of communications and mass media classes. He has an extensive career as a sports anchor, reporter, and network talk show host. He earned an Emmy for Outstanding Sports Reporting in 2003. He holds a master’s degree in sports administration from Temple University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Rutgers University.
Award-winning author, national speaker, and student success strategist, Linnita Hosten empowers high school students to stand on their own after graduation.
As a respected education-planning professional, Hosten leverages her proven and results-driven strategies to facilitate evidence-based programming to organizations, universities, and community groups, helping their students achieve their educational goals.
Hosten has been honored with various awards including: Excellence in Education, Youth Speaker of the Year, 40 under 40 in Education, Education Book of the Year, University of Maryland Global Campus Alumni of the Year, and Leading Women of the Year.
She is passionate about preparing ambitious students to gain clarity on their plan and to become confident about pursuing their dream career.
Brannon Jones is an educational consultant in Atlanta, Ga. He is the 2018 National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Emerging Leader, the 2019 Twenty Pearls Foundation Humanitarian of the Year, and proud recipient of the 2019 Education Author of the Year Award for his College Readiness 101 workbook series.
This series is used throughout the country, assisting students as they become better prepared for college. He has created college and career programming for school systems, agencies, and student organizations.
Jones’ higher education experience includes college admissions and recruitment, student services and retention, and Title IX. Through his professional and volunteer work, he has assisted thousands of students reach their educational goals.
He has partnered with organizations around the country to assist students including the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation, Birmingham City Schools, Clayton County Public Schools, Communities in School – Atlanta, Clark Atlanta University TRiO Program, UC Davis TRiO Program, and many other student-serving organizations.
Tony and Tillanye Rankin are the proud parents of Ananda, Alexandra, Aleila, Ava, Anthony, and Amira. As parents, they are going through their third round of the college preparation process. Their oldest daughter graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. degree in microbiology and is working toward her Ph.D. at Washington University in St. Louis.
Their newest graduate is a first-year student, attending Tennessee State University in Nashville. They are currently working with their high school senior to help her choose a school and start her journey to fulfill God’s destiny for her life.
The couple recently celebrated 25 years of marriage. They are proud to have been called “Over-Flow Regulars” and have been members of FBCG for more than 20 years.
Tamra Sease is a tech-educator, two-time published author and district leader of Prince George’s County, Md. Raised in Bowie, she attended Hampton University, earning her bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Art History.
After graduating from Hampton, she attended McDaniel College, where she earned a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction with a concentration in Educational Technology & Learning. She also holds Administrator and Learning Technology Specialist certifications from the State of Maryland.
Professionally, Sease serves as the online programs’ coordinator and instructional specialist for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). She specializes in blended learning instructional technology, credit recovery, and intervention support for secondary students.
She also serves as a co-developer of the inaugural PGCPS Online Campus, the first fully virtual learning program, providing academic and social and emotional support for K-12 grade students.
Sease is a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden, where she diligently serves in the Pastoral Support Ministry, Drama Ministry, Creative Team for the Women’s Conference and the ID Young Adult Ministry. She is an instructor for the Women’s Focus Study Group and regularly supports the Audio & Visual Ministry throughout the year.
Both of her published works “The Petals of Nora Rose” and “Queendom Come: Knowing When to Adjust Your Crown” are both featured on Amazon Recognized Authors. Sease also serves as an active contributor to the Annual Yusuf Neville 5K Run, which brings awareness to mental health and honors the late Hamptonian Yusuf Neville.
Fred Stennis is a former financial aid director with more than 25 years of experience assisting students and serving families interested in education and opportunities beyond the secondary level.
Prior to joining the Federal Student Aid Customer Outreach Group, Stennis served as special assistant to the general manager in the division of Program Compliance. Working in each of these capacities throughout the years has provided him with a unique perspective in customer satisfaction, community outreach and program development.
Because of his first-hand knowledge of the student aid programs and his experience as a presenter, he now serves as supervisor and senior advisor within the Student Experience and Aid Delivery division.
Stennis holds a B.S. in Business Management from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Ala., and an M.S. in Management from Florida Institute of Technology. He is the president of the Home and School Association at G.E. Peters Adventist School in Hyattsville, Md., and is a proud member of the Bowie Mitchellville, Md. Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Opening Session | 9 a.m.
Session 1
First Steps | 9:15 a.m.
This session is designed to help high school freshmen and sophomores understand how their choices will help them step toward going to college. They will learn how to determine their purpose, how to prepare for college and how choices impact finances.
My Next Steps | 9:15 a.m.
This session is designed to help high school juniors and seniors understand the steps (checklist) needed to select and get into the college of their choosing. Session topics include understanding their purpose and passion, choosing the right college, and the process to get into college.
Small Steps, Big Changes | 9:15 a.m.
This session is designed to help parents understand the preparation steps and the requirements to get into college.
Session 2
Fresh Steps | 10:30 a.m.
This session offers students transparent insight from current college students and recent graduates about their experiences and strategies for college success. They will share information about the steps they took for their unique paths.
Step by Step | 10:30 a.m.
This session offers knowledge and insight about how other parents financed education, navigated the process, and managed the emotions of applying to schools. Parents will also gain a greater understanding of the resources available to students in college.
Session 3
Firm Steps/Securing the Bag | 11:30 a.m.
This session provides students and parents with a basic understanding of college financial acumen and financial processes. Topics may include FAFSA, “How To’s” that lead to a debt free degree including, doing your part, and what you need to know to be empowered to have a debt-free education.
Closing Session
College Fair
College Fair | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The virtual college fair will offer students and parents an opportunity to speak directly with colleges and universities, and in some cases obtain on-the-spot college acceptance.
All times are in EDT.
WE CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO JOIN US!