Close to 30 honor roll students get preadmitted to CSUB through Glow program

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Most students know just how stressful the college admissions process can be, but for close to 30 students at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, they don’t have to worry about that anymore.

“I said each and every one of them is admitted to CSUB. Each and every one of them. Today. Not tomorrow, not next year, not five years, I said today!” CSUB President Vernon B. Harper Jr. said. In February, President Harper Jr. visited and met with honor roll students who attended the church. He said he felt something.

“I was just so moved by their Glow program which really recognizes high academic achievement in the community. And I decided to admit all of the students to CSUB.”

Tyson Toney, 15, is one of the students participating in the Glow program. He said being preadmitted to CSUB means he can stay close to home.

“Since it’s also in Bakersfield and it’s close by, so another plus would be I would still get to see my parents often,” Tyson said.

Ariana Jones is another student in the program. She’s 8-years-old and already got accepted to her first college. Ariana is already feeling the first day jitters, ten years too early.

“It makes me feel a little nervous, because it’s going to be my first time there, but I’ll get used to it.”

Ok, it’s not a guaranteed admission. They still need to meet A through G requirements and graduate high school.

But as long as they can do that, they’ve already got a seat at CSUB.

“Every measure that we have shows that higher education increases prosperity in the community, it increases prosperity for individuals and their families, so we want to draw all individuals that we can to higher education, to get that opportunity and elevate their families,” President Harper explained.

Aniya Johnson, 17, says this preadmission makes her feel like God, and members of her community, have got her back. “It makes me feel loved. And it makes me feel like people care about us and about our community…God’s always watching my back I feel like. Now I have the opportunity to do something I love and even if things are going rough, there’s always something or someone up there who’s looking our for me.”

CSUB Public Information Officer Jennifer Self says this is just the first year of a program that they plan on expanding.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.