Chuck Cooper and Josh Gibson Center for Equity and Education Creating equitable pathways to success
Events
Our events are open to high school students. For more information or to register, please email us at CooperGibsonCenter@pointpark.edu.
Upcoming Events
Check back here for updates.
Previous Events
Sat., Oct. 21, Noon–1:30 p.m.
Location: Michael P. Pitterich Sales & Innovation Center, West Penn Hall 1st Floor, Point Park University
Session I, Noon–12:30, Lunch
Legacy of Hall of Famers Chuck Cooper & Josh Gibson| Provided by Chuck Cooper III and Sean Gibson
Session II, 12:30–1 p.m.
Financial Aid (FAFSA) Discussion | Provided by George Santucci, director of financial aid services, Point Park
Session II, 1–1:30 p.m.
Special Presentation by Chuck Cooper Foundation Scholarship Recipients Edwin De La Rosa, Jason Bempah, Maria Lewis and Jace Peterkin: "Building Bridges to Success: Empowering Youth for a Better Tomorrow"
Sat., Nov. 4, Noon–1:30 p.m.
Location: Michael P. Pitterich Sales and Innovation Center, West Penn Hall 1st Floor, Point Park University
Session I, Noon–12:15 p.m.
Lunch and Icebreaker Activities
Session II, 12:15–1 p.m.
Navigating the College Admissions Process | Provided by Point Park's admissions team
Session III, 1–1:30 p.m.
Sports Leadership Panel Discussion | Provided by Point Park faculty in the Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management (SAEM) program: Karen Hall, Ed., and Robert Derda, M.S., associate professor and chair of the Department of Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management
Sat., Dec. 2, Noon–1:30 p.m.
Location: Michael P. Pitterich Sales and Innovation Center, West Penn Hall 1st Floor, Point Park University
Session I, Noon– 1 p.m.
Personal Finance and Financial Literacy Workshop, provided by Jacob McClelland of First National Bank
Session II, 1–1:30 p.m.
What Athletes Need to Know About Name, Imagine & Likeness (NIL) | Provided by Chuck Berry, adjunct faculty in Point Park's SAEM program
About the Center
- Located within the Rowland School of Business on Point Park's Downtown Pittsburgh campus
- Established with a gift of $150,000 from Chuck Hammel, CEO of Pitt Ohio, and $50,000 from First National Bank, the largest subsidiary of F.N.B Corporation.
- Named after two professional sports Hall of Famers:
- Chuck Cooper made sports history by being the first African American drafted by the NBA. His achievements on the basketball court at Duquesne University and at the Boston Celtics, as well as his professional career - being the first African American appointed to direct a department in the city of Pittsburgh - make him an inspiring role model for students both on and off the field.
- Josh Gibson played baseball in the Negro League for Pittsburgh’s Homestead Grays as a marquee player. His batting average and home run hits earned him nine spots on the All Star team. In 1972, he was the second Negro League player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gibson earned his spot in sports history during segregation for black players; his story speaks to discipline and hard work in the face of adversity.
Contact Us
- For more information about the Chuck Cooper and Josh Gibson Center for Equity and Education, email CooperGibsonCenter@pointpark.edu.
Learn about our 2022 Top SCORE Students in the video below:
Past Events
Our events span a broad range of topics relevant to student success. Our guest speakers provide students with actionable advice that they can carry forward throughout their education and careers. Past events have included:
- Personal Finance
- Personal Branding
- Financial Aid
- Sports Leadership
- Name, Image, Likeness
In the News
- "Descendants of Chuck Cooper, Josh Gibson Reward PPS Students' Hard Work," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 26, 2022.
- "The Chuck Cooper and Josh Gibson Center for Equity and Education Present Its First Student Achievement Award," Rowland School of Business, Facebook, June 9, 2022.
- "NBA unveils new trophies for division winners named after 6 NBA legends," NBA.com, April 11, 2022.
- "Celebrating Black History Month," WTAE, Feb. 28, 2022.
- "Actively BLACK - The PIONEERS Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper," Actively BLACK, Facebook, Feb. 22, 2022.
- "Steph Curry, 2022 All-Star Game MVP, Talks About His Support of NBA Pioneers Cooper, Lloyd, Clifton," Chuck Cooper Foundation, YouTube, Feb. 21, 2022.
- "Passion to Honor Josh Gibson’s Incredible Legacy Burns Bright as Ever for Great-Grandson Sean," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Feb. 17, 2022.
- "The Q&A: Chuck Cooper III on the Celtics' Historic Draft of His Father," NBA.com.
- "The Lynne Hayes-Freeland Show: Chuck Cooper and Josh Gibson Center for Equity and Education," KDKA-TV, Sept. 19, 2021.
- "Chuck Cooper III and Sean Gibson: Making Equity and Education a Mission," TribLIVE.com, Sept. 14, 2021.
- "Point Park University’s Rowland School of Business Launches The Chuck Cooper and Josh Gibson Equity and Education Center," Point Park University website, Sept. 14, 2021.
Connect With Us
The Cooper Gibson team is available to visit local school districts to discuss its programs. To schedule a visit, email CooperGibsonCenter@pointpark.edu.
College and Career-Readiness Resources
- Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Pennsylvania Future Ready Index
- Pennsylvania Career Readiness Standards
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Pennsylvania Department of Education Career and Technical Education
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Pennsylvania Department of Education Postsecondary and Higher Education
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Pennsylvania Department of Education College and Career Education
- Education Planner
- PHEAA's Five Steps to Financial Aid
- FAFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)