Vol. 3, No. 12                                                                         March 22, 2013

 

OU Campus Preparing to Welcome Home Alumni and Friends;

Theme:  Make Us One   

 

  

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

Alumni Weekend's Saturday Night Aeolians Concert is to be a Live Recording

 

With a grand vision to reach the world with the music of the Aeolians, a bold and innovative move is being made by the choir this Spring. Our aim is to do a first-ever live recording with a Symphony Orchestra at Oakwood University. A professional orchestra will be brought in along with a professional sound engineer. We will be blessed to have special guest performers giving of their talents and their time.  This project will help in continuing the upward momentum that the Aeolians have been experiencing over the last few years. 

The Aeolians of Oakwood University are asking for yOUr help.
  
This is where YOU come in. Yes, you! We want to thank you for all of your support over the years. Our success is your success. We want to give you the opportunity of being a part of history. This concert and our goals that follow CANNOT happen without your help. The total cost through post-production is $35,000. We have some of this, but need to raise $15,000 quickly to cover the rest. We know that this can be done, and are asking you to GIVE to this worthy cause. Contributions can be made online through  
Kickstarter.   
 
  
Open House at "the new Cunningham Hall"
Sunday, March 31, 2013
11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

  

   
 

Oakwood STEMER Students Present Research at National Meeting

by Dr. Kenneth LaiHing, Chairman, Dept. of Chemistry

  

Six science majors attended and presented posters at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and National Science Foundation (NSF)-sponsored annual Emerging Researchers National Conference (ERN) in Washington, DC.  The students are researchers on the STEMER grant funded by NSF, and were accompanied by Dr. Kenneth LaiHing, Program Manager.  Pictured (left to right) are: Brianna Moncur (sophomore), Keila Miles (senior) back, Cassandra Dill (sophomore) front in slacks, Cynthia Wilson (senior), Chrystelle Vilfranc (senior),Colee Mitchell (sophomore), and Dr. Lai Hing. 
  

The conference, held from February 28-March 2, 2013, was attended by students and representatives from universities and institutions conducting NSF sponsored STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) research. The six students all gave poster presentations in the areas of Microbiology, Nanotechnology and Chemistry.

 

"Photo op" moment for Brianna Moncur, 1st place winner in Microbiology.

 Perseverance and hard work with Dr. Elaine Vanterpool paid off for our own Brianna Moncur, who won 1st place in Microbiology.

 

The conference was a very interesting experience for our students, allowing them to not only present their research, but to network, meet with recruiters from graduate schools, and to learn more about different areas of STEM.  
    

 

   
 

Joynotes! Book Scholarship Program

 

OU Students, Alumni and Friends who support the Oakwood University Literary Guild Book Scholarship Program (BSP) help students with limited resources buy textbooks. The Literary Guild publishes an edition of a book entitled Joynotes!, and proceeds from the sale of Joynotes! fund the BSP.

 

Buy your copy of JoyNotes! at the Alumni Weekend OU Vendors Village on Sunday, March 31, 2013. Also, a special JoyNotes! book-signing will be held that afternoon from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at the OU Bookstore.

 

At OU, "Who Cares?" is not a question; We Are Who Cares is an answer.

 

Help eradicate "bookless" students on Oakwood's campus!  Buy your copy of JoyNotes! Alumni Weekend!

 

  

 

 

  

   

 

At drowning anniversary, OU mother finds and shares hope 
 

Counting Blessings ~by Vanessa Hanna

 

I realize it now, more than ever, that God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.

 

  
On March 23, 2012, my baby, Justin Emanuel Hanna, lost his life in a swimming incident. He was just 18.

 

In an effort to try to make sense out of this tragedy - which then and now seems so surreal - I spoke with the doctor. The results were inconclusive regarding what caused him to collapse and go under the water. She told me it could have been a blood clot or it could have been going from a hot hike to the cool water. It could have been... No matter what, the end result was the same. We don't know, but God knows it all.

 

It was all so overwhelming. My mind was racing. "This can't be. He hasn't begun his summer internship yet. He hasn't finished college. He hasn't gotten married and had children. He hasn't..."

 

Through tears and incredible pain, I was eventually allowed to process a little more, with God's help. I remembered that my prayers and desires for Justin and my oldest son, Donavan, included (and still do) that they be surrounded by Godly influences, to be a blessing to society and, most of all, to be saved into God's kingdom. I began to review Justin's life, especially over the last few months.

 

Approximately two months before he went to sleep, Justin sent me the most beautiful text message that said, "Ma, can we start praying together?" I responded with more joy than he could know in a text message. I said, "Yes! And, can we have a devotional thought, too?" He said yes! Through tears, I had to thank God for that. (...)

 

Our children are not perfect, and there are no perfect parents. However, it is so important for parents to do all they can to stay connected with their children. It is so important to rejoice with them over their victories no matter how small they may seem. It is so important to be firm but understanding when they make mistakes. It is so important for them to know that you love them at all times, just the way God continues to love us all even when we fall. It is equally important for children to stay connected with their parents. Parents need to know and be shown that they are loved. Bonds are more tightly sealed with continuous and collaborative cooperation.

 

I would never have chosen for Justin to be gone so soon. However, when I look through spiritual eyes, I am so happy that God allowed him enough time to absorb and apply the things that I, his father (the late Silvaris Hanna), his brother Donavan, his sister Ariel, his family, his friends, and other godly influences impressed upon him. Thank you God! 

  

   

  

 

Adventist News Network:  Historically black Adventist university in contention for $50,000 grant

 

 

The Seventh-day Adventist Church's only historically black university is in the running for a US$50,000 grant from an online contest sponsored by a chain of home improvement stores in the United States.

 

Adventist-run Oakwood University in Alabama is competing for a $50,000 grant from Home Depot. The "Retool Your School" contest is a campus improvement program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S.  

 

Huntsville, Alabama-based Oakwood University is one of the smallest and the only Adventist school participating in Home Depot's "Retool Your School" contest for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

 

Home Depot Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the company, will award 12 Tier II $10,000 grants, one $50,000 Tier I Grant and a $25,000 Campus Pride Grant based on social media activity.

 

Oakwood is currently in first place out of 75 schools with 163,463 votes, followed closely by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, which has 161,289 votes. 

 

A press release from the university said votes and social media activity for UMES tends to spike Friday night and Saturday, but that Oakwood supporters consistently recapture the top spot after sunset on Saturdays. The Adventist-run university is encouraging voters to observe the seventh-day Sabbath when showing support.

"We're planning to win this contest-not solely for the money and campus improvements, but even more importantly for the witnessing opportunity of Sabbath observance it gives us, not only with The Home Depot, but with all onlookers," said Kisha Norris, executive director for Advancement & Development at Oakwood.

 

Oakwood University is directly affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church's world headquarters and has a current enrollment of 1,939 students.

 

University officials said the Tier I Grant would fund an outdoor pavilion equipped with outdoor kitchen appliances, grills and fireplaces. If the school snags a Tier II Grant instead, plans are in place to insulate the sprinkler system for the softball and football fields and re-seed those fields.

 

Supporters can vote online once per day until April 15, but can use the hashtag #OakwoodRYS2013 on Twitter and Instagram without limit. Contest winners will be announced in early May, according to the Home Depot website.

 

Home Depot Foundation has contributed more than $200 million to charities such as Habitat for Humanity and causes that include medical research, emergency preparedness and playground construction.


 

 

Vote at http://retoolyourschool.com - every day, on each electronic device (PC, laptop, phone, tablet), and keep the hashtag #OakwoodRYS2013 circulating on Instagram and Twitter. Last day to vote is April 15, 2013.

 
 
Provost Announces Leadership Transition in Student Enrollment Services 
 

On Wednesday, March 20, 2013, the Academic Division of Oakwood University's Administration recommended to the President's Council the appointment of Mrs. Monica Sudeall-Hawkins to 

Mrs. Monica Sudeall-Hawkins has been appointed as Executive Director of Student Enrollment Services, effective immediately.

the position of Executive Director of Student Enrollment Services (SES), effective immediately.  The recommendation was voted and approved by the President's Council.

 

 Mrs. Sudeall-Hawkins replaces James Hutchinson, who has served in the position for the last five years. The President's Council also voted an expression of appreciation to Mr. Hutchinson for his years of service to SES. 

 

Mrs. Sudeall-Hawkins brings significant expertise to the leadership of SES. Before returning to serve at Oakwood, she held the positions of Director of Admissions/Registrar/ International Student Affairs at Drake State Technical College for six and a half years.  She brings strong organizational skills and best practices in student record retention and retrieval.  She is passionate about the work that she does, and about our Oakwood University students.  "My desire for them is that they matriculate and complete what they started here at Oakwood.  And, as such, I am committed to giving 100% effort to ensure that our students receive the highest level of customer service and accurate information whenever they visit our student service areas," she said. 

 

Mrs. Sudeall-Hawkins has been tasked with reorganizing SES to create a high functioning, and market-competitive SES entity that supports students in their total "Oakwood Experience," from:

 

1)     Their first contact;

2)     Through recruitment;

3)     To submission of the application;

4)     To their enrollment;

5)     To their financial award;

6)     To lending them academic support;

7)     To their graduation, and then ultimately

8)     To satisfied and generous alumni involvement.

 

SES will coordinate the work of those departments related to students' successful matriculation. We congratulate Mrs. Sudeall-Hawkins on this assignment and invite the entire Oakwood University campus family to welcome her to her new responsibilities.

    

   

   

Taking Time with Take 6

 

Q1: Why is Take 6's Mark Kibble showcasing many of the group's 10 Grammy trophies to OU creative services manager Jerry Ross?

Q2: Do we have your current snail-mail address?

A: Stay tuned . . .