recently reported that Skywatch Traffic in Huntsville, AL, elevated Oakwood alum Carmen Hope Thomas (class of 1994) to Director of Operations.

Carmen Hope Thomas class of 1994

Currently the company provides traffic service to 32 area radio outlets, including Oakwood's own Praise 90.1 FM WJOU.

Thomas brings years of on-air radio and television experience to Skywatch, previously handling on-air duties at stations in Miami and Gainesville-Ocala, FL.

"We are very excited to bring on board Carmen Hope Thomas," said Skywatch Traffic CEO Chuck Johnson.

"Thomas is the first African American female to hold such a position in the Huntsville, Alabama market, becoming the only African American female to be on this many different types of radio formats and to carry the Director of Operations title in Huntsville." 

Oakwood shows some love on AGAPE Day 2013 

Oakwood University students (above) carefully re-stripe the parking lot of First Seventh-day Adventist Church on Evangel Drive in Huntsville, Ala., during the university's Agape Day 2013, when the university shuts down for the morning to send students, faculty and staff into the community to help non-profit organizations.

Volunteers apply a fresh coat of paint at Madison's Abbingdon Downs Park.

Oakwood students help spruce up a structure at Abbingdon Downs Park on AGAPE Day 2013.

Oakwood students and employees gathered at the Oakwood University Church parking lot, at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2, ready to participate in AGAPE Day 2013.

Oakwood's Administrators had voted that classes be suspended for the day of service, which started with prayer, and a greeting from President Pollard. On behalf of Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Kenneth Anderson (right, with Dr. Pollard), Director of Multicultural Affairs for the City of Huntsville, proclaimed  that October 2 was "Oakwood University AGAPE Day."

Buses departed soon after, carrying Oakwoodites to "show some love" to over 25 sites and facilities, including neighboring First Church of SDA, Ed White Middle School, Oakwood Academy, the Downtown Rescue Mission.

Sites little further away included, for example, such as Huntsville's Burritt on the Mountain Museum, and Abbingdon Downs Park and the Madison Public Library, in nearby Madison, AL. 

Read more about the day in The Huntsville Times/al.com. 

Participants get instructions from site coordinator in Madison.

And since love starts at home, . . .

The last component of the $50,000 grant (from the 2013 "Retool Your School" HBCU campus improvement contest, sponsored by The Home Depot�) was "Volunteer Day," which was incorporated into the AGAPE Day activities. 

(L-R) OU Administrators, Staff and Volunteers at the Home Depot Pavilion.

The Aeolians performing at the White House Initiative on HBCUs luncheon on September 26.

Oakwood goes to Washington  

Marc and Roycelynn Marcel at the Washington Hilton.

Oakwood's Administrators, several staff members, the Aeolians and USM officers recently spent the last week of September in Washington, D.C. President Pollard, his Vice Presidents and several staff members attended the annual White House Initiative on HBCUs, where the Aeolians performed at one of the luncheons.

The Aeolians and Director Jason Max Ferdinand bless an audience on the Hope Channel set, at the General Conference headquarters.

The President and the USM officers visited several sites during the President's annual leadership tour. Dr. Pollard was the guest speaker for Divine Worship at the Breath of Life SDA Church in Fort Washington, Maryland, where the Aeolians blessed the congregation with special music. Meanwhile, several administrators and staff worshipped at the Breath of Life SDA Church in Washington, where Dr. Jesse Wilson delivered the message.

The weekend concluded with an "Oakwood on the Road" event at the Washington Hilton. Over 300 Oakwood alumni and friends gathered for fellowship at the latest in a series of regional receptions where alumni, friends and prospective students and parents can fellowship with OU senior administrators. The event was designed to bridge together the campus with its key outlying stakeholders.

President Pollard thanks OU Board of Trustees Mrs. Lois Peters for her hospitality for the Aeolians while they were in Washington.

Strategically, according to organizer and Advancement and Development executive director Miss Kisha Norris (holding the microphone, above), "these meet-greet-and-eat gatherings are linked to high-profile scheduled events which bring together OU officials with local and area Oakwood supporters - alums, friends and prospective students and their folks."

Following the metro Washington, DC, reception, where contributions and pledges totalled $38,000, the next scheduled OOTR event is being planned for the greater Houston area. Stay tuned. 

"Sing to the Rafters" scheduled for October 11

The Department of Music will be sponsoring several students' participation in the "Sing to the Rafters" workshop, presented by the GIA's African American Church Music Series, on October 11, 2013.

Led by Dr. James Abbington (right), Professor at Emory University and Chief Editor of the African American choral Series, this seminar will delve into the profound history of American sacred music.

All ages, denominations, and levels of singing experience are welcome to join this "learn-along/sing-along." Available to all attendees will be one of GIA's new African American hymnals, along with a variety of choral anthem octavos.

To register, visit www.giamusic.com/aacms or call 1-800-442.1358.