February 7, 2014

EMA training attendees included individuals from the Huntsville/Madison County emergency management community.

Oakwood Hosts FEMA Training

By Chief Lewis Eakins, director, Oakwood University Police Department

The Oakwood University Police Department, in cooperation, with the School of Business and Adult & Continuing Education, sponsored a Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) workshop on February 3-5 at the Bradford Cleveland Brooks Leadership Center. COOP is a part of the Continuity Excellence Series offered by FEMA.

According to FEMA's website, courses in the Continuity of Operations Curriculum tie in with the National Response Framework and will help federal, state, local and tribal officials and medical personnel plan for and maintain operations in order to continue providing critical services to their stakeholders following a disaster.

The training was offered to the local Huntsville/Madison County emergency management community, which resulted in NASA, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal Garrison, and other local and federal government agencies being in attendance. "We appreciated the opportunity to partner with Oakwood University in bringing this training program to the North Alabama area," said Mark A. Brown, continuity program specialist with FEMA. "We hope that this will be the beginning of a solid training relationship," he said.

OU Students Discuss the Meaning of Purity

By Chaplain Kimberly Pearson

Over the last several days, PureReality a ministry based in Miami, Fla., has been facilitating a nightly discussion with OU students on purity focusing on topics such as sex, addiction, and making wise, pure choices. With the students recognizing Purity Week on campus, the question has come up, "Can being pure be a reality?" Thanks to the vision of USM Religious Vice President Kris Brice, OU students can say "yes!"

Students have responded positively to the presentations from PureReality. One student said, "The presentations just kept getting better!" Another stated, "I needed this."

PureReality will celebrate their 10th anniversary this year. However, their success is not simply in their longevity, but in their impact! Currently, PureReality has helped more than 500 youth and adults across the nation take hold of their sexuality and spirituality. PureReality will conclude their presentation tonight at the Oakwood University Church with skits, preaching and a consecration service.

Oakwood Begins Celebration of Black History Month with Special Chapel

Dr. E. Gorden Gee served as an administrator with Dr. Frank W. Hale, Jr., at Ohio State University.

During yesterday's chapel service, OU students were able to celebrate the accomplishments of the late Dr. Frank W. Hale, Jr., former president of Oakwood College (1966-71) through his daughter, Dr. Ifeoma Kwesi, who serves as Assistant Professor of Spiritual Formation and African American Studies. Dr. Kwesi shared with the students memories of her father and his philanthropic spirit.

Special guest speaker for the chapel was Dr.

E. Gordon Gee, an American academic and former president of Ohio State University.

Hale and Gee served together at Ohio State University.

At the close of his presentation, Dr. Gee answered several questions from USM President Christopher Readus, dealing with success and faith. "We make a difference in people's lives by being connected to God," said Gee.

On February 8, the Oakwood University Church will launch its annual Black History Month celebration with "Descendants of the Movement," a special church service that will honor the contributions of iconic civil rights era figures and their descendants.

OU Student Appears on Jeopardy! College Championship and Ford's BCQ

OU senior elementary education major Kenesha Bennett recently competed in the Jeopardy! College Championship and the Ford Black College Quiz.

Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek with Oakwood's Kenesha Bennett.

The Jeopardy! College Championship will air on Huntsville's WHNT channel 19 on Wednesday, February 12 @ 6:00 p.m. (CST). Check your local CBS listing for air times in your community.

The Ford Black College Quiz (BCQ) will air on the same Huntsville station at the times listed below (although we are not exactly sure on which broadcast Kenesha will appear):

Huntsville-Decatur WHNT CBS, February 19 at 5:00 pm

Huntsville-Decatur WHNT CBS, February 23 at 4:00 pm

Huntsville-Decatur WHNT CBS, February 24 at 11:59 pm

An additional list of broadcast times are available here.

All of the BCQ contestants were interviewed. Kenesha is the third of the interviews currently on the BCQ website. Additionally, Kenesha is also captain of the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) team this year.

Dr. Rennae Elliott, chair of the Communication Department, who accompanied Kenesha to California, said that "you would be proud of the way Kenesha represented Oakwood, and more importantly, the way she represented God."

Oakwood to Host "Paying for College" Events to Help Students Find Financial Assistance

Oakwood University is providing useful information for people planning to attend or attending college - sponsoring two days of events to celebrate Financial Aid Awareness Weekend.

On Saturday, February 22, at 6:30 p.m., Oakwood will host its first Scholarship/Funding Summit - "Paying for College" in the McKee Business & Technology Complex. The target audience for this event includes high school juniors and seniors. However, all Huntsville area students and families, currently enrolled college students and persons interested in attending college are welcomed.

Presenters include representatives from the United Negro College Fund, Oakwood University, and other scholarship granting entities. These organizations will provide current and future students with information and best practices to help families locate, apply for, and receive valuable college scholarships, as well as maximize financial aid and tuition discounts.

On Sunday, February 23, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the McKee Business & Technology Complex, the Oakwood University Office of Financial Aid, will host a community outreach program called "College Goal Sunday." On this day, the University is offering free onsite assistance with completing income taxes along with the FAFSA application. Financial aid counselors will also be available to answer questions about financing college in general, as well as directing students to some financial aid resources.

For more information, contact (256) 726-7210.

New Book Highlights Ministry and Life of

Elder C.D. Brooks

Authors Harold Lee (OC class of 1963) and Benjamin Baker (OC class of 2001) have published "C.D.: The Man Behind the Message."

The authors indicated that the staff of the Bradford-Cleveland-Brooks Leadership Center were vital to this effort, most notably Saylene Hitchcock and JoAnn Bushner. The authors also said that Oakwood University and the General Conference supported this endeavor fully.

One of the chapters in the book is devoted to Brooks' "Oakwood Experience" from 1947 to 1951.