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February 12, 2014
Editors Note: In light of today's airing of Jeopardy! with Kenesha Bennett, we bring to you a special edition of insideOakwood.
Senior Education Major Represents Oakwood on Television Broadcast Competitions
By Zawadi Nicholas, student writer
Meet Kenesha Bennett. A senior education major at Oakwood University, she recently competed in the Jeopardy! College Championship and Ford Black College Quiz. She is also the captain of Oakwood's Honda Campus All-Star Challenge team.
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Kenesha Bennett with Jeopardy! host
Alex Trebek
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What drives Kenesha Bennett? Along with her passion for equal education, she remembers wanting to compete on Jeopardy! from a young age.
"I've always wanted to be on Jeopardy!, like always, always!"
She never imagined that her dream would come true, but it did. After much prayer Kenesha was granted the opportunity to compete with other students on the show and win money for school. She describes the experience as one that "affirms her belief that God can, and will, grant the desire of His children's hearts." Kenesha credits God for helping her achieve one of her life-long dreams.
Kenesha's second dream is to help equalize education in America. She recalls earlier in life being one of the few black students who were placed in the honors class. She observed that her fellow black classmates did not know as much a she did, though they attended the same school. Her desire to fix this was further encouraged by seeing "Waiting for Superman," a documentary chronicling the educational development of students in Harlem, New York.
"I realized that it was a struggle for parents from all over the country to find quality education for their students," she said.
Kenesha's love for the enrichment of black students is especially reflected in her love for Oakwood University. "Oakwood gives you an opportunity to see teachers who have worked hard for their degrees helping young people who are striving to be successful."
Watch Kenesha on the Jeopardy! College Championship today (February 12). Check your local TV/cable listings for air times.
Also, check out this story on AL.com about Kenesha.
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Oakwood Hosts CREATION Health Training
By Zawadi Nicholas, student writer
Attendees completing written exercises at Monday's Creation Health workshop and training session in the Bradford-Cleveland-Brooks Leadership Center.
This past Monday, President Leslie Pollard, South Central Conference representatives, local Seventh-day Adventist pastors, and selected OU employees met to discuss introducing the CREATION Health principle to health systems in the Northern Alabama area. The concept will be launched citywide and across Northern Alabama at a later date.
Delegates convened at the Bradford-Cleveland-Brooks Leadership Center for a workshop and training session to discuss the seven elements of the creation health principle. "Creation," an acronym for choice, rest, environment, activity, trust, interpersonal relationships, outlook, and nutrition, emphasizes the interdependency of lifestyle and physical health. In order to be healthy, one must live healthfully.
Using these seven health principles and a message of lifestyle change, participants hope to influence employees and promote the Adventist health message throughout Northern Alabama.
For more information about CREATION Health, visit www.creationhealth.com.
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Oakwoodite Antoine Southern is one of 75 students selected for his "superb achievements in academics, leadership, and civic engagement."
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OU Student Named as a 2014 HBCU All-Star
The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (WHIHBCU) recently announced its first class of HBCU All-Stars, recognizing 75 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students for their accomplishments in academics, leadership, and civic engagement.
Antoine Southern, from Houston, Tex. and currently enrolled at Oakwood University, is one of the 75 All-Stars.
"Engaging with the next generation of leaders who will graduate from HBCUs and go on to make meaningful contributions to society is crucial to the success of our community, our country and our global competitiveness," said George Cooper, executive director of the WHIHBCUs.
"It is a privilege to announce these 75 students who have demonstrated a commitment to both their own academic achievement and making a difference in their communities, and we look forward to working with them as partners in advancing President Obama's college completion goal."
Over the course of the next year, the HBCU All-Stars will serve as ambassadors of the White House Initiative by providing outreach and communication with their fellow students about the value of education and the Initiative as a networking resource. Through social media and their relationships with community-based organizations, the All-Stars will share promising and proven practices that support opportunities for all young people to achieve their educational and career potential.
In addition, the 45 female and 30 male All-Stars will participate in regional events and web chats with Ivory Toldson, deputy director of the WHIHBCUs, other Initiative staff and professionals from a wide range of disciplines. They will also have opportunities to engage with other scholars to showcase individual and collective talent across the HBCU community.
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Oakwood Professors Attend Conference on Adventism Society and Sustainable Development
by Maxine Garvey, D.P.T., chair of Allied Health and Dr. Keith Burton, director, Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations
On the heels of the passing of Nelson "Madiba" Mandela, Seventh-day Adventist professionals, scholars and researchers converged on Cape Town, South Africa, to attend the inaugural Conference on Adventism, Society and
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Dr. Keith Burton was the speaker for Divine Worship and vesper services during the
conference.
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Sustainable Development (CASSD) 2013 sponsored by Adventist-laymen Services and Industries (ASI) and the Southern Africa Union Conference.
CASSD 2013 was set in the beautiful hills of Somerset West and hosted by Helderberg College, one of the member institutions of the Consortium of African Adventist Universities & Partners (CAAUP). Oakwood University serves as the anchor organization for CAAUP with Dr. Leslie Pollard as its chairperson.
Drs. Prudence Pollard, Keith Burton, and Maxine Garvey were invited to serve as
three of the six keynote speakers for the conference.
Pollard shared two presentations on "Life Core: Spirituality, Faith and Commitment Among University Men and Women." Garvey's two presentations were titled, "Closing the Gap of Health Disparities: The Role of the SDA Church" and "Addressing the Challenges of Developing and Sustaining the Health of our Youth."
Burton discussed sustainable development from a religio-cultural perspective with papers titled, "Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika: The Sabbath and the Sustentation of African Religious Culture" and "Get Up, Stand Up! Dissolving the Dilemma between Temporal Sustainability and Eternal Salvation." He was also the speaker for Divine worship and vesper services, where he delivered the sermons: "Redemption Song: Sustaining Hope in the Age of Obama," and "One Love: Sustainable Development and Cain's Question."
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Oakwood Social Work Students Participate in PSA Competition By Zawadi Nicholas, student writer
Students of the Oakwood University Social Work Department will be participating in the 2013-14 HBCU Behavioral Health Communication Campaign Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest. The PSAs are being created to help raise awareness for student behavioral health issues. Winners of the campaign will receive a plaque to acknowledge achievement and will be recognized nationally on February 21 (which is Annual National HBCU Behavioral Health Awareness Day) on the National HBCU Behavioral Day Webcast.
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Social Work student, Jasmin Wilson, edits the PSA for submission in the
contest. Photo by Denica King.
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Behavioral health awareness efforts address individuals who are at risk of mental, behavioral or addictive disorders and promote help seeking behaviors. Black college students, aged 18-25 years, represent some of the highest unmet behavioral health needs, along with the lowest instances of help seeking.
These behaviors often result in lower academic performances. The goals of the HBCU-CFE (Historically Black Colleges and Universities-Center for Excellence) PSA Contest include promoting good student behavioral health, impacting student retention, expanding campus service capacity, providing culturally appropriate behavioral health resources, and developing the behavioral health workforce.
In addition to participating in the PSA contest, the Social Work Department was awarded the HBCU-CFE's 2013 Option II behavioral health grant with a proposal entitled, "Oakwood University: Academic Excellence and Retention through Behavioral Health Promotion."
As an Option II recipient, the HBCU-CFE will purchase behavioral health materials to assist the OU Social Work Department in campus-related behavioral health events and other initiatives.
Helen Fischle, chair of the Social Work Department, in cooperation with Mrs.
Grace Arnold and Dr. Steve Petty from the Health and Counseling Services Center, will host the following upcoming events to raise continued awareness for student behavioral health:
February 21: National HBCU - Mental Health Awareness Day
March 13: OU Behavioral Health Awareness Day
April 16: OU Mental Health First Aid Training Day for selected student leaders, staff and faculty
Note: The OU Social Work Department submitted their PSA this past weekend. Voting for the contest begins February 14 and ends February 17. Visit the HBCU Center for Excellence website (www.hbcucfe.net) to vote for Oakwood University. We are seeking the help of "Oakwood Nation" to win the competition. Please vote for OU often and tell your friends.
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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.
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OU Pic of the Week
Theology major Gerard St. Hilaire participated in round table discussions at The One Project in Seattle, Wash. this week. The One Project is an event that celebrates the supremacy of Jesus in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photo by Chaplain Ron Pollard.
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