Oakwood Performs Community Service Around Huntsville

More than 600 Oakwood University students and employees participated in 40 community service projects around the city of Huntsville on September 30. This annual event, called AGAPE Day, sets aside classroom instruction for a day of "service-learning" in the community. Some of the service sites included The Salvation Army, Oscar Mason Library, CASA Community Garden & Warehouse, Montview Elementary School, Madison Public Library, Home 4 Heroes, and Hogan Family YMCA.

In sharing her AGAPE Day 2014 experience, Luanne Sams, a junior biomedical sciences major, explained, "It was nice. I enjoyed painting the walls of the Mt. Calvary Church." When asked why she chose to participate in AGAPE Day instead of using it as a day off she said, "I am a biology major studying to one day be a medical doctor. Instead of waiting until I am a doctor to serve, I chose to help others now."

Deborah Callins of the National Children's Advocacy Program shared a thank you note saying, "You can be proud of how Oakwood was represented. We look forward to a return visit next year." Opal Meek of the East Mastin Lake Homeowners Association shared, "This is a very helpful program; people on a fixed income were helped, who had no one who could help them do what the volunteers did. Such a blessing!"

Agape Day photos can be found here or by searching through social media - #AgapeDay2k14. Also, click here for a news story from WHNT News 19.

Oakwood Releases 2014 Fall Enrollment Report

D.J. Thomas, one of our 825 registered male students, shares a point in his class.

As of September 29, Oakwood University's Office of Institutional Effectiveness reports that enrollment is 1,924 students for the Fall semester. Of this number, 1099 are female, 825 are male.

Oakwood University is happy to welcome its new and returning students for the

fall semester 2014.

Oakwood on the Road:

Chicago - October 3-4

Oakwood University has partnered with the Chicagoland Youth Federation to bring the "Oakwood experience" to Chicago, scheduled for October 3-4.

On Friday, October 3, at 7:00 p.m., Pastor Jason North, youth director of the Lake Region Conference, will present vespers at the Chicago Independence Blvd. Seventh-day Adventist Church, 38080 W. Polk Street. The guest music will be performed by Dynamic Praise as well as Chicagoland Youth.

On Sabbath, October 4, Dr. Leslie Pollard, president of Oakwood University, will be the speaker for Divine Worship at the Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7000 S. Michigan Avenue. Dynamic Praise will provide the special music. The choir will also present a concert at the Shiloh Church that afternoon at 5:30 p.m., followed by an alumni reception at the Shiloh Church parish at 7:30 p.m.

Oakwood "Officially" Opens Edible Arrangements

On September 29, Oakwood University had its "grand opening" celebration of its franchise business, Edible Arrangements, on Whitesburg Drive S., in Huntsville. This new industry of the University will help to provide work opportunities for students as well as student scholarships. Along with the management staff, the business employs four student workers with an additional 15 student slots for seasonal workers. According to President Leslie Pollard, Oakwood's Edible Arrangements will also give students an opportunity to participate in business internships.

At the Celebration, Pammie Jimmar of the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce praised the Oakwood leadership for their business mindset and for the work that the University is doing with students. Local media (WHNT, WAAY, WZDX, and AL.com) also found interest in the celebration.

If you would like to order from Oakwood's Edible Arrangement (from any location), please call (256) 881-7575.

11 Days 'til College Days!

Oakwood's annual "College Days" event is scheduled for October 12-14. Prospective Oakwoodites, chaperones and supporters will spend three jam-packed days touring the campus, attending classroom presentations and connecting with future classmates from across the US and other territories.

College Days is offered to high school students and college transfer students. Don't miss out on the excitement, and a $500 College Days Scholarship just for participating!

For more information, call (256) 726-7356, or click here to register. You can also watch the video here.

Oakwood Hosts Healthcare

Futures Workshop

Future Health Care Leaders of Tomorrow and National Urban League Young Professionals at Oakwood University: (l-r) Christopher Howard, FHCLT sponsor; Jared Winston, FHCLT President, Elijah Williams, NULYP Treasurer; Michele Scurry, NULYP Member; Rachel Horton, FHCLT Member; Terrell Moses, FHCLT Community Outreach Chair.

On September 18, more than 100 students and faculty members gathered for the first the Future Health Care Leaders of Tomorrow (FHCLT) event at the McKee Building Auditorium. The Future Health Care Leaders of Tomorrow, a student organization of Oakwood University's Business Department, has an overall purpose to enhance, develop, and support the biblically based education of students in service to God and humanity who's interest is health services ministry. Their first program was geared towards students and faculty members of Oakwood University and Alabama A&M University in an effort to empower young adults to actively involve themselves in service throughout the community.

Muslim Group Sponsors Program about Seventh-day Adventists at Oakwood University

On September 25, the Atlantic Institute held its Exploring Faiths series on the campus of Oakwood University. The topic for the evening was "An Introduction to Seventh-day Adventists." Dr. Clinton Baldwin, an adjunct instructor in the School of Religion, gave a comprehensive presentation on Adventist history, doctrine and institutions. The presentation was interspersed with probing questions from the multi-faith audience which included representatives from the Muslim, Hindu and broader Christian communities. The Atlantic Institute is a Muslim organization aligned with Hizmet, an international movement that is based on the peaceful philosophy of Turkish scholar, Dr. Fethullah Gulen.

Alumni Notes

A. Jeanice Warden-Washington, '01, currently serves as the Principal Consultant to the California State Legislature, Assembly Committee on Higher Education. She was the sole representative of the California Legislature at the recent "Improving Student Learning at Scale Policy Collaborative" convened by the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures in Chicago, Ill., last month.

Note: Share your alumni news with us at pr@oakwood.edu.

Pollard's Places

This past weekend, I, along with the student leaders of Oakwood, spent time in Washington, DC. This annual trip, called The President's Leadership Tour, allows for me to speak to the students about the impact of their leadership on the campus. During the visit, we were able to see several monuments and historic sites honoring Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Viet Nam veterans. Pictured here, we are on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial - near the location of where Dr. King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. (Photo by Kisha Norris)

OU Picture of the Week

Jason Max Ferdinand, director, leads the Aeolians during last night's rehearsal. There are 54 students in the choir this year, and their first concert performance of the new school year is scheduled for the Athens Seventh-day Adventist Church in Athens, Alabama, on October 18. (Photo by George Johnson)

About Oakwood

The mission of Oakwood University, a historically black, Seventh-day Adventist institution, is to transform students through biblically-based education for service to God and humanity.