Oakwood Receives Another Capital Campaign Gift

Oakwood University is pleased to announce a recent gift to support the Building on the Past, Claiming the Future Capital Campaign at Oakwood University. The Campaign supports the renovation of Carter and Ford halls, as well as the construction of the Peters Media Center, which will house Oakwood University Broadcasting Network (OUBN).

Dr. Stephen ('84) and JoAnne ('84) Carryl of New York, have made a generous donation in the amount of $30,000 to Carter Hall, to name the Fitness Center.

"The renovation of Carter Hall is one of the most talked about projects this year," said Kisha Norris, CFRE, executive director of Advancement and Development. "We are pleased and excited that the Carryl family is investing in the women's residence hall," she said.

Oakwood University administration, faculty, staff, and students would like to extend a big thank you to Dr. and Mrs. Carryl for their generous gift to further the mission of the University.

If you or someone you know would like to make a gift to the University, please contact the Office of Advancement and Development by phone at (256) 726-7201, or by email at developmentoffice@oakwood.edu.

Alumni News

Marvin Pitcher, '07, is preparing for the Inter-Island Communications Christmas Gospel Concert, on the island of Bermuda, hoping that the concert will attract those who want to hear good quality music and be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.

"I think in a time where marketing and commercials and everything else seem to have done everything it can to remove Jesus from the season, this is an event where you can reconnect," he said.

As a youngster he was an avid gospel music listener and would often play the songs on repeat. "There were some points in my life where I didn't even own an instrument," Pitcher said. "But God blessed me with the ability to listen to songs, practice [them] in my head and execute [them]. That's not my doing. It really is the gift and talent that He saw fit to bless me with."

"I consider myself to be one of the most fortunate musicians around because I have a passion where God gets to be [exalted] every time I play. I count myself very fortunate that He decided to trust me with this gift." MORE

This picture was posted on Facebook during one of the rehearsals for the finale of NBC's The Voice on December 14. Pictured here are Nelson Beato, Stevie Mackey, '04, and Lee Cort, '06. On the Facebook post, Mackey wrote "Oakwood University is representing!"

Pollard's Places

This past Sabbath, my wife, Prudence, and I worshipped at the Philadelphian Seventh-day Adventist Church in San Francisco, at the invitation of the Central California Alumni Chapter. Pictured here is Dr. Prudence Pollard, vice president of Research and Employee Services, delivering the message for Women's Day during the Divine Worship Service. The occasion also served as an opportunity to focus on Oakwood University, and I was happy to share a few remarks about the progress we have made during the fall semester. The presentation focused on the mission and ministry of the University featuring film clips, statistical information, and updates on our building projects.

Special thanks to Lavelle Holmes-Humphries, '59,vice president of the Central California Alumni Chapter, and Women's Ministries leader at Philadelphian Church, for her hospitality and coordination of the trip. She was assisted by our very own, Kisha Norris, executive director for Advancement and Development.

Picture of the Week

Several Aeolians, director Jason Max Ferdinand and music department chair Dr. Wayne Bucknor, traveled to the San Francisco Bay Area this past weekend. The group, affectionately named the "Eightolians," ministered at the Philadelphian Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sabbath, December 13. The group is pictured here with Reverend and Mrs. Amos Brown of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, where the group ministered on Sunday, December 14. [Photo by Kisha Norris]

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.