From January 16 through 18, the Religion & Theology Department hosted Code Red, an event specifically planned for religion and theology students that sought to encourage and empower. The sessions featured some of the brightest theologians of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, many of them being graduates of Oakwood University. Each presenter shared on the topics of loving God, loving people, and loving oneself. They also shared their testimonies about pitfalls and unexpected circumstances. Pictured here is MyRon Edmonds, D.Min., '99, pastor of the Glenville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by Jonathan Johnson. 

On January 15, students and faculty gathered in the Chemistry Department, as Victoria Gibbs, Ph.D., shared her discoveries on stress and how it correlates with the lifespan of humans. Throughout Dr. Gibbs' presentation, she addressed stressors and the management or mismanagement of stress responses and how it affects humanity using a murine model.

Dr. Gibbs received her doctorate in Biology at the University of Birmingham in 2011. Subsequently, she joined the Department of Biology at Villanova University as the Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow in Organismal Biology. Currently, Dr. Gibbs is continuing her research as a Postdoctoral Scholar in the School of Health Professions at the University of Birmingham.

Kevin Anderson, Ph.D., assistant professor in the OU Chemistry Department expressed, "We were very pleased to have Dr. Gibbs present her research on stress, obesity, and aging as part of our Chemistry Seminar series, funded by the National Institutes of Health.  Her visit gave the students an opportunity to interact with an individual who has recently obtained a Ph.D. in the biological sciences, and is at the beginning of a promising career." 

by Jasmine Bartholomew, student writer 

Jasmine Bartholomew at the Tournament House in Pasadena.

 

During the holidays when most students were spending time with their families, I was busy preparing for the opportunity of a lifetime. From December 26, 2014, to January 5, 2015, 11 other students from local universities and I were in California to film a documentary entitled Huntsville2Hollywood.

 

Huntsville2Hollywood is a movie that allowed students majoring in journalism, mass communication, and film to go behind the scenes of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The trip was sponsored by the Media Arts Institute of Alabama, founded by Leon Burnette.

 

Burnette and the Media Arts Institute partnered with Joetta DiBella to coach, mentor, and prepare us for this experience. Being able to sit at the energetic feet of DiBella was an honor in, and of itself, because she is an Emmy award-winning producer who has worked with 16 Tournament of Roses parades. Her passion for this project and her connections to the Rose Bowl allowed us to receive press passes, Rose Parade stand tickets, and access to behind-the-scenes preparations, including the Tournament House, building of the floats, the Rose Queen, and so much more.

 

Our access to the parade was just one of the many highlights of this trip. We also visited Rodeo Drive, Equestfest, the Staples Center, the Watts Towers, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Beverly Hilton - which is the home of the Golden Globes awards broadcast. We spoke with the 2015 Queen of the Parade, Madison Triplett; interviewed David Thomas of Take 6 and his wife Marla; and Oakwood alumnus and producer Erik Griggs.

 

One of the biggest highlights of the trip was unexpectedly receiving complimentary end-zone tickets to the Rose Bowl game as well as speaking for an hour with the CEO for the Tournament of Roses, Bill Flinn, who extended an invitation for us to return next year.

 

This trip strengthened my faith in God and taught me that if you follow God's will, He will line up opportunities for you in the things you are passionate about. No matter where you are from, or what you have been through, there is no reason to stop dreaming and turning those dreams into reality.

The latest edition of Oakwood Magazine is now online. Stories in this issue include Oakwood's transition to the North American Division, Oakwood's Edible Arrangements' grand opening celebration, the Power-packed Weekend baptisms, and a tribute to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Enjoy.

The Nathan L. Anderson Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc. has recently completed the calendar year 2014 scholarship awards cycle, providing scholarship assistance to four Oakwood University students. For Spring 2014 and Fall 2014 semesters, funding assistance was provided to one student pursuing a bachelor of science in Nursing: Alice Merelus. Assistance was also given to three students pursuing a bachelor of science in Music: Uhriel Jordier, Clenol Jean, and Candace Williams. Total scholarship assistance provided by the Foundation to OU students during the calendar year 2014 amounted to $10,500. Also in 2014, Oakwood University's radio station, WJOU, received a $5,000 grant to upgrade and enhance technologic capability.

The Class of 1975 needs help locating all class members who attended Oakwood (College) University from 1971 to 1975 for participation in our 40th Reunion celebration.  Individuals who provide contact information for at least 10 class members will receive a $10 registration fee discount.

Please send names with email addresses or phone numbers to Marilyn Lang, at langml13@gmail.com by February 3.

Carmen B. Bucknor, Ph.D., '98, recently completed the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology from Tennessee State University (TSU), in Nashville, Tenn. Because graduation ceremonies for TSU were held on Sabbath, she chose to have a special hooding ceremony at a later date with her program advisor and mentor, Dr. Robin Oatis-Ballew. She is married to Dr. Wayne Bucknor, chair of the Music Department at Oakwood University. 

Note: Please send an email to pr@oakwood.edu to share any Alumni stories with us.

On Monday, January 19, a number of our Oakwood personnel attended the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast at the Von Braun Center. More than 1,500 attendees from the Huntsville military, business, church, and educational communities were present. Here I am pictured with General and Mrs. Dennis L. Via, Commander of the Army Material Command at Redstone Arsenal.

Donated by the ministerial students of 1951, the Bell Tower has long been considered the center of the campus. Over the years, several ministries and lifelong friendships have developed as the result of meeting at "the bell tower." Photo by Richard Hodnett.