Courtney Buckhanon is one of several Oakwood students interning this summer at Kettering Health in Ohio. She is pictured (far right) with several of her peers from Andrews University, Pacific Union College, Southern Adventist University, Southwestern Adventist University, Union College, and the University of Dayton.

The motto of Oakwood University is "Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve," and with this declaration, we have heard from various graduates and students about their plans:

Felicia Barnard, '15

The South Atlantic Conference hired me as a teacher.

Nioly Bowrey, '15

I will be working at Florida Hospital East Orlando as a registered nurse on the Med/Tele Unit.

Aja Berry, senior, business information systems major

I am going to Houston, Texas, to do a paid internship for United Health Group as a Healthcare Operations Analyst. I will be working in contract negotiations between the insurance companies and various hospitals/doctors offices.

Ken Brandon II, junior, chemistry/chemical engineering double majors

I will be doing an internship for biomedical research at the Navy Research Lab in Washington, DC.

Traci Carroll, '15

I will be working full-time at a child development center called The Young School in Maryland.

Cherish-Joie Charles, senior, vocal performance/pedagogy and biology double majors

This summer I have two engineering internships through the National Society of Black Engineers where I will be teaching gifted students accelerated engineering, math, and science concepts. This program was specifically designed to increase the number of persons of color within STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields by stimulating, developing and encouraging interest in students at every level of education.

Edouard-Hugh Elliott Clarke, junior, Pre-Law major

I have an internship at the Florida Attorney General's Statewide Prosecution Office in Tampa, and I have been accepted at the University of Arkansas's summer PLUS program.

Kyle Crawford, '15

I was hired by the South Central Conference and am working as a youth pastor at First Church in Huntsville.

Kashiri Favors, '15

I will be working at Kettering Health Network as a process excellence specialist fellow.

Lemuel Hacksaw, senior, biology major

I will be doing research at Duke University. 

Shawn Harris, '15

As an Applied Mathematics/Engineering major, I currently work as contractor with Boeing doing commercial/space design.

Amber Jones, senior, Fitness and Wellness major, with a minor in food and nutrition

This summer, I am participating in two internships - one with Just Workout Fitness Studio and another with Nubody Fitness in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Kaylah Joseph, junior, Social Work major

I'm interning at the Mission for Migrant Workers in Hong Kong, China, through the Global Justice Volunteer Program. I'm spending my summer advocating for the rights of migrant workers and teaching migrants how they can avoid exploitation.

Victoria Langley Orie, '15

I have a job at Florida Hospital, on the Apopka campus, working as a registered nurse on the Multisystem Progressive Care Unit.

Deeana Peter, '15

I will be working with Adventist Health System as an HR resident.

Yarimel Rodriguez, '15

I will be working at Florida Hospital, East Orlando, as a registered nurse on a Med Surg/Telemetry Unit.

Paula-Jo Scavella, senior, nursing major

This summer, I will be engaging in a nursing internship at Kettering Health Network in Dayton, Ohio.

Connor Whatley, '15

I will be working at Florida Hospital, Orlando, as a registered nurse on a Multi-System Progressive Care Unit.

According to a recent report released by EdSmart, Oakwood University has been named in the list of top 10 HBCUs with the highest graduation and retention rates. The report allows students and parents to evaluate colleges, based on important outcome-related measures. "We recognize that graduation and retention rates are areas of concern among institutions of higher learning nationwide,; and as a result, Oakwood Administrators have been intentional in their resolve to ensure all students not only have electronic access to their degree audits, but they have a clear understanding about the track they are on for graduation. Retaining students to graduation is a campus-wide effort at Oakwood University," said Monica Sudeall-Hawkins, executive director of Student Enrollment Services. 

To view this list, click here.

Join us in the Blue and Gold End-of-the-Year Challenge by making a gift to the Oakwood Annual Fund by midnight, June 30. Our goal is to increase the annual giving participation rate of our alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends.

Even though the school year is over, please remember to vote daily for our outgoing Miss Oakwood Nia Johnson as she competes in EBONY Magazine's HBCU Campus Queens contest.

The voting period has been extended to May 29.

The campus queens who finish in the top 10, as determined by the number of votes she receives, will be featured in the September 2015 edition of Ebony Magazine. This would be a great way for Nia to finish her Oakwood career, and to promote Oakwood University on a national level.

Similar to the Retool Your School contest, you can vote daily and as often as you want per day, between now and May 29. (When you vote for the first time you'll have to fill out a questionnaire, which you'll no longer have to do after your first vote. 

Additionally, please be sure to include one, two or all of the hashtags #2015HBCUCampusQueens, #HBCUQueens, or #EBONYQueens in your social media messages.   

Get ready for Alumni Weekend 2016 - The officers of the Oakwood University Alumni Association (OUAA) have begun laying out plans for next year's homecoming event. This particular alumni weekend is extremely special, due to the fact that Oakwood University will have reached its 120th year of existence. It also commemorates the OUAA turning 90 years old. The activities will take place March 24-27, 2016. The Friday activity will be a "Throwback to the 70s" featuring the reunion of Eric Todd and Blessed Peace; Omeror Dawson and The Distinctive Friends of Jesus; and Anthony Whigham with The Way Back When Chorale and Quintet. Members of the  Class of 1966 will lead the Sabbath School service, and world renowned speaker and singer Pastor Wintley Phipps will deliver the message during Divine Worship. Other Sabbath activities will include the Awards Dinner and an  Aeolians concert. Sunday will conclude the whole alumni weekend with the annual 5k Walk/Run, the Oakwood Market street exhibits, and the Oakwood Alumni meeting. OUAA looks forward to hearing from you and welcomes your input. You may send your correspondence to president.ouaa@gmail.com. 

This past Sunday, the Greater Orlando Chapter of the Oakwood University Alumni Association hosted its monthly meeting. One of the highlights of the meeting was the discussion of their upcoming cruise in 2016. Pictured here is National Association officer Anthony Albury, Jr., '03, giving the devotional.