Wanda Carter attended the rededication service of Bessie Carter Hall, named in honor of her mother. Left to right: Kisha Norris, executive director of Advancement and Development; Howard Weems, special assistant to the President; Timothy McDonald, senior vice president and provost; Leslie Pollard, president; Wanda Carter; Prudence Pollard, vice president for Research and Employee Services; Sabrina Cotton, vice president for Financial Administration; Linda Anderson, dean of Carter Hall; and David Knight, vice president for Student Services.

Wanda Carter passed away on July 14, 2015. She was the daughter of Espie and Bessie Carter, for whom Bessie Carter Hall was named.

Carter is remembered for having had a generous heart, who gave liberally of herself and her means to help others. She recently participated in the Bessie Carter Hall Rededication Service in April, 2015.

A memorial service is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2015, at the First Church in Oberlin, 106 N Main Street, Oberlin, Ohio. Online condolences can be shared at www.wappner.com. 

by Barry Sanders | The News & Observer

DeCarlo Buie, '16, a music-composition major at Oakwood, wants to be a music producer, and currently serves as minister of music at a church in Alabama. He has benefitted from the mentoring program of the St. Mark United Methodist Church's HELP - Hackley Education and Learning Program - named for Lloyd V. Hackley.

Hackley, former board member and chairman of the Methodist Home, said: "...there's an old saying - if you love what you do, you'll never work again. I love what I do."

After talking to the young people who've benefitted from the efforts of the Methodist Home staff and Hackley's leadership, it's obvious that they love what he does, too.

Buie feels inspired to give back to the program, and realizes he has a lot of giving to do to equal that of Hackley.  MORE 

by Keith Augustus Burton, Ph.D., director, Center for Adventist Muslim Relations

Pastor Reynold Hazelwood has just completed a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership Development at Canada's historic Tyndale Seminary. His research project is titled, "Building Bridges: Equipping Seventh-day Adventists in Toronto to Build Relationships with Muslims."

Hazelwood, a gradate of Oakwood University's School of Religion, pastors the Kingsway Village Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Ontario, Canada. He also holds the distinction of being one of the first four graduates of Oakwood's Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations' certification program.

The idea for Hazelwood's doctoral thesis was birthed in CAMROU's year-long certification program for pastors and leaders, where participants are required to implement programs with the Muslim community in their respective places of ministry. Building on strategies gleaned from the twelve practical modules that comprise the CAMROU certification, Hazelwood was able to garner "buy-in" from his church family, which has enabled meaningful fellowship with Muslims in the surrounding neighborhood. Please keep him, his family and his congregation in prayer as they show and share the love of Christ with our Muslim brothers and sisters.

For over a decade, the Division of Advancement and Development has provided a dual-purpose opportunity to Oakwood students who are Alabama residents. In addition to an available scholarship, funded by the purchase of an Oakwood license plate, Oakwoodites can simultaneously show their pride in OU. We believe that Oakwood University is the only Seventh-day Adventist educational institution participating in this program.

When an Oakwood license plate is purchased, in addition to the regular annual vehicle registration fee, an additional fee gets donated to student scholarships at OU. This can be claimed as a charitable contribution to scholarships for students from Alabama (Section 32-6-156, Code of Alabama 1975). Purchasing couldn't be easier - just visit your nearest Alabama DMV office and request an Oakwood license plate.

Oakwood University is scheduled to host the Huntsville Beautification Awards on July 24. The work of Oakwood's Grounds Department has been recognized on the City's Beautification Honor Roll for more than 14 years. The award, which is a green and gold sign conspicuously placed at the entrance of the campus, is indicative of an exacting standard that must be maintained. Grounds Director Carlos Cole says, "They can pull your sign at any time."

This will be the first time Oakwood will host the award's ceremony. If past years are any indication, Oakwood's beautiful campus, and the hard work of Oakwood's Grounds Department, are sure to be awarded once again. 

The Grounds Department is responsible for approximately 600 acres of Oakwood's 1,200-acre campus. They are to be commended for their selfless dedication to maintaining the place "where loveliness keeps house."

The City Beautification Board was created in 1956, to improve the appearance of Huntsville through ordinances, and by recognizing the efforts of private and public sectors in creating a more healthful and beautiful city. The beautification awards have been presented for 36 years.

Ashley Andrea Jean Artis, '06, M.D., graduated on June 20, from the University Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is the daughter of Dr. Keith and Mrs. Neva Artis, who are also Oakwood alumni, as well as their three adult children.

Drs. Calvin and Cynthia Powell-Hicks, '76, celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary on July 17, 2015. Cynthia is serving as the current president of the Oakwood University Alumni Association.