Oakwood Prepares for Campus Preview Event

Oakwood University is preparing for over 750 guests for "Oakwood Live!" (formerly known as "College Days"), scheduled for October 11-13.
 
Oakwood Live! is an opportunity for high school seniors and transfer students to explore and preview the unique qualities of "the Oakwood experience." Prospective Oakwoodites and their chaperones will spend three jam-packed days touring the campus, attending classroom presentations, concerts and sports and other fun activities, and connecting with "future roommates" from across the US and other territories.
 
Registered attendees who complete an application can be awarded a $500 Oakwood Live! Scholarship just for participating!
 
For more information, call (256) 726-7356, or click here to register.

Oakwood to Celebrate Healthy Campus Week

During September 21-25, Oakwood University will celebrate Healthy Campus Week through its Healthy Campus 2020 initiative, to help educate the campus about the importance of being healthy.
 
The activities during the week will follow the health principles outlined in STAND OUT (sunlight, temperance, adequate rest, nutrition, drink water, outdoors, use physical activity, and trust in God). Oakwood is utilizing the eight laws of health in order to foster a holistic approach to a healthy mind, body, and soul. The goal of HC2020 is to make Oakwood University the healthiest campus in America.
 
Listed below are the Oakwood activities associated with Healthy Campus Week:
 
Sunday, September 20

Let's Move Day: Zumba
The Student Nutrition Awareness Club invites everyone to come out from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. and get moving with Zumba. Event is free of charge.


Monday, September 21
 
Healthy Campus 2020 Gear Day
All students and employees are encouraged to wear Healthy Campus 2020 t-shirts and caps.
 
Calorie Burn Challenge Kick-off
This activity, sponsored by Public Safety, is a spin-off of the "Biggest Loser." Teams will track how much weight is lost.

 
Tuesday, September 22

Healthy Hashtag
Pictures will be taken of 30 or more students engaged in exercise - hula hoop, jumping jacks, push-ups - or some other form of exercise. This will encourage students to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day.

Participants will use the hashtags  #Healthycampus and  #oustrong and post on various social media sites.

 
Wednesday, September 23
 
Southern Cookin' Lunch Power
Attendees can learn how to cook a scrumptious, healthy Southern meal with the instructors from the Dietetics Department. This will be held 12:00-1:30 p.m. in Cooper Complex 3, room 515. Cost: $5 in advance, $6 at the door. Call (256) 726-7229 for more information. 

 
Thursday, September 24
 
Faculty and Staff Wellness Fair
Employees can receive biometric testing, which includes an assessment of height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, pulse, cholesterol, and glucose (Hemoglobin A1c) levels. This will be held from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in Blake Center. 
 
Alcohol Awareness Day
Attendees will learn the effects of alcohol usage and abuse. This activity is sponsored by the Oakwood University Health Ambassadors, and begins at the conclusion of University Chapel at 11:00 a.m.
 
Food Demonstration with Oakwood University Dietetic Students 
Come and learn from current Oakwood University dietetic students as they prepare healthy snack options.This will take place in Blake Center from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
 
"Losing Weight and Keeping It Off"
Join Fiona Lewis, DPH, MS, RD, for this "Lunch and Learn" session discussing the habits of people who lose weight and are able to keep it off. This session will take place in Cooper Complex 3, room 512 from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
 
 
Follow the flurry of activity. During Healthy Campus Week, the Oakwood campus family will be sharing pictures on social media using #HealthyCampus.
NASA Officials Address STEM Faculty

On September 15, the Division of Research and Employee Services at Oakwood University was host to Joeletta Patrick, the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) manager from NASA's Office of Education, headquartered in Washington, DC. Patrick was accompanied by Tracey Randall, training consultant at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Through the NASA Office of Education, the MUREP initiative seeks to enhance the capabilities of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. 

MUREP-supported projects ensure access to NASA careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and are designed to address the national challenges of attracting and retaining underrepresented, underserved, and minority students and faculty in STEM courses of study.

Patrick made two, one-hour presentations to STEM and Behavioral Science faculty, highlighting the wide variety of initiatives involved in MUREP including STEM Engagement, Educator Professional Development, Institutional Engagement, and NASA Internships, Fellowships, and Scholarships. Randall introduced participants to NASA's One-Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI), a user-friendly, intuitively-designed initiative that allows the student to complete and application for paid internships, fellowships, and scholarships within 30 minutes.
Aeolians to Perform in New York and Alabama
by Naomi Coggs, student writer
 

They lift their voices in the most harmonies and angelic manner, singing praises to the Most High while spreading the never failing Word of God, to audiences nationally and worldwide.
 
The Aeolians of Oakwood University will continue to use their God-given talents to bless and alter the lives of masses with upcoming concerts in the month of October. The first stop will be on October 4, at the historic Carnegie Hall in New York City. The Aeolians will perform with the Altino Brothers, known for their classical interpretations as well as their artistic and innovative renditions of well-known traditional favorites. They will also be joined by soloist and Oakwood alumna, Brandie Sutton.
 
The classical worshippers will top the month off with a concert on October 16 at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Legendary soprano Kathleen Battle will grace the stage with the Aeolians, along with jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut, for the sensational event.
 
Members of the world-renowned choir are more than ready to take part in what will go down history as a blessing from on High. Aeolians member Candace Williams says, "I'm so excited for these upcoming performances! Singing with Kathleen Battle and at Carnegie Hall is historic and momentous for any musician, and I'm sure that both performances will be learning experiences as well as great witnessing opportunities."

Aeolians Director Dr. Jason Ferdinand says "These two upcoming concerts are without question the biggest platforms that we will mount here in the continental United States. The thought is both humbling and a tad scary. Carnegie Hall sits as the mecca of artistic expression and Kathleen Battle is one of the most acclaimed voices of all time. Our preparation, in my opinion, is benefiting from the fact that the Aeolians perhaps totally don't grasp the giant implications of both. Already I know that Carnegie will have a strong Adventist presence, and I am learning that the Kathleen Battle concert will be filled with music and civic luminaries of all spheres of life. We hope to see familiar faces at both. In the meantime we will continue to prepare with practice and prayer."
 
For more information about the performances, please contact Carnegie Hall, the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, or the Oakwood Music Department at (256) 726-7278 or 7277.
Oakwoodites Learn and Serve Outside the Classroom  
by Naomi Coggs, student writer and TEDxHuntsville volunteer

This past Sunday, 12 Oakwood University students learned outside the classroom as they volunteered at TEDxHuntsville, a local derivative of TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design), a non-profit organization known for online talks on an array of topics. 
 
The 2015 event was held at the Randolph School in Huntsville, where 11 speakers shared their "ideas worth spreading" to an open-minded and intellectual audience. The 15-minute presentations ranged from "The Dawn of Clinical DNA Sequencing" to "The Balloon Chain Story," keeping the attendees actively engaged.
 
As an educational partner of this event, Oakwood University was well represented. Everett Alexander, '00, digital media specialist, is the founder and coordinator. Joel Williams, '05, is a local committee member. Staff from the Oakwood University Media Center provided audio/visual needs, while energetic student volunteers brought creativity, hospitality, and personality to the tasks of setting up and decorating the venue, greeting the attendees, and serving lunch. 
 
Alexander is looking forward to engaging Oakwood University and TEDxHunstville more often. "We're looking at ways we can partner and host some events on campus, as well getting people involved in our other events throughout the community," he shared.
 
Seeing the need for more intellectual thought on campus, Oakwood Senior Camille Moore has recently launched Oakwood's first TEDx Club, giving students a chance to participate in this innovative platform on a daily basis. "We cultivate leaders, missionaries, and workers, but why not more intellectual thinkers? TEDx is the best way for students to groom their idealistic thoughts to solve problems that they see. Also TEDx is a lot of fun."
 
Other student volunteers included Ken Brandon, Gabriel Carter, Lauren Eaton, Jordaan Houston, Safiya Hudson, Kaylah Joseph, Duran Miller, Joshua Nwaoha, Clayton Rawlinson, and Tyler Richardson.
Oakwood's President Comments on General Conference Session 

Oakwood's President Dr. Leslie N. Pollard, '78, and Homer Trecartin, president of the Middle East and North Africa Union, served on the Nominating Committee at the 60th General Conference Session in San Antonio. They co-wrote an article, titled "What We Saw in San Antonio: God's Purposes are Larger than our Differences," regarding their observations of voting procedures and discussion at the session.
 
Check out the article featured in the August, 2015, edition of the Adventist Review. Click here to read the article.
Employee News
  
 
Adriana Perera, M.M., associate professor of music, recently shared a series of lectures on Music and Worship at the Ministerial Convention in Brasilia, Brazil, September 1-3. She is pictured here with the 26 presidents of unions in the South American Division who gathered to review best practices for worship in the countries they represent.
 
Perera, a native of Uruguay who was reared in Spain and has been teaching at Oakwood University since 2006, was invited to share a biblical approach to worship. Some of her hymns, praise and worship songs, and children songs are included in the Spaniard and Portuguese SDA Hymnal Book and are being published by Adventist Worship Music in the US (Andrews University Press).
Alumni Notes

Eastern Kentucky University recently announced the appointment of Timothy Forde, Ph.D., '88, as Director of the African/African-American Studies Program. Dr. Forde is currently a faculty member in the School of Clinical Educator Preparation, School of Education. He received his bachelor's degree from Oakwood University, his Masters of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Antoinette Marie Davis, Ed.D., '04, has released her fourth book,
Achieving the Ultimate Dream of Education. The book describes the experiences that she encountered while matriculating from K-12 education and through doctoral study. She discusses prayer, time management, scholarships, fellowships, choosing the right friends, finding the right major, and other topics. Dr. Davis currently serves as a Mathematics and Statistics Lecturer at Eastern Kentucky University.


 
Picture of the Week

Oakwood's Division of Advancement & Development launched the 2015-2016 UNCF North Alabama "Building Bridges to Opportunity" Campaign at a kick-off reception on September 15, in the Bradford-Cleveland-Brooks Leadership Center, to appreciate generous sponsors and donors, and to begin the new campaign season. For information about the local UNCF campaign, or to register for the UNCF Golf Classic scheduled for October 12, or the Women's Leadership Tea scheduled for November 15, contact us by email at [email protected].

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.
 

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In This Issue - 9/16/15
  
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1-844-FRUIT OU


STORE #819

5000 Whitesburg Dr. S, #148

Huntsville, AL 35802

(256) 881-7575

 

STORE #759

6290 University Blvd.

Huntsville, AL 35806

(256) 721-7999

 

Share Love, Support Students


 
Click here to see the Summer 2015 issue of Oakwood Magazine, or visit www.oakwoodmagazine.com
insideOakwood is published by the Office of Integrated Marketing & Public Relations
Editor: George Johnson Jr. | Managing Editor: Debbe Millet | Copy Editor: Michele Solomon | Student Writer: Naomi Coggs | Student Photographer: Teymi Townsend