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Oakwood Joins Partnership for a Healthier America to Offer Healthier Choices for Students
On September 21, Oakwood University announced its joining the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) in a three-year commitment to adopt guidelines around food and nutrition, physical activity and programming. PHA works with the private sector and PHA honorary chair First Lady Michelle Obama to make healthier choices easier. At the event in Washington, DC, it was also noted that Oakwood is first university in the state of Alabama to join the Partnership.
"At Oakwood University, we will be facilitating learning opportunities to educate the campus body about eight laws of health in order to foster a holistic approach to a healthy mind, body, and soul. Our goal is to make Oakwood University the healthiest campus in America," said Leslie N. Pollard, Ph.D., D.Min., M.B.A.
Oakwood University signs on as part of the third cohort of schools joining PHA's Healthier Campus Initiative, which includes 37 other colleges and universities, collectively impacting more than 800,000 students and 250,000 faculty and staff.
Click here for more information on PHA's Healthier Campus Initiative.
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Oakwood Student Leaders Tour Washington, DC
This past weekend, President Pollard, along with the student leaders of Oakwood, spent time in Washington, DC. This annual trip, called the President's Leadership Tour, allows for him to speak to the students about the impact of their leadership on the campus. During the tour, they were able to visit several monuments and historic sites including the Holocaust Museum, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool. Here, they are standing in front of the MLK Memorial. (Photo by Kisha Norris)
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Oakwood Honored for Being Tobacco Free
 While in Washington, DC, President Leslie N. Pollard accepted a recognition for Oakwood University being an HBCU that has paved the way in creating a healthier campus environment for students, faculty, and staff by adopting a comprehensive tobacco-free policy. The award was given by the Tobacco-Free College Campus Initiative. Because African American youth/young adults are among the biggest consumers of menthol cigarettes, flavored little cigars and cigarillos, and 67% of overall health disparities in mortality are related to high smoking prevalence of African American men, this issue has come to the forefront of health needs for our HBCU campuses. Of the 105 HBCUs, 36 have comprehensive tobacco- or smoke-free campus policies. With this award and designation, Oakwood has pledged to support and join in the efforts to assist its sister HBCU institutions in the fight to make environments safer on our campuses.
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Oakwood Student Receives MERCK Scholarship
by Naomi Coggs, student writer
 "What is for you is only for you. You just have to keep seeking Jesus, praying, and know that a major breakthrough will indeed come for you," says Senior Jordan Langston, whose divine breakthrough came last spring when he was awarded the UNCF Merck Science Scholarship for $25,000.
The chemistry major, who is striving to obtain a MD and Ph.D. degree, was shocked after he was notified that he had been selected for this competitive scholarship. The UNCF Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship is highly sought after, awarding 15 HBCU undergraduates in the S.T.E.M program up to $30,000.
"It was really just God that provided. He showed me that I was just as good and smart as any student who does not go to Oakwood and I can continue doing great things for Him," he shared.
The Oakwoodite encourages fellow students to apply for as many scholarships as possible and ask for help when needed. "Pray that God will help you to find the right scholarships. You should not be afraid to ask for help because there are people that are willing to help you. It could be friends, family, or church teachers, you just need to ask."
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Oakwoodites Attend NAAACC Conference
 Last week, students from the Departments of Nutrition and Dietetics, and Allied Health attended the North Alabama African American Chamber of Commerce Business Opportunity Conference and Expo. The event was held at the Huntsville's Jackson Center.
The students, along with Faculty Sponsors Fiona Lewis, Dr.P.H., and Jocelyn Peterson, Dr.P.H., listened to keynote speaker J. Alexander Martin, co-founder executive vice president and creative director of FUBU; and president of J. Alexander Martin Mens Accessories.
Staff from Oakwood University and its industry Edible Arrangements were also present at the Expo.
The Departments of Nutrition and Dietetics, and Allied Health, are also partnering with the NAAACC to offer a six-week training course in entrepreneurship. This training is being facilitated by Jerry Mitchell, CEO of the NAAACC.
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Oakwood Prepares for Campus Preview Event
 Oakwood University is preparing 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 (to attend Oakwood) just for participating!
For more information, call (256) 726-7356, or click here to register.
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Alumni Notes
TAKE 6 (pictured l-r Alvin Chea, '89, Mark Kibble, '86, Claude McKnight, Dave Thomas, Kristian Dentley, and Joel Kibble, '06) will be the first American vocal group to perform in Cuba since the opening of diplomatic relations after a half century.
The multi-award winning jazz, pop and R&B group will be performing at the Karl Marx Theater in La Habana on September 26 as a part of the Les Voix Humanies Festival. This marks a new era in American musical performances as Cuba is once again available to US travelers and trade. Both Cuban and American dignitaries are expected to be in attendance. The 10-time Grammy Award winners, who were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2014, are thrilled to be participating in this historic festival.
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Pollard's Places
 Yesterday, I took this picture of Prudence Pollard, Ph.D., and Kisha Norris, M.Ed., as we diverted from the White House Initiative on HBCUs Conference to attend an invitation-only meeting with Partnership for a Healthier America at the White House. Oakwood University is the first university in Alabama, and the only Seventh-day Adventist university, to sign on with this Partnership. This honor is conferred on Oakwood because of the University's commitment to our Healthy Campus 2020 initiative. HC2020 is designed to support holistic health on campus and cause our students to STANDOUT in their professions. The honorary chair of PHA is First Lady Michelle Obama. (Photo by Leslie Pollard)
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Pictures of the Week
This week, Oakwood University is participating in Healthy Campus Week. The activities during the week are following the health principles outlined in STAND OUT (sunlight, temperance, adequate rest, nutrition, drink water, outdoors, use physical activity, and trust in God.
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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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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
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Click here to see the Fall 2015 issue of Oakwood Magazine, or visit
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