Golfers Support Oakwood Students at UNCF Event

(L-R) Steve Beale, Dolly Bradley, Brenda Martin and Jack Stewart pause for a photo op during Monday's UNCF Golf Classic at The Ledges of Huntsville.

The weather was perfect on Monday, October 12, for the 44 golfers who participated in the UNCF Golf Classic, at The Ledges of Huntsville, an 18-hole championship golf course. Golfers included local corporate UNICF sponsors, Oakwood University students, employees and friends.

The UNCF Golf Classic is one of three annual events hosted by Oakwood University to raise funds for the UNCF North Alabama Campaign for student scholarships.

Highlights of the day included gifts and awards for the longest drive and closest-to-the-pin, as well as a chance to win $15,000 cash at a hole-in-one contest.

Golfers finished the day at an awards dinner sponsored by Woody Anderson Ford which included a meal, distribution of awards and trophies, and a word of thanks from the Golf Classic Chair and Oakwood alumna, Brenda Martin, '97. Third place prize was won by Good Samaritan Hospice; second place by Big Spring Environmental; and first place by a community team that included Arthur Warrior, Cedric Francois, Gary Redus and Murphy Brown.

We are grateful to our returning and new sponsors, donors, and volunteers that have invested in the UNCF North Alabama Campaign and the lives of our future leaders. For more information about the giving opportunities, visit the UNCF North Alabama Campaign website.

Oakwood Live! Was a Success

by Naomi Coggs, student writer

Oakwood Live! wrapped up on the afternoon of October 14, showing hundreds of prospective students from all around the world just why Oakwood University is best place to further their education.

Over 700 guests, including 586 students and their 136 chaperones, enjoyed a plethora of activities throughout the program. Some groups arrived as early as Thursday evening, to experience a weekend on the Oakwood campus, including a Friday evening AY worship service. The spiritual momentum continued on Sabbath with Dr. Carlton Byrd, Pastor of Oakwood University Church, leading the worship experience.

The lively bunch also relished in a variety of recreational activities on Sunday night including a block party, a basketball tournament, and roller skating. But that was not it -- on Monday prospective students lived "A Day in the Life of an Oakwood Student," attending mock academic classes, showcased by each of Oakwood's 15 departments. For students still undecided on their future major, more information was provided at the academic fair. Monday night was capped off with a concert, displaying the wide range of talent within the university.

Oakwood Live! came to an end after a special Chapel service on Tuesday, where potential students shared their favorite things about their three or four days on campus.

Porsha Bowdery, Oakwood Live! participant said that her "experience at Oakwood University was incredible. I liked the opportunity to stay in my own dorm room and had a great time meeting new people-very diverse. I liked going to the basketball game, because I love basketball! I stayed and watched the whole game. Going to the cadaver lab class was very interesting, learning about different parts of the body. I would recommend people to come to Oakwood Live! (next year). It was a great experience."

Oakwood University in the Heart of "Black Blue Zone"

In an article in the October 13 issue of the Adventist Review, Oakwood alumnus DeWitt S. Williams, '62, says that Oakwood University and area churches exceed the longevity norm, describing Huntsville as a "Black Blue Zone."

Dan Buettner wrote a popular book titled The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest. Featured as one of the five longevity zones and the only one from North America was Loma Linda, California.

The people inhabiting Blue Zones share common lifestyle characteristics that contribute to their longevity: no smoking, a plant-based diet, constant moderate physical activity, strong family and social ties, and engagement. With 21 nonagenarians at the Oakwood University church, 14 at Huntsville's First Church, and a dozen or more scattered around the other nearby Black Adventist churches, it would seem that Oakwood University and the Huntsville area would qualify as a Blue Zone as well.

To read the entire article, click here.

Oakwood Student Reflects on Studying Abroad

Senior Devin Morrison had what he calls a "tremendous opportunity" to studying in Japan this past summer with IES Abroad. He reports that while studying Japanese for two months, he visited the Tokyo International Seventh-day Adventist Church in Shibuya, Tokyo. Devin was assisted by a $6,000 UNCF Beverly J Gilliam Scholarship.

"Being one of only a few Christians in a country that is less than 1% Christian, I had the change to witness the name of Jesus and enjoy fellowship with various Japanese Christians," he said. "God is good!"

Oakwood's WJOU 90.1 FM Hosts 3rd Annual Community Health Fair

Oakwood University's Praise Station WJOU 90.1 FM, along with Good Samaritan Hospice, is hosting its third Annual Community Health Fair on Wednesday, October 28 at 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., at the Millet Activity Center.

Several local vendors will be present to provide diabetes screening, BMI Testing, dental consultation, flu shots, healthy product presentations, voter registration, other health screenings, affordable care act counseling, senior citizens info, home health care services, and healthy cooking demonstrations.

"This health fair event is our gift to the community," said Reggie Hicks, general manager and director of WJOU. "It's very important to know about your health and how healthy you are," he added.

At the event, organizers will also provide three scholarships to Oakwood University students in the areas of communication, allied health and nursing. "Not only do we want to make sure we let the community know about health, we want to help students out as well who are looking into going into these health and communication-related fields," said Hicks.

Huntsville sponsors include Happy, Inc., Minuteman Press, Jerry Damson Honda, and Redstone Federal Credit Union.

Oakwood on the Road Scheduled for Atlanta

On October 24, President Leslie Pollard and the Division of Advancement & Development are hosting a day with Oakwood University at the Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church, 291 Hamilton E. Holmes Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318.

The day includes Divine Worship service; an afternoon concert with the world-renowned Aeolians; and concludes with an "Oakwood on the Road" reception on Saturday evening, for all Oakwood alumni and friends in the greater Atlanta area.

President Pollard, administrators, students, faculty, and staff will be in attendance, to tell you about the latest developments at Oakwood. Enjoy the lively fellowship, get a bite to eat, and come prepared to get involved and support your Oakwood University. For more details, email alumni@oakwood.edu, or call (256) 726-7039.

Alumni Notes

Milton L. Brown, Ph.D., '87, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Zack Thompson Memorial Conference, on October 16, at the First Baptist Church Life Center in Huntsville. The Conference is sponsored by the Center for Aging and the University of Alabama Huntsville College of Nursing. His topic will be "Effective Medication Management for Older Adults."

Dr, Brown established the Drug Discovery Program at the Georgetown University Medical Center, which supports more than 20 investigators in drug discovery and development. Dr. Brown is also the endowed chair in Experimental Therapeutics at Georgetown University.

Visit www.centerforaging.net, or call 256-881-3135, for more information on the conference.

Pollard's Places

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.