Oakwood University Church Welcomes Pastors, Evangelists

More than 1,000 ministers, Bible instructors, conference leaders, and lay members were in Huntsville earlier this week, for the 2015 Pastoral Evangelism and Leadership Council (PELC), December 6-9, at the Oakwood University Church.

"This yearly conference represents the largest annual gathering of Adventist clergy leaders in the world church of Seventh-day Adventists," said Jesse Wilson, D.Min., PELC director and OU religion professor.

In addition to "boot camp" training sessions, and nightly inspiration and preaching services, Distinguished Service Awards were given to Fred Crowe, Benjamin Jones, T.A. McNealy, Earl Moore, Phyllis Ware-Lee, T.A. McNealy, Gerald Pennick, E.E. Rogers, Helvius Thompson, and Henry Wright, for their contributions to the Seventh-day Adventist gospel ministry.

Oakwood Celebrates 21 Years of Educating the Adult Professional

On December 8, alumni, supporters, and current and prospective students of the Oakwood's LEAP program gathered for a 21st anniversary celebration. Founded by Sandra Price, the Adult Degree Completion Program (LEAP) is a compressed or independent format designed for the individual who wishes to earn a bachelor's degree while continuing to work. Pictured here are LEAP past and present leadership (who were honored during the celebration): Marcia Burnette, Dr. Trevor Fraser, Sonia Paul, Dr. Leslie Pollard, Dr. Tim McDonald, Cheri Wilson, and Ellengold Goodridge. Not pictured is Dr. Rachel Williams-Smith. (Photo by Anthony Chornes, II.)

Oakwood Offers New Scholarship Opportunities for Students

Oakwood University has announced two new scholarship programs to support students who receive church subsidy and those who have attended Oakwood in the past and are still in need of completing their degree.

The two new scholarship programs, the Debt Amnesty Program and the Church Subsidy Scholarship are just two of the many ways that Oakwood University is implementing to assist every student who wants to attend and complete a degree the tools and finances to succeed.

Many students have exited the University for various reasons and subsequently did not complete their bachelor's degree. Throughout the years, former students have expressed a desire to return and complete their undergraduate degree, but in some cases aged account balances present a formidable obstacle. Oakwood University will offer financial amnesty or "debt forgiveness" to former students who have not attended Oakwood University in the past five years, and who desire to complete their bachelor's degree at Oakwood University. The Amnesty program is set to start in the spring of 2016.

"When students come to Oakwood University and are unable to complete their degree we all lose. We want all those who still need to complete their degrees to know that we see you, you are important to us and above all, we want you to finish," states Tricia Penniecook, MD, vice president for Academic Administration.

For the Church Subsidy Scholarship, Oakwood University will match up to 30% of tuition and matriculation fees ONLY for students receiving 70% subsidies from church- related employers. Thus students could receive a total of 100% free tuition and matriculation fees. Students must have at least one parent who receives NAD tuition assistance (per NAD Working Policy) at 70% Oakwood University's tuition cost to be eligible. This program is set to begin in the fall of 2016.

"These scholarships represent not just an opportunity for former or future Oakwoodites to earn undergraduate degrees, they also provide our Adventist system employees with greater tuition assistance for their young people who attend or will attend Oakwood," said Leslie Pollard, Ph.D., president of Oakwood University. "The best long-term strategy in the midst of this global economic recession is to make yourself more competitive by getting your education," said President Pollard.

For more information on these scholarships or to apply to attend Oakwood University, please contact Malcolm Taylor, director of Admissions & Recruitment at (256) 726-7356 or email at admissions@oakwood.edu.

Oakwood Staff Inform Local Parents about Financial Aid Processes

Janet Poles and LaTanja Banks from the Oakwood University Office of Financial Aid were listed as experts for a series of Parent Support Sessions hosted recently by the Huntsville City School (HCS) District, in Huntsville. They participated in a series of panel discussion and presented information on "Preparing for Financial Aid" to help parents of local high school seniors.

The event, coordinated by Sheri Crigger and Cedric Delbridge, HCS College and Career Counselors, was held December 1 to 3 at Columbia High School and Lee High School. Other experts included representatives from the North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence (NACEE). Information was shared with approximately 75 parents from the community.

Back row (L-R): Sheri Crigger (HCS); James Thomas (NACEE); Cedric Delbridge (HCS); Sean Rivers (NACEE); Audrey Ransom (NACEE); Michael Wilson (NACEE); Donna Clark (HCS). Front row (L-R): Nicole Ricketts (Calhoun Financial Aid); Libby Netherton (UAH Admissions): Janet Poles and LaTanja Banks (Oakwood Financial Aid).

Oakwood University Represented at Long Beach Health Fair

On November 17, two Oakwood University dietetic interns participated in the annual Boeing Long Beach Fitness Center's "Got Health" Health Fair. The event is hosted yearly as a health promotion initiative by the facility, which provides fitness and wellness services for approximately 250 Boeing employees and their families.

Both Rachael Joseph and Elizabeth Fujimaki are students in the Oakwood University Distance Dietetic Internship Program. This program is chaired by Joycelyn Peterson DrPH, RD, and facilitates students residing in various parts of the country in completing the required competencies to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

Representing Fountain Valley Regional Hospital in Fountain Valley, California, under the supervision of Registered Dietitian Debra Tindle, interns assisted the Fountain Valley marketing team in promoting the hospital's Outpatient Nutrition Counseling Services. Interns assembled and presented a storyboard on healthy eating with information from ChooseMyPlate.gov and HealthyDiningFinder.com, and distributed handouts to attendees on making healthier food choices just in time for the holidays.

This event provided interns with the opportunity to practice their skills in nutrition education and health promotion in a community setting. "Participating in the health fair allowed me to share my knowledge on nutrition-related topics, and also helped me gain more confidence in pursuit of my career," said one of the interns.

Oakwood Students Attend Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students

by Naomi Coggs, student writer

Last month, 18 Oakwood University students from the departments of biochemistry, biology and psychology attended the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students in Seattle, Washington. Several of those students are a part of Increasing Minority Admissions into Research Institutions (IMARI) this semester. From November 11 to 14, the students experienced a variety of activities, ranging from seminars to presentations.

The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) is one of the largest professional conferences for underrepresented minority students, military veterans, and persons with disabilities.

Oakwood students participated in poster and oral presentations along with 1,700 undergraduate and graduate students. The oral and poster presentations were centered on 12 disciplines in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, including mathematics.

Alumni Notes

Regine Valcin, '08, is successfully operating her own business, Salon Prive, in Huntsville. She attributes her success to Oakwood and the love and discipline she received at "the Oaks." We're told that she worked hard as a student, and is now giving back to this community.

Nominations for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards� have been announced and Committed's "Do You Hear What I Hear?" track received a 2016 Grammy Award nomination in the "Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella" category. The track was arranged by first-time Grammy Award� nominee and Oakwoodite Armand Hutton, and is on Committed's Home for Christmas album. Members of Committed are: Dennis Baptiste, Jr., '10, Geston Pierre, '09, Robbie Pressley, '10, Maurice Staple, and Therry Thomas, '10.

"The process of getting nominated for a Grammy without the support of a record label, is a very tedious one. So to actually get nominated is an incredible blessing from God, and to share it with my brothers in Committed makes it even more special," states Hutton.

Several Oakwood students and employees either know, or are related to, someone who was in the San Bernardino, California, building last week on December 2. One of the many stories of people's live that were spared is that of Trina White Boyce, '00, who was in the building at the time of the shooting. She made it out of the building safely.

Would you like to share Alumni news with us? Please send to pr@oakwood.edu.

Pollard's Places

Prudence and I are looking forward to returning to our old stomping grounds in Southern California this coming weekend, for two "meet and greet networking events" that are being planned by the Oakwood University Alumni Association.

Alumni and friends from the greater Riverside area are planning to gather on Saturday evening, December 12, at 5:30 p.m., at the Business Office for Riverside I/O. At 11:00 a.m. on December 13, a similar networking event will be held at the home of Dr. Leroy Pascal.

We plan to update attendees about the latest news at Oakwood. For more information, please contact Danette Batiste at dbatiste@ouaasocal.org or (951) 830-1569.

Picture of the Week

Duo ribbon cutting events: The dedication ceremony of H.E. Ford Hall (left) and the Leroy and Lois Peters Media Center (right) was held this past Sunday, December 6. Ford Hall is the home of the Communication Department. Both the Communication Department and Oakwood University Broadcasting Network share space in the Lois and Leroy Peters Media Center to help educate students studying communication as well as produce programming for and from Oakwood University. More pictures of the event can be found here.

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.