Oakwood's Miss UNCF 2016 Crowned  
by Naomi Coggs, student writer

On Saturday night, January 9, Kaylah Joseph was crowned as Oakwood University's Miss UNCF 2016. 
The Oakwood junior was crowned onstage after an introduction by Kisha Norris, executive director of Advancement & Development, and a farewell speech by 2015 Miss UNCF, Jameela Hall.

The National Miss UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Coronation Pageant was created in 1957, and aims to provide funding for students who are affiliated with the 37-member institutions of the UNCF. Each Miss UNCF contestant declared they would run at the end of the 2015 school year and began the process of fundraising. The competitive pageant encourages the mindset of giving back for the sake of higher education, and allows current students to make an impact on UNCF campuses across the country.

The journey to being crowned Oakwood's 2016 Miss UNCF was a character building experience for the social work major. "I've learned to be very patient. For a while I was at the same number and I just did not see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was in the last 14 days that I was able to raise over $3,000 and so I was excited about that because it made a significant difference," explained Joseph. The money raised during the fundraising competition will go toward the UNCF Scholarship fund. 
Oakwood's First Online Town Hall Forum a Success 
by Naomi Coggs, student writer

On January 8, President Leslie Pollard addressed an online audience with highlights from the past year, and answered questions submitted by students, parents, and friends during the live stream. The questions ranged from Adventist education and enrollment to culinary school and partnerships with local universities.

This is just the beginning of updates and live discussion with Dr. Pollard. Oakwood University plans to hold quarterly online forums that will be made available on Livestream and Periscope. If you missed the forum, you may view an archived version by clicking here.
Oakwood Hosts MLK Basketball Classic 

From January 16 to 18, the Oakwood University Ambassadors and Lady Ambassadors will host the 2016 Martin Luther King Basketball Classic. Over the course of the three-day event, both the Women's and Men's Ambassadors basketball teams will play games against Fisk University, Washington Adventist University and Robert Morris University. Tickets for the games are $10/day at the Ashby Auditorium (gymnasium) door, or $20 for entire three-day event. Student admission with a current Oakwood ID is free. For more information, contact Coach Roddy at (256) 726-7314. Click here for the complete schedule. (Photo by Anthony Chornes, II)
Employee News

Samson Chama, Ph.D., M.S.W., associate professor in the Department of Social Work, has co-authored a chapter in Sports-Based Health Interventions Case Studies from Around the World, which explores a growing collaboration between the sport and health sectors to deliver innovative public health interventions in the community.

The chapter title is: "Skillz Kenya: An HIV/AIDS Youth prevention Initiative." The book examines the role of sports settings as a vehicle for achieving health outcomes, as well as some of the practical and moral challenges presented by sport and public health partnerships working together. 




Jason Max Ferdinand, DMA, '99, recently collaborated with a team of musical colleagues, called "the best and brightest musical and theological minds in the Body of Christ," at the offices of GIA Publications in Chicago, to work on the African American Cross-Denominational Hymnal. Pictured above is the African American Hymnal Core Committee: front row (l-r): Dr. Birgitta Johnson, Ethnomusicology & African American Studies, University of South Carolina, Columbia; The Rev. Lisa Weaver, Liturgical/Sacramental Theology, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC; Dr. Leo Davis, Disciples of Christ Christian Church; Ingrid Faniel, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; Bob Batastini, Vice President/Senior Editor [retired], GIA Publications, Inc. Second row (l-r): The Rev. Anthony Vinson, African Methodist Episcopal Church; Dr. Judith McAllister, Church of God in Christ; Dr. Carl MaultsBy, The Episcopal Church; Dr. James Abbington, Executive Editor, African American Church Music Series, GIA Publications; Brian Johnson, United Church of Christ; Dr. Jason Ferdinand, Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Alumni Notes

On January 4, Washington Johnson II, D.Min., '83, (Commander, United States Navy Reserve) assumed the position of Officer in Charge of Religious Support for Reserve Chaplains serving in the United States Coast Guard. He is currently assigned to the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington DC. He also serves as Assistant Director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries at the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. (Pictured l-r, Commander Steven Barstow, Deputy Chaplain of the USCG, CAPT Gregory Todd, Chaplain of the USCG and Commander Johnson).




Everton A. Ennis, D.Min., '99, recently published a book entitled, From Holy Hell to Hallelujah Again!, which focuses on surviving and recovering from the consuming flames of congregational conflict. Dr. Ennis pastors in the South Atlantic Conference. Subsequent to graduating from Oakwood, he earned the M.Div. degree at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, and later earned the D.Min. degree with a specialty in Congregational Conflict Resolution Training, also from the SDA Theological Seminary. He is Founder and President of CLASS Act Seminars, offering seminars and workshops in the area of Congregational Conflict Ministry and Church Leadership Development.



Would you like to share Alumni news with us? Please send to [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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 Click here to see the
Winter 2016 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 | Student Writer: Naomi Coggs