insideOakwood: Colloquium, Award-winning Magazine, Oakwood Live! and more

"New Directions in Higher Education" is Theme of University Colloquium

University Colloquium 2016 is scheduled for August 1-4. This annual event marks the beginning of the school year, for the purpose of equipping and inspiring employees through information presented by guest speakers, discussions, and seminars.

The theme is "New Directions in Higher Education," focusing on the recognition of, and response to, challenges facing Seventh-day Adventist Colleges and Universities in general, and HBCUs in particular.

Guest speaker Dr. Brian Bridges, Vice President of Research and Member Engagement at UNCF, will discuss the UNCF's latest initiative called Career Pathways, and further acquaint the Oakwood faculty and staff with the funding opportunities related to career placement after graduation.

Special Assistant to the President and Senior Chaplain Dr. Howard Weems will organize intercessory prayer ministry teams across the campus as we go into 24/7 prayer for the mission effectiveness of our Oakwood enterprise. Without the special blessing of God, our best efforts will fall short; but with God's blessing, nothing shall be impossible to us!

Oakwood Magazine Named Best Publication

During the HBCU Executive Media Training Institute earlier this month in Washington, D.C., Oakwood Magazine was named "Best HBCU Alumni Publication."

According to the website, the HBCU Awards acknowledge and celebrate achievement at historically Black colleges and universities throughout the United States. Crowning winners in the fields of leadership, arts, athletics, research, and community engagement, this is the first and only event to recognize the influence and impact of HBCUs on American culture.

"Oakwood deserves a lot of credit for the quality of its publication this year," said Jarrett Carter, Sr., founding editor of HBCU Digest and organizer of the event. "In an extraordinary submission cycle of beautiful design and quality writing, Oakwood stood out for the strong combination of its storytelling, information provision, and graphic appeal," he said.

Director of Integrated Marketing & Public Relations and Magazine Editor George Johnson, pictured, shares the award with Kisha Norris, publisher; Debbe Millet, managing editor; Richard Hodnett, advertising manager; Ron Pride, designer; Anthony Chornes, II, photographer; and Kanique Mighty-Nugent, webmaster.

Oakwood's Police Chief Elected to HBCU-LEEA Office

by Victoria Joiner, Ed.D., assistant professor

Oakwood University Police Department Chief Melvin Harris recently participated in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Law Enforcement and Executives and Administrators (HBCU-LEEA) annual national training conference in Daytona Beach, Florida, and was elected as one of six regional vice presidents for the organization. At the conference, continuing education courses were provided that included training on important regulations and issues such as, Title IX, the Cleary Act, student mental health, violence, and sexual assault.

The HBCU-LEEA conference was especially significant in light of the recent unrest and violence in the U.S. Harris said, "Law enforcement is facing tremendous challenges because of what is happening around the nation. It is really important that we continue to work with the community we serve, as well as with local and federal agencies to keep our campus and our officers safe."

As a result of attending the conference, Chief Harris and a student leader (to be selected) have been chosen to participate in "A National Conversation on Police and Community Interactions on HBCU Campuses," hosted by the HBCU-LEEA and the National Center for Campus Public Safety at Howard University in August. "This is a wonderful opportunity for Oakwood University's light to shine and to be a part of the solution to this serious issue," Harris said.

Pictured (l-r) are Chief Melvin Harris - Oakwood University, Chief Julian Coaxum - Dillard University, HBCU-LEEA Treasurer, Captain Lawrence Garrison, Sr. - Dillard University, and HBCU-LEEA President, Chief Curtis A. Johnson III - Arkansas Baptist College.

Oakwood Student Awarded Scholarship

Regions Bank recently announced that

Kenisha Malcolm, of Worchester, Massachusetts, is one of 16 collegiate winners of its 2016 Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest.

The contest is an integral part of Regions' continued commitment to education, diversity and inclusion.

This year's contest was Regions' most successful to date, garnering a total of 9,558 completed scholarship entries, an increase of 12 percent from the previous year.

Scholarships of $5,000 were awarded to 16 high school students. Current college students were granted scholarships of $3,500 each, based on a competitive essay contest where students are asked to write about an African-American individual who inspires him or her.

Oakwood to Host Beautification Awards Ceremony

On July 29, Oakwood University will host the Huntsville Beautification Awards for the second consecutive year.

The work of Oakwood's Grounds Department has been recognized on the city's Beautification Honor Roll for more than 15 years. The award is marked with a green and gold sign at Oakwood's main entrance to the campus.

Properties are judged on: first impression, originality, distinction, design, selection/quality of trees, shrubs, flowers, grass, ground cover, maintenance, hardscape design and maintenance, and litter control.

The City Beautification Board was created in 1956, to improve the appearance of Huntsville through ordinances and by recognizing the efforts of private and public sectors in making a more healthful and beautiful city. Huntsville's Beautification Awards have been presented for 36 years.

Countdown to New School Year at

Oakwood University

August 1-4 - University Colloquium

August 10 - Registration begins for new and transfer students

August 10-12 - New Student Orientation

August 11 - Parting Ceremony

August 12 - Freshmen Consecration

August 15-16 - Registration for Returning Students

August 17 - Instruction Begins

Oakwood Offers Fall Registration Incentives

All new and returning students (full time, traditional program only) -- including incoming Freshmen -- who register and financially clear for the 2016 Fall semester by Thursday, July 28 by 5:00 p.m. (CST) will have the opportunity to have their name registered in a drawing for one of the following prizes:

Free tuition for one (1) school year - valued at over $16,000
$500 gift certificate from Target
Roundtrip airline ticket during any academic break (value not to exceed $500)
Free room and board for one year (valued at over $9,000)

All students who financially clear before July 28 at 5:00 p.m. (CST) will automatically receive a $100 gift certificate for the Oakwood University Bookstore for the purchase of textbooks.

Students will also receive one (1) free meal ticket for food trucks during the 2016 Oakwood Live! event.

Questions? Call our Admissions & Recruitment Team at (256) 726-7356.

Register for Oakwood Live!

Oakwood University cordially invites potential students to meet and fellowship with current students, administrators, and employees during Oakwood Live! (formerly known as College Days), on October 5-9.

Oakwood Live! is an event that immerses prospective students into life at Oakwood University. During the event, guests will meet people from all over the world and participate in an array of activities that will allow them a chance to explore the unique qualities of an Oakwood University education. This annual event is offered to high school seniors and college transfer students, so don't let your youth miss out on the excitement.

For more information about Oakwood University or the Oakwood Live! event, call (256) 726-7356 or click here.

Join the Oakwood Family - Employment Opportunities

Oakwood continues to build the quality of personnel that will serve our students and constituents in the best possible way.

HOW TO APPLY:

Persons interested in any position must submit an Oakwood University Employment Application (online at oakwood.edu under Human Resources), along with a resume, copy of transcript(s)/diploma(s) to Human Resource Management. Application and supporting documents may be emailed, mailed, faxed, etc.

Click here to see the listed positions.

Thank you for your interest in Oakwood University.

Employee Notes

Jason Max Ferdinand, DMA, chair of the Music Department, had the privilege of serving as adjudicator for the Laurea Mundi International Choral Competition that was held in Budapest, Hungary. Top choirs from Hungary, Sweden, Russia, South Africa, Singapore, the United States and many more countries participated. Dr. Katalin Kiss (Hungary), Lu�s Cipriano (Portugal), Wolfgang Ziegler (Germany), Kim Mann (United States) and Zsuzsanna Gr�f (Germany) comprised the rest of the judging panel. Pictured above, Dr. Ferdinand is meeting with directors of a choir from Indonesia in the "Meet the Judges" session that came after the competition round, in a bid to pass on notes that will facilitate growth of the various choirs.

Alumni News

During the South Central Conference's 25th regular quinquennial session on July 24, several Oakwood alumni were elected to serve for the next five years. The South Central Conference territory is Alabama, northwest Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky.

ADMINISTRATION

Benjamin Jones, President

John Nixon, Sr., '76, Executive Secretary

Merkita Mosley, Treasurer

DIRECTORS

Adventist Community Services - Barbara Barnes & Lillie Buckingham (co-directors)

ASI and Stewardship - Michael Harpe, '90

Associate Stewardship - James Lewis, '73

Communication - Marvin L. Allison Sr.

Disabilities Ministries - Nettie Henderson

Education Superintendent - Johnny Holliday

Health Ministries - Curtis and Paula Eakins

Men's Ministry - Rupert Bushner, '83

Ministerial - Jesse Wilson, '81

Associate Ministerial - Joe Grider, '79

Associate Ministerial and Multicultural Ministries - Dorian Melo

NSO and Youth - Lorenzo Shepard, '81

Publishing and FHES - Java Mattison, '04

Personal Ministries and Sabbath School - Vandeon Griffin, '01

Religious Liberty - Martin Lister, '03

Young Adult Ministries - Lola Moore

Women's Ministry - Sonia Paul,  '96

Picture of the Week

On July 27, Kadarius McBride, '15 (third from right), was commissioned as an Oakwood University Police Department officer. He is schedule to attend the 169th basic training session of Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy (NEALEA) that starts September 12 and concludes with graduation on December 8. NEALEA is located in Anniston, Alabama, and is one of 10 law enforcement training academies in the State of Alabama certified by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission. The Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training requires law enforcement training consisting of 13 weeks of intensified classroom and field work designed to qualify the newly employed law enforcement officer in the "basics" of law enforcement.

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.