Oakwood Live! Draws Crowd in Spite of Pandemic |
|
From October 6 to 9, 2021, Oakwood University hosted its annual Oakwood Live! event, where high school seniors and prospective students visit the campus, excited and ready to learn everything they can about life as an Oakwood student.
Four hundred (400) potential students and 115 chaperones were immersed in the day-to-day life of an Oakwood student, including visits to academic departments, participating in social activities such as Western night and basketball games, and the highly-anticipated Oakwood Live! concert.
|
|
The University's COVID-19 pandemic precautions made this year unique. Rather than sharing rooms on campus with current students, our guests were accommodated at local hotels at no charge to attendees, and were paired as roommates with individuals from their respective groups. Also, masks were required at all events, all meals were served outdoors under a tent on the lawn of the Eva B. Dykes Library, and Sabbath services were held at the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall of the Von Braun Center.
Over the course of three days, 243 applications were received, and another 125 applications are pending receipt of transcripts. During the Academic Showcase on Friday, 118 on-the-spot acceptances were announced. Over $4 million dollars in academic scholarships were awarded.
|
|
Oakwood alumnus Dr. Eric Thomas, also known as “E.T.,” energetically pleaded with us to realize our worth -- because God loves us, has a purpose for us, and that we "are a priority!" Thomas was the speaker for Chapel on Thursday, for AYM on Friday night at the church, and for the Divine Worship service on Sabbath at the Von Braun Center.
|
|
Contemporary gospel artist Jermaine Dolly of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, shared his ministry during Oakwood Live!
|
|
Oakwood University Establishes
New Dual Enrollment Partnerships
|
|
Pictured (l-r) are Pastor Leacock, representing the three campuses of Northeastern Academy; Judy Dent, Principal of Oakwood Adventist Academy; Leslie Pollard, President of Oakwood University; Denise Shaver, Principal of Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy, and Keith Beckett, Principal of Takoma Academy, signing the documents to make the Dual Enrollment Program official.
Oakwood University has formalized its agreement in a Dual Enrollment Program with six Seventh-day Adventist academies. On October 7, 2021, documents were signed, agreeing that high school students with a grade point average of 3.0 and higher can enroll in two courses per semester at Oakwood University, during their junior and/or senior year of high school. The program, in which students can begin their college matriculation during their last two years of high school, initially began with the Oakwood Adventist Academy. The current dual enrollment program agreement was revamped, voted, and implemented in 2016.
The opportunity for additional young people to participate has now been extended to Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy in Atlanta, Georgia; three campuses of Northeastern Academy in the New York area; and Takoma Academy in Takoma Park, Maryland.
|
|
Miss UNCF Oakwood University 2021-2022 |
|
Oakwood alumni and friends -- we are happy to share with you the Coronation of Miss UNCF of Oakwood University 2021-2022, Miss Briana Brooks. We invite you to enjoy the program that was broadcast on October 10, and share it with your family and friends. Briana, a senior pre-law major, and the Executive Secretary of the United Student Movement, still needs your financial support as she continues her Queen campaign to raise funds for student scholarships for UNCF students like her. Click here to give TODAY!
|
|
Oakwood Student Wins #2 in EBONY/Olay Competition |
|
Congratulations to Oakwood University student, Alena Wicker, for winning the #2 spot in the EBONY/Olay HBCU STEM Queens Competition! Thank you to our Oakwood Family for your support and votes! "I am honored and excited to represent Oakwood University at The Ebony Power 100 Gala in Los Angeles as one of the ten Ebony/Olay HBCU STEM Queens," said Alena Wicker.
|
|
We Need YOU to Stand Up for HBCUs |
|
Dear HBCU Supporter,
Congress is busy working on a bill that will impact education for years, and we need YOU to make Capitol Hill stand up for HBCUs.
-
We need you and everyone you know to go to UNCF.org/hbcuignite. (Feel free share this email with your friends and family.)
- Click the "Email Your Members" button at the top of the page.
- Fill out the form.
- Press "send."
Just like that, in less than 30 seconds, you will stand up for HBCUs by sending a letter to each of your two Senators and your Member of the House of Representatives.
We are counting on you, because we can only be successful with your help. Our institutions and students are counting on you to take this stand.
Thank you,
Lodriguez Murray
Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs
UNCF
|
|
Oakwood Adventist Academy & Oakwood University Forever -- Strategic Partners in Christian Education
by Emile D. Parker, MBA - Director, Alumni Relations
|
|
Oakwood alumni Terri Mitchell, OAA Registrar, left, and Judy Dent, OAA Principal, show off the new entrance banner at Oakwood Adventist Academy.
The idea of an "Oakwood Adventist Academy (OAA) BOUND to OU" Banner all started when the Office of Alumni Relations dropped by OAA this past summer to say hello, and provide our Oakwood alum Principal Judy Dent a special keepsake to celebrate her 50 years since finishing at Oakwood. It warmed our hearts to see the Oakwood University items proudly displayed by all our alums in their offices.
You can quickly realize our Oakwood alums at OAA are true Oakwood University champions and recruiters. Christian Education is alive and well at OAA. When Principal Dent requested to have a banner especially made for OAA with the two schools dear to her heart, we made sure her request was granted because it would be a win-win for both schools. We celebrate our alums for providing the "Oakwood Difference" in the field of Education, with a high degree of professionalism and also promoting Oakwood University.
|
|
Principal Dent stated, "My love for Oakwood College began prior to my matriculation back in 1967. I loved hearing the exciting stories when students returned home for the summer. After my first year at Oakwood, I knew this was the place for me. I found instructors who were interested in my success. My family and home church gave me the fortitude to embark on a journey, away from Oakland, California, to attend a school where students and instructors looked just like me. What joy filled my heart! Fifty years ago, I asked God, if it was His will for me to retire and remain in good health, to send me back to the place where I found so much happiness and peace. God has such a sweet sense of humor, He gave me the opportunity to embark on another journey at Oakwood Adventist Academy. As Principal, my students are destined for greatness! As Principal, my triangle of discussion is the home, OAA, and OU."
Principal Dent is encouraging all partnering schools to follow OAA's lead in doing the same by getting their own "OU Bound" Banner to recruit for our dear Oakwood. Planting the seed early with students and their parents is critical for the future of all our schools. Special thanks to Ron Pride for the design and Lewis Jones, Oakwood University's Director of Recruitment, for his support by providing OAA's special "recruitment banner."
|
|
This is What Legacy Looks Like |
|
In our effort to celebrate our Oakwood alumni participating in one of the ultimate alumni engagements with their alma mater -- sending their son(s) or daughter(s) to Oakwood -- we call it Oakwood Legacy.
Pictured, clockwise, starting top right: Marielle Cooper, Sabrina Collins, Irvin Bishop III, and Stinger Holland -- all sons and daughters of Oakwood alumni.
|
|
For 125 years Oakwood has welcomed students who were the FIRST GENERATION (First Gen) of their family to attend Oakwood. Because of this fact, the Office of Alumni Relations is proud to announce the expansion of the "Oakwood Legacy" initiative to also celebrate and include our First Gen students from their families as well. They are the pioneers of their family. WOW! All four of these young ladies pictured below are future Oakwood Legacy First Gen students. Congrats to all.
|
|
Vote for Oakwood Alumnus Ryan Johnson |
|
The Esport Collegiate Ambassador Award honors an individual who has significantly contributed to the world of collegiate esports. The person will have given the majority of their time to furthering Collegiate esports, improving the collegiate scene through the betterment of programs, coverage, teams and or support for players. Their remit should have helped to solidify the collegiate scene, showcasing the values of the grassroots and amateur scene while helping to provide pathways to pro and/or bringing in a larger audience.
|
|
Alumni Engagement "Under & Through"
the Office of Alumni Relations
|
|
YOUR OAKWOOD WANTS YOU TO GET INVOLVED!! The FUTURE is here for ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT "under & through" the Office of Alumni Relations for any type of alumni organization.
With the goal to have 3,000 Oakwood alumni actively engaged annually by 2026, we need everyone willing, able, and committed to helping their alma mater - OAKWOOD - TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE. All are welcome!! Alumni who are a part of an Oakwood reunion honor class, clubs, online affinity groups, or even new and old chapters may obtain their own Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that we call the Direct Relationship Model from the Oakwood University Alumni Council and its NETWORK of alums. Click here to watch a short video that explains this Win-Win relationship. Student recruiting, volunteering to lead, giving financially, mentoring, providing internships, or simply championing Oakwood's brand are ALL NEEDED.
If you are interested in taking your alumni engagement to the NEXT LEVEL by starting a club, online group, chapter, or simply wanting to plug in somewhere, please feel free to contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@oakwood.edu or call 256-726-7039, and let's get you started TODAY!
|
|
It’s the 125th year celebration of Oakwood’s existence and our Reunion Honor Classes of the 2s and 7s are next up to celebrate!
These 13 AMAZING & MEMORABLE CLASSES will help us celebrate in a BIG way in the engagement of their time to organize their giving financially to their alma mater during their reunion year up to Homecoming 2022. Last year, our Reunion Honor Classes of the 1s and 6s gave over $140,000 by Homecoming. Will our Reunion Honor Classes of 2s and 7s outdo the last year’s Honor Classes? We will see. The Reunion Year GIVING CLOCK started April 5, 2021, the day after Homecoming 2021. Exciting!!!
If you are a member of these NEXT UP Reunion Honor Classes, information is on the way. We especially want to hear from the class presidents of these honor classes. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 256-726-7039 today.
|
|
Reminders & Opportunities |
|
Thursday @ 8:30 a.m. CDT
Join us at 8:30 a.m. (Central Daylight Time) Thursdays on Morning Joy with Dawna Baker, for a special edition of "Inside Oakwood with Dr. Leslie Pollard." Programs are broadcast on Facebook Live, and you can also listen via our live stream at http://wjou.org. Click the links below to listen to previous episodes:
|
|
Call for Submissions: Young Women's Devotional |
|
The Anna Knight Women's Leadership Center & Museum is excited to announce the upcoming production of the 2022 Young Women’s Devotional. Sharing your story is important and we have compiled templates and guidelines to help you put your story in motion, to help, motivate, and encourage other young women. We encourage you to submit as many entries as you wish!
We want to encourage you to submit as many entries as you wish. We cannot do this without you!
Submit your story or your artistic expression today! If you have any questions, please contact Adrienne Reid at wlc@oakwood.edu, or (256) 726-7245.
|
|
Pave the way into the next 125 years of success by purchasing a personalized brick on the Legacy Walkway, that leads from Ford Hall and Peters Media Center to the rest of the campus.
The Legacy Walkway Brick Campaign provides an opportunity to leave a legacy and support campus improvement at the same time. Our Legacy Walkway features names of donors, loved ones, special remembrances, and favorite sayings. Bricks are a great opportunity to congratulate a graduate, celebrate an advanced degree or accomplishment, or honor your loved ones.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to leave more than a memory at Oakwood University. You can leave your own legacy as we continue our mission – to transform the lives of our students.
|
|
Give back year-round to Oakwood University
while shopping online with AmazonSmile.
|
|
The AmazonSmile Foundation will send OU .5% of eligible purchases when you choose Oakwood University.
|
|
It's simple:
- You can use your current Amazon account.
-
Just click https://smile.amazon.com.
- When prompted, select Oakwood University as your charitable organization, and then
- Shop as you normally do.
Donations are made by the AmazonSmile Foundation and are not tax deductible by you.
Your Oakwood University family thanks you for all you continue to do for our dear Oakwood.
|
|
Show yOUr Pride in Alabama! |
|
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. |
|
|
|
InsideOakwood is published by the Office of Integrated Marketing & Public Relations.
Editor: Debbe Millet
Photographer: Teymi Townsend
Graphic Designer: Ron J. Pride
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
