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Precious Memories Still Linger: Alumni Weekend 2017
by Kenn Dixon, Director of Integrated Marketing & PR
There is a quietness that has settled back on campus after another Alumni weekend has come to an end. Hundreds of old friends greeted each other and reminisced on memories, caught up on old times, and promised to stay in touch. We are always happy to have our alumni visit our campus every Easter weekend in Huntsville, Alabama, and repeat their Oakwood experience.
This year the past joined the present on Friday night when members of A Special Blend, Take 6, Jonathan Slocumb, and many others gave tribute to Mervyn E. Warren for his outstanding contributions to the music culture enjoyed by so many today.
Sabbath morning worship welcomed thousands to a familiar spot, the Von Braun Center. This year marked the 50th year of celebrating Alumni Homecoming Weekend. The music, presentations, and the preached Word were received with praise and appreciation by many who attended. As the Sabbath hours were closing, the Oakwood University Church hosted the vespers service by Dr. Carlton Byrd, senior pastor of Oakwood University Church. As the Word was still ringing in the ears of the attendees, the 70th anniversary Aeolians concert commenced. The concert was a visual and acoustic blessing that lasted until almost midnight.
 As the sun began to rise Easter morning, many participated in the 5K Ru
n-
Walk International Challenge that stretched around the campus. Medals were
awarded, and photos were taken with the Ashby Auditorium as the back
drop. The race concluded just in time for the "Alumni Village" Vendor Mall that is
always a favorite for alumni and students as well.
V
endors sold goods ranging from puzzles to perfume, from socks to commemorative T-shirts, from CDs to autographed books -- there was something for everyone.
Now that all the hotel reservations are over, and all the flights home are c
omplete, the students at Oakwood University can now return to what they do best,
creating their own "Oakwood Experience.
"
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OUPD Officers Train for APOSTC Physcial Training Test
by Victoria
L.
Joiner
, Ed.D., assistant professor
Instead of sleeping in on a recent Sunday morning, Oakwood University Police officers were hard at work training for the upcoming Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) Physical Training Examination at the Huntsville Police Academy. The APOSTC is the governing body for all law enforcement training in the state, and the Physical Agility/Ability Test is a required element of Police Academy training.
There are tests in areas such as Pushing, Climbing, Window Entry, Balance, Weight Drag, Timed push-ups and sit-ups, and the 1.5 mile run. Each officer must be able to push a patrol vehicle a distance of 15 feet on a paved, level surface with the gear in neutral. In other words, could you remove a stalled vehicle out of an intersection or drag a 160 lb. person out of danger?
Despite the rigorous training, everyone was in good spirits with lots of laughter and solid camaraderie helped the entire department come together as a team. Chief Melvin Harris said, "Not only did we train together, run together, and learn together, we had time to play and laugh together." Captain David Clark said they pushed their team to the edge to see what they could do. "It's important to keep our officers in shape, for them to track themselves, and see in what areas they need improvement." Officer Desmond Paramore observed: "We do ourselves a disservice and we let down the community when we don't keep ourselves up!"
The APOSTC exam is administered once a year in August, and the OUPD officers train together as a group at least three times per year in preparation. We are proud that our OUPD is working to keep their officers fit for duty.
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Almost 100% of the OUPD participated in training on April 2, even officers who had worked through the night before.
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OU Students Attend 43rd National Conference for Black Engineers
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| (Left to right) Theodore Sturrup, Daniel Barnes, Jordan Howard, Natalie Williams, Grayson Mejia, Zachary Foster, Morgan Matthews, Wendel Pericles, Jordan Wilson, Pastor Dion Henry, Mrs. Jea Joseph, assistant professor and NSBE club sponsor, student visitor, Natalie Ortiz, Gregory Roper, and Julian Barnes. |
Ten of Oakwood's finest Applied Mathematics and Engineering students attended the 43rd National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, late last month.
The convention
hosted over 11,000 engineering students
and professionals
from across the country.
Students were given access to hundreds of engineering companies and graduate schools offering internships, co-ops, full-time positions, research, and enrollment opportunities.
Our students participated in workshops on resume writing workshops and interviewing techniques, and
pre-interviews at the Career Fair
.
Those who impress
ed
the company representatives
were
invited back for a formal interview. O
ur
10
Oakwood students received an
impressive 22 formal interviews which turned into two
internship
s
and permanent job offers for
our
graduating senior, Gregory Roper. The rest of the group a
re
waiting anxiously to
hear
the results of their interviews.
The Beacon
Light SDA C
hurch and Pastor Dion
Henry
,
a graduate of Oakwood University, sent a bus on Sabbath morning, April 1, to pick up our students
along with a few other SDA students at the conference
.
Pastor Henry
gave our students an amazing welcome and fellowship dinner.
Overall, t
his trip provided a unique experience for our Applied Mathematics and Engineering students.
Each student came back with an appreciation of his/her
specific
field
of interest
and a commitment of excellence in their studies. The experience of interacting with other African-American engineer
ing
students and national
engineering
companies
,
eager to speak with and hire students
on the spot
,
was something
they will never forget.
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Oakwood University is the Tom Joyner Foundation School of the Month for April 2017. Every dollar will be matched to give scholarships to our students. Mr. Joyner's leadership in fundraising for Historically Black Colleges and Universities was acknowledged and appreciated during the 39th Annual UNCF Gala on Thursday, April 13. He gave brief remarks at the Gala,and graciously took "selfies" with several attendees.
There are several ways you can donate to help us reach our $40,000 goal:
Text OakwoodU to 41444
Mailing Address: Tom Joyner Foundation, P.O. Box 630495, Irving, TX 75063
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Oakwood HCASC Team Wins $75,000 in Championship
The editors of insideOakwood wanted to share Lauren Padilla's report in USA Today/College on Oakwood University's winning the 28th annual Honda Campus All Star Challenge National Championship Tournament. Read the complete story here.
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| Overcome with excitement, (l-r) Olivia Campbell, Sesly Huerfano and Joshua Nwaoha, learn that Oakwood has won the Honda Campus all-Star Challenge. (Photo: Honda) |
For more information about the Honda Campus All Star Challenge, visit
www.hcasc.com.
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Alumni News
Dr. Diana Owens Hart, '75, recently earned a doctorate in Education, with an emphasis in Educational Leadership. She said, "I wanted all Alumni to know that wherever wherever they are, even at our age, we can still achieve higher goals."
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Advertise in the Oakwood Magazine
 With affordable rates, advertising in the Oakwood Magazine is a great solution to market your business and strengthen your brand. We offer ads ranging from a quarter-page to a full page to accommodate your advertising budget. Contact Richard Hodnett for pricing and additional details. Richard M. Hodnett Assistant Director for Alumni Relations & Marketing Phone: (256) 726-7663 Email: [email protected]
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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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| 1-844-FRUIT OU
STORE #819
5000 Whitesburg Dr. S, #148 Huntsville, AL 35802 (256) 881-7575 STORE #759 6290 University Blvd. Huntsville, AL 35806 (256) 721-7999 Share Love, Support Students |
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| Click here to see the Spring 2017 issue of the Oakwood Magazine, or visit oakwoodmagazine.com |
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