Another Successful 'Experience' for OU Students

This year's Twilight Tacos on the Turf" was a huge success! God be Praised!! With more than 800 students served by Oakwood alumni and friends, the smiles on everyone's face tell it all. It was an amazing experience for our students.

Thank you to all of our alumni and friends who answered the call to volunteer to serve our students. It's a beautiful thing to see. And we especially want to thank those who "Gave the Gift of an Experience" through their financial support to fund this event. and events like this in the future, for our students. It warms our hearts to see this level of alumni engagement which directly impacts the "positive student experience" while at Oakwood.

We must thank the visionary and designer of these types of events, for her level of commitment, time, resources, creativity, and love for our students: Oakwood alumna, and OU Board of Trustees member, Dr. Laura Davis. USM President Kee'Laun Crum presented two dozen roses to Dr. Davis on behalf of the current students, and for the past six years of USM Presidents and students who have enjoyed and appreciated these types of events ("Midnight Pancakes on the Lawn" in the spring, and now "Twilight Tacos on the Turf" in the fall). Continued blessings to her and her Oakwood Legacy family which now includes another third-generation Oakwood student attending.

If you didn't get a chance to serve this past Saturday night, or to "Give the Gift of an Experience," it's NOT TOO LATE TO GIVE!! click here and give TODAY! Thank you in advance for all you do for Oakwood University.

One of Juneteenth’s leading architects Dr. Opal Lee, known as the ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth,’ visited Oakwood University and provided signed copies of her book Juneteenth A Children's Story. Dr. Lee played a pivotal role in making sure Juneteenth is now recognized as a federal holiday which became official on June 19, 2021. People of all ages sat in Moran Hall to hear from the historical figure herself.

"We had 1,000,500 signatures that we took to Congress and we were prepared to take that many more when we got the call to go to the White House because the president was going to sign the bill into law. Wow. I was humbled. I don’t know how to express it. I still pinch myself to see if it really happened," said Dr. Lee.

As Oakwood celebrates 125 years of service, president Leslie Pollard says having Dr. Lee on campus is the perfect complement to those celebrations. "Dr. Opal Lee will inspire a whole new generation to find their activist niche and to make sure that they make a difference," said Pollard. 

Ashley Alexander is an Oakwood University student also attended the event. She was happy to both meet Dr. Lee and receive a book. "I’m really glad to pass down this book down to my children and their children’s children and for it to be a generational heirloom," said Alexander. She loves receiving opportunities to meet historical figures. "I wanted to see a revolutionary leader who had paved the way for Juneteenth to be a holiday and it’s really an amazing experience to see her in action," said Alexander.

Dr. Lee's visit to 'the Rocket City'  was sponsored by the UAH Humanities Center, in partnership with United Women of Color. Collaborators for Ms. Lee’s visit also include Alabama A&M University, the City of Huntsville, Highlands Elementary PTA, Madison County Commission District 6, Oakwood University, St. John AME Church, UAH Music, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Report from WAAYTV.com

Historically Black college and university (HBCU) alumni who reported higher income brackets also reported higher satisfaction with their HBCU networks

UNCF has released the latest research brief addressing The HBCU Effect™, which is designed to understand, validate and promote the success of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and to develop a counter-narrative that fully illustrates their value and competitiveness.

“By uncovering HBCU truth through data and research, The HBCU Effect™ will illuminate how HBCUs yield a high return on investment by equipping their students, in particular first-generation students, with resources to close education and wealth gaps—transforming generations,” said Dr. Nadrea Njoku, director, Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute (FDPRI), UNCF.

“HBCUs are top producers of Black STEM graduates, Black medical doctors, veterinarians and graduate low-income students at higher rates than private White institutions (PWIs), and their students also report greater academic and social gains. Yet, limited data exist regarding workforce outcomes for Black HBCU alumni,” said Njoku.

“This mixed-methods research brief adds to UNCF’s ongoing effort to create a counter-narrative through our HBCU Effect™ research agenda. This brief, consisting of our early quantitative findings, and the collective study adds to our knowledge of The HBCU Effect™ by addressing gaps in knowledge about workforce outcomes at HBCUs, and how social experiences and networks affect the academic and workforce experiences of Black HBCU alumni,” said Njoku.

In the summer of 2021, 1,761 Black HBCU alumni, 81% female and 19% male, participated in a 10-minute survey to conduct the research. To promote participation and friendly competition among the HBCUs, FDPRI offered a $20,000 award toward institutional funding for the HBCU with the highest number of responses from their alumni. Florida A&M University (FAMU) won the competition with the highest number of participants followed by UNCF-member institutions Bennett College, Oakwood University and Xavier University of Louisiana. Overall, 75 HBCUs were represented. MORE

The President's Office is proud to announce the appointment of Norman J. Jones as Executive Director of Integrated Marketing & Public Relations.

Jones has most recently served as the Communication Director of the Southwest Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He has also owned, operated and served as the lead creative and multimedia producer in his own companies, now consolidated into Norman J. Creative, for the past 15 years.

Jones has always had a heart for ministry, so although he has had corporate clients, he has always concurrently used his creative gifts to further the Gospel in multiple churches around the country.

A product of Christian education, he graduated from Great Lakes Adventist Academy and attended Oakwood University, where he majored in Theology and Social Work. Jones’ understanding of, and love for, God’s people shines through in the thoughtfulness of his work. For him, it is not only about “putting out good work,” but very much about connecting others to Christ.

Most recently serving as Communication Director for the Southwest Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, he now brings his creative and technical expertise to Oakwood University. He will manage and direct all aspects of Oakwood's interface with the public: visual media, social media, website, radio and print/graphics. He is looking forward to working alongside the administration, staff and students in transforming lives through Biblically-based education.

He is a devoted husband to his lovely wife Vinessa and a living jungle gym to three beautiful daughters.

You may be familiar with the phrase, ‘You never know how far a good deed can go.’ The original saying was written by William Shakespeare in his book, The Merchant of Venice, which was published in 1600. William wrote, “How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.” Another phrase I’m sure you know, is Jesus’s admonition found in Matthew 5:14,16 NKJV – “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

My name is Esther Smith and I serve as your new Development Officer for Oakwood University’s Annual Fund. It is my honor to champion this fund because I know from experience the lengthiness of a good deed and the warmth of one bright light. As an alum of Oakwood, it has been my privilege to return to the institution that began my journey into higher education. In this time, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on my years at Oakwood and how I was impacted by them. I remember in my sophomore year being on the receiving end of initiatives just like the Annual Fund. I remember individuals whom I didn’t know stepping in to make a difference in my OU experience. There are countless stories like mine and I can’t help but be grateful. Grateful for the impact one person decided to make so that my experience would be full even with the things I could not supply.

It is my privilege today to ask you to consider creating the same kind of impact for the students that pass through our halls and dorm rooms today. It’s true that the world, as a whole, may never know the good deed you will have done, but each of us exists in a world all our own. So while you may not impact the 7.97 billion people on the earth, you have the power to impact at least one of the more than 1400 students currently striving for their education at Oakwood University. Your gift to the annual fund is an excellent way to maximize your support of the Oakwood family.

The Marriage of James & Ellen White

Sometime in the year 1844, Ellen G. Harmon met a young 23-year-old preacher, named James Springer White. After courting for two years, they stood before Charles Harding, who was Justice of the Peace in Portland, Maine, at the time, and were married on August 30, 1846. Together they worked diligently in the cause of God. They were married for 35 years.

References: White, A. L. (1985). The Early Years (1827-1862). Review & Herald Publishing Association, Hagerstown, MD.