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@M^W@®ID) mvrVERSITY ©££i@^C^]£Ê]^ W@@[email protected] ASSOCIATION 42nd Annual Friday Evening Education Excellence Eternity HOMECDMING yin"'"'|' <| 2 D 9 Welcomes Alumni and Friends to the 42"^^ Annual Homecoming ^ \\\\\ w^xvs Dr. Delbert Baker UniversityPresident Dr. Dewitt S. Williams AlumniPresident Victoria Joiner Miller AlumniRelationsDirector/Homecoming Coordinator Hdmecdming i 2 Oa^woocfUniversity ^Cumni Association ° ônorees 2(:>(99 D & & 9 Eider Mrs. Terreii Beverly McCoy, Sr. Family of the Year Dl Patricia E. Lewis Alumna of the Year Dr. R. Timothy McDonald Alumnus of the Year Merit Certificates of & Gloria Massenburg Drs. Leslie Prudence Pollard Allegheny East Conference Pacific Union Conference Michaela L. Rodgers Dr Nathaniel Higgs Allegheny West South Atlantic Conference Genevieve Barrett Ivan Allston Northeastern Conference Southeastern Conference Hdmecoming Oakwood College Alumni Association Officers D MD President DeWitt S. Williams, Ed.D., Laurel, Immediate Past President Edward Woods, Jr., Berrien Springs, MI D Vice President Jennifer Mosley Stone, D.D.S., Mableton, GA 9 Vice President for Development Daryl Foster, Cincinnati, OH OYAA Vice President, Rachel Lemons, Maywood, IL Recording Secretary Currine Harris, Lithonia, GA MD Corresponding Secretary Yvonne Lanham, Pitt, Treasurer Charles Campbell, D.D.S., Chapel Hill, NC Assistant Treasurer Brian Woods, Cordova, TN Chaplain Oliver J. McKinney, Decatur, GA Public Relations Patricia Rahming Roe, Lake Mary, FL NY Sergeant-at-Arms Eardell Rashford, Bronx, MD Parliamentarian Phyllis Edmonds, Esq., Laurel, Regional \^ce Presidents Allegheny East Conference Marie Seard, Hendersonville, TN (formerly, Washington, DC) OH Allegheny West Conference Connie Mayfield, Columbus, Lake Region Conference Edward Woods, Jr., Berrien Springs, MI CA Pacific Union Conference Cheryll Bedney-Moore, West Covina, SouthAltantic Conference Mary Smalls, Hunstville, AL (formerly, Peachtree City, GA) AL South Central Conference Crystal Thomas, Harvest, Southeastern Conference Ola Bookhardt, Orlando, FL Southwest Conference Don Thomas, Lacombe, LA Hdmecdming Welcome University President's 2 HelloAlumni and Friends ofOakwood University! a It is, again our privilege to welcome you to Oakwood University Alumni Homecoming 2009. Our theme for the weekend-Our D Vision, His Power" is designed to reflect on the vision that prompted the founding of Oakwood in 1896. Now, nearly 113 9 years later the vision of Oakwood has not only survived, but thrived in ways that, to our founders, would have seemed impos- sible. This year we celebrate the highest enrollment in Oakwood history. Our students impact Huntsville, the nation and the world. YoucanfindOakwoodgraduateseverywhere- inhallsofpoliticalpower,thearts, science,ministry, fine arts and humanities. Our outstanding faculty and staffreceive awards, make the educational process come alive for students, and keep the institution progressing. Truly the Lord has blessed this place called Oakwood. In the midst ofprogress, we sincerely appreciate your support as evidenced by yourpresence this Alumni Weekend. You are helping to keep the flame ofChristian education burning at Oakwood University. While you are here this weekend, take an opportunityto spendtime on campus, talkto some students andbe opento newways thatyou can continue to supportOakwood. Youmaywant to press a $10.00 bill in the hand ofa student, sponsorthe ourPresident for amarathonthroughthe 50 StatesforStudents Scholarship program, or commit to a project on the campus that needs your financial support. There are so many ways to give and I am sure you will find one that fits your desires and giving level. So, againwe welcome you! Thankyou for choosing to spend time withus this weekend. Wepray thatyourtime herewillbeblessedandyouwill leavewitharenewedcommitmentto Christandthe anticipation of His soon return. Delbert W. Baker, Ph.D. President HOMECDMING Alumni Welcome President's 2 Greetings to our alumni, family andfriends and welcome to the 42ndannual Oakwood UniversityAlumni Weekend. We are pleased that you have journeyed to our alma mater for a yet another homecoming event, and there is much to celebrate. We have witnessed and been fortunate enough to participate in 9 two of the most significant events of a lifetime: the election of our first African American President of the United States and the first international marathon run of University President Delbert Baker, whichbenefits students byproviding scholarships to attend Oakwood. There are remarkable similarities in the two journeys of the two Presidents. Both journeys required strategic preparation of mind, body and soul. This preparation is essential if we are to meet the routine and unexpected challenges that arise along the journey of life. Mind preparation begins with education, reading, listening and evaluating information. Physical body preparationrequiresbuildingstaminaandstrength. Soulpreparationrequiresustobemindfulofour creator and His central position in our lives. As alumni, it is a privilege to support Oakwood University, which prepares students by educating, cultivating an enlightening the body, mind and soul. As officers, it is an honor to serve our fellow alumni and friends. We are happy that you have returned to our alma mater for Homecoming. Yourpresence matters. Your support is appreciated, andour individualjourneys are one. May God's richest blessings attend you always. Mayjoy and peace surround you - and may His mercy enfold you until we celebrate the eternal homecoming that will last throughout eternity! Blessings, DeWitt S. Williams, Ed.D OUAA President, ! Hdmecdminb Alumni Welcome Relations Director's "What a fellowship, what a joy divine..." The words of the old hymn resonate with me as I welcome you to Alumni Homecoming 2009. It is truly ajoy and privilege to once again celebrate the joy and fellowship of being an Oakwoodite. Whether it was a few years ago or many years since you walked these grounds as a student, we are all united through this amazing shared experience. Over the years, many things have changed; names, roads, entrances, residence halls, classrooms, teachers/ professors, programs and so much more. But the original vision ofthis great school remains a constant theme through the years preparing leaders as they "Enter to Learn," and "Depart to Serve". So, my dear Oakwood Alumni, are YOU fulfilling that vision the one that can only be accomplished through HIS power? As I travel across the country meeting so many of you, I see the financial, academic, scientific, governmental, entrepreneurial and other successes that the world would determine as the measure of success. But I also see so many of you working quietly in your churches and communities in soup kitchens, youth ministries, leading out in rallies for social justice, helping the elderly, educating others on health and wellness and even volunteering to chauffeur kids to basketball games that you end up coaching! You may not receive accolades from the world, but the Lord is proud ofyou. Keep up the good work! Thank you for choosing to travel from near and far to be here this weekend. Thank you especially to the Oakwood UniversityAlumni Association and the various individuals who worked so hard for this year's events. Most ofall, thank you for your continued support and love for your school. Let's continue the vision through the power ofGod, and by HIS grace Oakwood will continue to thrive until He comes! Blessing to you! Victoria Joiner Miller Director ofAlumni Relations/ WJOU General Manager- Radio Oakwood University NW 7000 Adventist Blvd. Huntsville,AL 35896 256.726.7421 Homecoming 2009 J-fomecoming Speakers D 9 (Dr. lion C. Smith (Executive Secretary Soutfiern ^nion Conference, T)ecatur, ^'A (Divine Worsfiit) Service CfiapCain Linda Crimes Tenici, (Motivation Speaker Southeastern Cafifornia Conference, (R,iverside, C(k (Friday Vesper Service CastorJeffrey L. Watson, Senior 'Pastor êw Covenant Seventh-day (kdventist Church, tW Memphis, Hdmecdming D Dr. Ron C. Smith Dr. Ron Smith is a native ofBrooklyn, New York and is the product ofChristian Education. He is the son ofChristian parents, and his father was in the Seventh-dayAdventist Gospel Ministry. A graduate of Oakwood College, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology & Biblical Languages. He also received his Masters of Divinity degree from Andrews University Theological Seminary in 1982. Dr. Smith earned two doctoral degrees. In 1985, the Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, New York, conferred the Doctor of Ministry degree upon him. In 1995, he graduated with a Ph.D. in Psychology from the Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, California. He is & also a Registered Clinical Psychologist and Marital Family Therapist. With 29 years in the Seventh-day Adventist Ministry, he has served in the Northeastern and Southern California Conferences. Among the various pastoral assignments he executed, he served as SeniorPastor ofthe Berean Church in Los Angeles, California, and the Ephesus Church in Harlem, New York. Other areas of his service include that of Vice President of the Review and Herald Publishing Association and eight years as Editor-in-Chief of Message Magazine, the oldest Black Missionary Christian Lifestyle periodical in NorthAmerica. Dr. Smith is currently the Executive Secretary ofthe Southern Union Conference. He has been married to Yolanda for 29 years, and they have two children, Dawn and Ron II, who are graduates ofOakwood University. Ron II is a pastor in the Southeastern Conference.