An historically Black Seventh-day Adventist university is again in the running to win a grant from the world’s largest home improvement retailer in an online voting contest, which the university won last year.
Oakwood University, based in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, is currently teetering between first and second place in the voting tally in the Home Depot Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant Program. The winners must have both the highest amount of votes and social media activity.
Supporters can vote for their school of choice once per day until the campaign ends on April 14. The campaign’s hashtag is #OakwoodTHDRYS.
University officials chalked up last year’s win of a $50,000 grant to the worldwide support of the Seventh-day Adventist community, something they hope will help them repeat with a win this year of a $25,000 Campus Pride grant—the same school can’t win the top prize two years in a row, a university spokesperson said.
The university used last year’s grant to build a picnic pavilion on campus. This year they’re hoping to install park benches and trees on a section of campus near the library.
"We need everyone's support to help Oakwood win this grant," said Kisha Norris, executive director for advancement and development for Oakwood.
Oakwood is one of 104 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States that have primarily served African-Americans.
Supporters can vote at the website www.retoolyourschool.com/vote-now.