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Alumni, You're Simply the Best

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Alumni and their family members came from Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas for Summer Spruce-Up 1999, held July 25-30. Even though it was a shorter workweek than in previous years, and even though attendance was smaller, every item on the list of "Jobs To Do" was checked off by Friday morning. Every dorm room was cleaned, light bulbs and ballasts were replaced, mattresses were moved, and spot painting was done throughout the residence halls. Students are returning (or coming for the first time) to a cleaner, brighter "home away from home." Combined with the other renovations taking place all over campus, Spruce-Up has once again helped ORU make the most of its buildings.

We must say "Thank you!" to the ORU people and several others who laid the groundwork for Spruce-Up 1999, provided workers, or worked with the children and youth:

• George Paul (69), Alumni Director
  
• Dave Ellsworth (75;82-MBA), Director of Operations
  
• Vick Barker, Buildings manager
  
• Julie Jacobsen (95)
  
• Alex Veliz, Painting supervisor, and painters Paul Massey, Gary Henderson, and Jaime Lopez
  
• Dennis Lollis and Steve Roberts, Electrical supervisors, and electricians Stan Boyes, Todd Forbes, and Mark Haro
  
• Tracy Jackson, Housekeeping director, and housekeepers Bob Wehrlen and Beth Hawks
  
• Khari Lasiter and Damon Rexroad, youth leaders from Victory Christian Center
  
• Ed Brownfield (children's service) and Nathan Funk (youth service)
  
• Matt Waters, Facility Services
  
• Dave Connor (73)
  
• Mark Labash (74)
  
• Lauren Westgate (99), Assistant for Programs, and Christine Isaacs (99), Alumni Relations

Most of all, however, we want to say "Thank you and God bless you!" to the alumni and their family members without whom Summer Spruce-Up could not have been such a success. You did a great job!

Adults

• Bruce (77) and Kathy (Johnson-78) Winegar
  
• David Winegar
  
• Randy Erickson (85)
  
• Gary Tate (85)
  
• Greg Butler (79)
  
• Joe Girard (84)
  
• Kimberly (Bunch-82) Coppedge
  
• Azalea (88) and Sidney Wilkinson
  
• Sonya (McElroy-77) Wilkinson
  
• Lisa (Young-80) Neal
  
• Keren Alff (87)
  
• Rovilia Ward (99)
  
• Marye Lou Camp (A)
  
• Joe (80) and Mimi McMichael
  
• Leslie Ireland
  
• Peggy (89) and Lemmie Johnson
  
• Pierre, Prentice, Portia, and Patrice Johnson
  
• Brian Van Bruggen (87)
  
• Raymond Casteel (84)
  
• Denise Crosswhite (87)
  
• Cindy (80) and Dave Landrum
  
• Roger Dionne (83)
  
• Inez (Mcneil-77) Holmes
  
• Lori (Hesterberg-81) Hovenesian
  
• Zik Jackson (95)

Youth

• Naomi and Mark Winegar
  
• Dylan Aycock
  
• Kendal and Courtnee Butler
  
• Brittany and Bethany Coppedge
  
• Sydney Wilkinson
  
• Reece, Ryan, Starla, and Daniel Wilkinson
  
• Abigail and Amanda Mauldin
  
• Elizabeth McMichael
  
• Daniel Tate
  
• Elisabeth Jimmerson
  
• Charlie Ireland
  
• Ryan Brock
  
• Alina Kilkenney
  
• Jake Dionne
  
• Charlita and Christopher Awosika
  
• Anthony Holmes
  
• Carol and Janet Hovenesian
  
• Rachel Duntley

Here are some of the comments from alumni and their family members concerning the Spruce-Up program.

"My Spruce-Up friends are so amazing! I don't know how to explain it, but my friends here have something great and special that my friends back home don't have." (youth)

"It is a good chance to see the campus and be a servant." (youth)

"It's a blessing for us to be able to give of our time and working skills to our alma mater. We cherish this place, so keep Spruce-Up going."

"I really enjoyed my time here. I enjoyed the food, fellowship, fun, and most important, working together to do our best in serving the Lord."

"It always blesses me immensely to come back to the University. I am always thankful to be back on campus and to see what God is doing here. I hope that the work we do during our stay here will bless the incoming students; I try to remember to pray for them as we paint their rooms! I pray their experiences here will be as wonderful as mine were. Obviously, I loved ORU; I'm still thrilled to come back after 20 years!"

"I think anyone who's graduated from ORU should seriously consider coming back, and fellowshipping with us, not to mention the contribution their work will mean. I've been coming for four years and I hope I never have to miss a chance to come back! Thank you so much for letting us come!"

We'll see you in 2000!