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Legacy Parents Gather For Reception
By Rachel Wegner 07
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and move-in. Many alumni parents were among these numbers, passing on the legacy of ORU as they helped their children get situated. These "Legacy parents" were offered a break from the heat at the first Alumni Parents Reception on Aug. 15, held on the sixth floor of the LRC just outside the Alumni Relations office.
Abie and Rogette (Trimble) Carabajal 87 traveled from California to drop off their daughter, Christina Carabajal. They said their daughter hopes to take part in the newly launched musical theater major. Christina had visited the campus with her family and knew that ORU was the place for her.
"After seeing the campus, she felt the spirit of God," Abie Carabajal said. "Because of that she was really drawn to ORU."
Michele (Kubiak) 87 and James Horvath 87, 02 returned to ORU to get their son, Jonathan, settled in. The Horvaths serve as pastors at Calvary Lighthouse Church in Rochelle, Ill. While holding a prayer conference at their church, God began to put ORU on Jonathan's heart.
"During the conference, the Lord spoke to him through several different people," Michele Horvath said. Jonathan is now enrolled as a freshman with a major in theology.
The Horvaths also have a daughter, Rachael, who is going into her senior year of high school and considering attending ORU as well.
Bethany (Ozbun) 77 and Larry Meter were helping their daughter, Nicole, move in and register. They said that Nicole knew long ago that ORU was where God wanted her to come. Unwavering in her vision to be a student at ORU, Nicole has now enrolled as an elementary education major.
"When it was time to say our goodbyes, she realized, for the first time, 'I'm really starting to be on my own, but I still need you,'" Larry Meter said. "It's a new journey for all of us."
While mingling with each other, Legacy parents were also able to interact with various ORU Alumni Board members and vice presidents. Food and refreshments were provided, along with a door prize that was awarded at the end of the reception.
"Over 70 alumni had the pleasure of seeing their child become a freshman at ORU this fall," said Natalie Bounds, director of Alumni Relations. "Alumni support of ORU is amazing. We had more than 50 come to this event, and the excitement of being back on campus was incredible. If ever there was a time when I felt completely comfortable walking up to someone I'd never met and striking up a conversation, it was this day. We saw alumni from California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, New York, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, the Virgin Islands and Washington."
All in all, Bounds said, the first Alumni Parents Reception was a success.
