Speaking to the Seniors

Friday is commencement rehearsal. I have a few things I’d like to share with the students. And low and behold, Dr. Jernigan is going to let me.

• My name is Natalie Adams, I’m the Director of Alumni Relations for ORU.
• It was May 1988 – I sat right over there (pointing) in the business section.
• My family sat right up there (again, pointing).
• I didn’t hear a thing that was said at my commencement, but I loved every minute.  I don’t even remember who our speaker was. I don’t remember coming to rehearsal.
• Maybe you’ll do better than me.

I have two things to tell you.

1. I need to tell you who the alumni are.

• They are graduates who have gone on before you – from the classes of 1968 – 2009.
•  They are your family – your brothers and sisters, your moms & dads. In some cases both literally and figuratively.
• They are your support network, your prayer warriors, and for some, even your future employers .
• They support ORU financially, prayerfully and in many volunteer ways. They recruit students. They help keep ORU alive. They are ORU.
• You can find them on the ORU online community, on Facebook, on Twitter, and all the other places you find people. There are 23,000 of them. They are all over the world. You’ll find them back home in your state and maybe your own city. If you need help finding them, I’ll help you.
• Tomorrow, you will receive a bible from an alumnus.  Here is the Bible I received at my graduation (showing them my Bible). It was signed by Oral Roberts. It will always be special to me.
• They – we, the alumni – welcome you in to the family. Which brings me to point number 2.

1. You are about to become an alumnus.

• Don’t ever forget that you’re a student for a short time, and an alumnus forever.
• Stay in touch. Make sure we have a good address for you so that you can get things like your diploma, your yearbook, your graduation photos, and other things in the future like the alumni magazine.
• You are ORU. We are proud of you, and we welcome you.

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