The missions department is holding the annual Spring Outreach event, and the Student Association is throwing its annual SA All-School Party on the same Saturday, April 9.

Spring Outreach will be hosted at the South Tulsa Community House, the Tulsa Dream Center and the Boys and Girls Club. Each location will be open to students from 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., and to the community from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

“The theme revolves around this challenge: ‘What Could Be’ in the next generation if we empowered the youth in the Tulsa community to fulfill their dreams,” said Jaci Pringle, the head outreach coordinator. “We want to challenge the youth and leaders in these communities to believe that they can follow their dreams, that they can see change.”

The outreach will consist of development work-shops, food, games, music and dance performances, in order to bring ORU students and the Tulsa community together.

The event has been held annually for the past 10 years, and Pringle and the missions team are happy to share the day with SA’s All-School Party just a few hours later.

“We love partnering with SA, and love their heart for wanting to serve the students,” said Pringle. “It’s an awesome event and we’re pumped for the All- School event this year.”

The party is Saturday, April 9 at 5 p.m. in the field behind Towers. The party will be equipped with food, for a picnic with a Partiestival feel.

Students can play bubble soccer, the men’s and women’s intramural champions will be crowned and the bands Space Pod for Two and Gibraltar will both perform live.

“The party is a revised spring picnic, transformed to be more open and get more people to attend,” said Tara Lau from the SA programs department. “Why not make it a big celebration and give the students another opportunity to hang out?”

Saga will be closed during the All-School Party, but students can exchange a Saga-swipe for a meal and a free T-Shirt.

“The All-School Party is a wonderful end-of-the-year celebration,” said Lau. “It’s gonna be a lot of fun hanging out with friends as kind of a last hurrah.”

(Originally published 4.8.16 on The Oracle's website.)

Reagan Fleming