OCU rower John Riesenberg, left, and other athletes work in one of the university’s gardens Oct. 11 during OneGive.

This student-led project is designed to unite the OCU community—trustees, faculty, students, staff and The United Methodist Church—and engage them in active servant leadership. —Pennington

Students, faculty, and staff at Oklahoma City University completed a variety of community service projects Oct. 11 as part of the university’s second annual volunteer activity called OneGive.

Students created OneGive last year to help beautify the OCU campus. This year, groups volunteered both on and off campus to help charitable organizations. All funds saved as a result of free labor will be donated to the "You’re a Name, Not a Number" scholarship.

"In today’s economy, it seemed more appropriate to give the money to the scholarship fund," said Student Government President Camal Pennington.

The "You’re a Name, Not a Number" scholarship was created last winter, when students began seeing the economy take a toll on their peers. The university began collecting funds to help those otherwise unable to return to school because of financial hardship.

The list of OneGive projects on campus included painting curbs, removing shrubbery, and other landscape projects. More than 300 volunteers participated.

"It was a fantastic event," Pennington said. "I’m glad we had a lot of people come out despite the fact that it was a little cold. We really appreciate the OCU community coming together for a great cause. This is a great tradition."

OneGive results were still being counted as this newspaper issue went to press. Pennington said other Student Government efforts have raised $5,500 thus far for the scholarship fund.

He said OneGive represents the servant leadership mentality that is emphasized at OCU.

OCU salutes trustee

Tal Oden of Altus recently completed 11 years of faithful service on the OCU Board of Trustees. He was honored during the university’s report to the Annual Conference session in May. While on the board, Oden served on the University-Church Relations Committee and chaired the Wimberly School of Religion Executive Committee. His daughter, Amy, taught in the Wimberly School before moving to her current teaching position at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.