“Batter, Batter Swing”; 2008 Alumni Baseball Game Ends in a Tie. Alumni from around the Triad gathered on Saturday, April 26th for the 5th Annual Alumni Baseball Gathering. Alums took on the current ORMA team and finished the game in a tie. It was a beautiful day for a ball game. We want to thank Charlie Frye, ORMI ’57, for heading up the event again this year. We would also like to thank our sponsors: Lowes Foods, Harris Teeter and Food Lion for providing hot dogs and all the “fixins” and every one else who helped make this event a success. We’ll see you again next year.

The annual President’s Society Dinner was held at The O’ Henry Hotel in Greensboro on Saturday, April 26, 2008 . More than 50 President’s level donors were on hand and we enjoyed the opportunity to visit with them as well as honor the 2008 Distinguished Service Award Recipient, Mr. Irvin Angel. “It’s an honor to receive this award. I have always believed in Oak Ridge and look forward to seeing the Academy continue to offer a quality education to our young people,” Mr. Angel remarked after receiving the award.

2007 HOMECOMING WEEKEND

by Terrill Sandiford

ORMA’s 2007 Homecoming Celebration kicked off on a pleasant Friday afternoon on October 12, 2007. The festivities began with the annual homecoming golf outing, which was held at Pine Knolls Golf Club in Kernersville. Sixteen golfers teed it up for an enjoyable day of golf. Taking first place honors, with a score of ten under par, were Jay Gardner, ’79; Greg Vanhook, ’76; Dutch Young, ’52 and Bobby Barbera. Second place honors, with a score of four under par, went to Rob Holcombe, ’68; Ken McDaniel, ’68; Robert Tathwell, ‘46 and Rob Tathwell. Third place honors, with a score of one under par, went to Charlie Frye, ’57; Alex Wilson, ’97; and Terrill Sandiford. Our fourth place team consisted of Taylor Cook, ’02; Chip Cook, ’94; Chad Mateer, ’00; and Seth Lilly, ’98. We aren’t sure about their final score; however, we do know this much…..they had a good time. A special congratulations goes out to Chad Mateer, who recently got married. The longest drive and closest to the pin trophies both went to Greg Vanhook. We appreciate all our golfers for their support and look forward to teeing it up again as part of Homecoming 2008.

On Friday afternoon, alumni, family, friends, cadets, faculty, staff, volunteers, and others cheered our football team to victory over Cresset Christian Academy in a final score of 46-37. Later that evening, alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff gathered at the Oak Ridge Bed and Breakfast for a reception. This was an opportunity for alumni to meet the president, Dr. Roy Berwick, and to get reacquainted with each other. More than 60 people “packed the house” for the reception, hosted by the Academy, with the gracious help of Marilyn and Don Brees and the Bed & Breakfast staff.

Saturday was another beautiful day as festivities began with the traditional pass and review parade, followed by a picnic-style lunch on the lawn of Maple Glade, afternoon alumni time and photos, and the President’s open house. On Saturday evening, more than 75 alumni, family, friends, faculty, and staff gathered in a beautiful tent at the Oak Ridge Bed and Breakfast for the alumni dinner. This year’s feast was provided by Pig Masters, “home of the world’s finest hickory cooked barbeque.” Several special awards were handed out, including “Youngest Alumnus in Attendance” and “Alumnus Who Traveled the Farthest Distance.” ORMA President Dr. Roy Berwick presented “The State of the Academy” address, and Terrill Sandiford was introduced as the new Development Director.

Thanks go out to Frank Sprinkle, ORMI ’46 for providing tents, tables, chairs, heaters and other important items to help make for a warm and inviting atmosphere. A big thanks also goes to Marilyn and Don Breese at the Oak Ridge Bed and Breakfast for all their help and hospitality. We’d also like to thank Mark Craig, ’78 and R.H. Barringer for their contributions. Additionally, we’d like to thank those who volunteered their time and services: Carmen Freeman, ’78; Lisa Spencer; Jim Savage, ’64; and Kay Savage for help with decorating; Linda Connor; Randy Smith; Jad Davis, ’67; for serving as master of ceremonies; ORMA maintenance, faculty and staff; Randy Floss and the staff at Bistro 150; and everyone else who helped make this year’s event a success.

COAK MAY, ORMI ‘59, RECEIVES ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR AWARD

During the homecoming dinner on Saturday evening, Oak Ridge alumnus Coak May received the annual Alumnus of the Year Award. Coak was a junior college student who graduated in 1959 and went on to attend Atlantic Christian College. He earned a B.A. in Business and became a certified public accountant working in Lynchburg, VA for a major accounting firm. Coak later became the Chief Financial Officer for Greensboro-based SPANCO, a large textile company. He was one of the founders of ProSpin Textile and served as an accountant for a private foundation. Mr. May also became involved in civic and charitable organizations, including Greensboro College, Centenary Methodist Church, and Habitat for Humanity, and is a member of the oldest established investment club in Greensboro.

For many years, Coak was on the Board of Trustees for The Oak Ridge Foundation, as well as on the Executive Board as treasurer. In 2000, Coak and several other ORMI alumni and friends founded The Oak Ridge Society Foundation for the purpose of providing scholarship funds to deserving cadets. The Society has awarded approximately $50,000 annually for scholarships since its inception. Coak also served as the Society’s treasurer. He is married to Nancy Acrey May. Their son, Brent, and his wife, Kimberly, have two sons, Christopher and Alexander. We proudly salute Coak May as our 2007 Alumnus of the Year.