OSU Institute of Technology flooded the streets of Okmulgee on Saturday with volunteers outfitted in bright orange in support of Oklahoma State University’s visionary new service project — State of Orange: A Day of Cowboy Service.

Led by OSU President Kayse Shrum, over 3,000 participants at more than 350 event locations nationwide demonstrated how OSU’s land-grant mission and Cowboy Code extend beyond the classroom and into the community.

In Okmulgee, the partnership between OSUIT and Okmulgee Main Street bore fruit in the form of three transformative projects that injected new life into the downtown area. More than 45 dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly, weeding, planting vibrant flowers, and orchestrating the relocation of the beloved ‘umbrella alley’ to a new location closer to the town square.

Kamie Crawford, director of Student Life at OSUIT and Okmulgee Main Street board president, said it felt natural to pair these two groups for the State of Orange—Cowboy Day of Service.

“OSUIT needed to enhance the community, and Main Street wanted to continue the work they do downtown,” said Crawford. “OSUIT has built relationships with businesses and organizations in Okmulgee through many of our student clubs with community outreach over the past several years, and this was a great opportunity to give back to the heart of Downtown Okmulgee while nurturing another great connection with a local organization that works hard to foster community pride and engagement.”

Volunteers from other local organizations, such as First Family Federal Credit Union, Main Street board members, and the local Boy Scouts, joined the two organizations on Saturday.

“It’s amazing what happens when many hands work together,” said Rusty Milroy, an Okmulgee Main Street volunteer and local. “It looks great, very beautiful.”