Meet Melissa the Pirate

TO ALL OHS STUDENTS AND ALUMNI---MEET “MELISSA THE PIRATE”

Fellow 1975 Classmates (Lisa Ohlund, Cindy Currey, Joe Gemmel, Kathy Wilson, Tina Van Breukelen) create “Melissa the Pirate” and her Surfboard to join “Ivan the Pirate” previously created by Todd Young Class 1981.

The vision for “Melissa” is that she represents the values of equality, liberty, and well-being; whereas Ivan represents strength, persistence, and inspiration. Both characters connect with the OHS slogan “Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate”, and the OHS Alumni Foundation slogan “Preserving the Past, Promoting the Future.”

Melissa and the surfboard are made of colorfully painted plywood by Kathy Wilson.  Melissa stands 7 ft. tall with brown eyes and hair and adorned with a puka shell necklace, gold hoop earring, and red painted flowers. She is named for Kathy’s sister, Melissa who lived with Type 1 Diabetes since girlhood. The surfboard is 8 ft tall and depicts a pirate ship, an underwater scene consisting of a whale, school of fish, treasure chest, anchor and the Camp Pendleton branding iron symbol.

Ivan, Melissa, and the Surfboard are housed in the OHS teacher’s lounge Rm K 31. The characters are available for use by any class for fundraising and reunion events.  Please contact the Alumni Foundation Chair, Glenda Kimbrel, at  info@ohsfoundation.org you are interested.