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For information regarding endowment scholarship contributions in either of the girls’ names, contact Institutional Advancement at 1-800-367-9294.

Lora Hernandez, Mount Vernon Nazarene College freshman, and Lisa Roberts, a former MVNC student, were fatally injured in an early morning auto accident Saturday, May 22, 1999. Point Loma Nazarene College sophomore, Carrie Thornton, also passenger in the car, was injured and was hospitalized in stable condition. Three other MVNC students were at the scene including Lisa’s brother, Adam. Lora was driving the car which was hit head-on by a van that veered left of the center line. The accident occurred in Columbus, Ohio, sometime around 1:00 am.

Lora Hernandez, an 18-year-old freshman, was an early childhood education major from Helena, Montana. She was a featured soloist in Collegians, MVNC’s mixed choir, and she had been selected to travel this summer with the music and ministry team, Assurance. She is survived by her parents, Anthony and Janis Hernandez of Helena, Montana, brother Brandon, also of Montana, and a sister, Crystal, of Nashville, Tennessee. Lora’s family has set up a web site dedicated to her memory: the address is www.angelfire.com/
mt/vieja/index.html.

Lisa Roberts enrolled at Olivet Nazarene University as a freshman in the fall of 1996. She then transferred to Mount Vernon Nazarene College in the fall of 1997 with a major in social work. Lisa was not enrolled in the 1998 spring semester. She was planning a fall wedding with her fiancé, Todd Williams. Lisa is survived by her parents, Mike and Pam Roberts, her two sisters, Jennifer and Brittany, and her brother Adam, all of Mount Vernon, OH. Mike and Jennifer completed their bachelor’s degrees from MVNC this spring and participated in commencement on Saturday. They marched together to receive their diplomas. They are both employeed by the College. Adam has completed his freshman year at MVNC.

Prior to the start of the commencement service, MVNC President E. LeBron Fairbanks made the announcement of the early morning accident.

"Because of the tragic accident and the death of these students," he said, "today’s celebration will be tempered." Fairbanks continued, "Tragedy and celebration are experiences in our walk of faith and within the community of faith." He concluded, "Let’s pray together for each other so that everyone here today is touched and blessed by God Himself in the midst of the commencement service."

Point Loma Nazarene University sophomore, Carrie Thornton, was a student at MVNC during the fall of 1997. She transferred to MidAmerica Nazarene University in the spring of 1998 and has just finished her sophomore year at PLNU. Carrie is a communications major from Mount Vernon, Ohio.

A memorial service was conducted by Chaplain Gary Sivewright in the R. R. Hodges Chapel/Auditorium on Sunday, May 23 for Lora Hernandez. Her parents, brother and sister, as well as many of her campus friends, were in attendance. The funeral for Lisa Roberts was held Wednesday, May 26, at 10:00 a.m. at Mount Vernon First Church of the Nazarene. Your prayers are requested for the families and friends of these girls as they walk through these difficult days.