By Leah Thompson
l-thompson.1@onu.edu
Between juggling, making balloon animals and practicing skits, it really is a circus on Thursday nights for members of the Orange Noses chapel group. They may just be clowning around, but they’re serious about their mission: spreading God’s love.     
“Our mission is changing the world one smile at a time,” said member Chris Corrado, a senior marketing major, who began the chapel clowning group as a freshman.
“We bring a different attitude and opportunity for laughter,” Corrado said. “Sometimes we show up at events like basketball games, homecoming, where you don’t expect to see a clown necessarily. It brings a smile to your face just being there.”
Corrado became interested in clowning years before arriving at ONU. It began in fourth grade when he learned to juggle.
“It really changed my life, from a shy, introverted person to an outgoing individual who likes to be the center of attention,” Corrado said.
In sixth grade, Corrado began juggling at local churches, helping people to find their talents and use them to glory God. He wanted to continue using his talent for God’s glory when he came to ONU.
Corrado’s desire to pursue his talents grew into the Orange Noses group. The club welcomes all students with an interest in clowning.
“If you have any interest, come and join us. We’ll teach you what we know, and if you have any special interests, come and share what you know!” said sophomore marketing major Lauren SeGall, co-president of the Orange Noses.
Corrado also encourages students to join. Although he will graduate soon, he is not worried about the future of the organization.
“The more we increase our numbers, the better impact we’ll be able to have,” Corrado said. “Our philosophy is that if one person teaches you, you teach the next. Through that system of leadership, our skills will be handed down.”
For Corrado, clowning is a way of life, and he enjoys sharing his skills with others.
“It will always be a part of who I am. It’s changed my life so much that I would be a totally different person without it. I think I’ll always be more than willing to teach others the same talent,” Corrado said.
Orange Noses is active in the Ada and ONU community. They perform at campus functions like relay for life and off-campus.
Local churches can contact the chapel and arrange for Orange Noses to perform at Sunday services. According to SeGall the clowns usually perform in the place of a Sunday morning sermon or they perform for the children of the congregation.
Orange Noses currently performs at pregame for ONU men’s and women’s basketball games.
Orange Noses meets every Thursday at 8 p.m. Their meeting places alternate between the chapel and King-Horn.