Education Commons^™

Ouachita Communications Staff Earns Three Prsa Arkansas Prism Awards, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Ouachita Baptist University’s Office of Communications was honored with three Prism Awards at the 2017 ARcom Awards ceremony, held Thursday, Sept. 14, at the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub in North Little Rock. The team also was recognized as one of three finalists for Best in Show.

The Prism Awards were presented by the Arkansas chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. PRSA Arkansas joined with the Arkansas chapter of International Association of Business Communicators and Ad Club Little Rock to host the inaugural ARcom Awards event, bringing together leading marketing and communications professionals from across the state. Roby Brock …

Ouachita To Present "The Secret Garden" Musical Sept. 28-Oct. 2, Addy Goodman, Ouachita News Bureau

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The Ouachita Baptist University Department of Theatre Arts will present “The Secret Garden, the Spring Version,” an adaptation of Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman’s original Broadway musical, in Verser Theatre on campus Sept. 28-Oct. 2.

The show will be a shortened version of the full length 1991 musical based on the 1911 children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The show tells the story of orphan Mary Lennox and her journey to renewal after finding a locked garden.

“This show is definitely a crowd pleaser,” said Dr. Scott Holsclaw, chair of Ouachita’s Division of Applied Arts and director of the show. …

Ouachita Baptist University To Host Fall Tiger Serve Day On Sept. 23, Katie Smith

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Ouachita Baptist University’s fall Tiger Serve Day will take be held, Saturday, Sept. 23. Students, faculty and staff will meet at the Ben M. Elrod Center for Community and Family at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast provided by Sodexo before dispersing to service projects all over the community.

Tiger Serve Day is a program coordinated by the Elrod Center each semester that encourages Ouachitonians to give back to the city of Arkadelphia. This year’s theme is “Serve Arkadelphia,” which aptly describes this program’s purpose.

Ouachita Students Honored, Published In Journal Of Essays, Sarah Davis, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Language and Literature honored students on Aug. 30 for having their essays chosen for publication in its annual Assayers journal.

Assayers 26 is the 2017-2018 edition of the journal. Students submit their essays to the Department of Language and Literature each year for a panel of judges to read and rank their work. The journal allows students to share their ideas, experiences and research with the university community. The journal is used as a teaching tool in writing classes at Ouachita, and winning writers receive cash awards.

Ouachita Students Produce "The J.R. Eldridge Show", Addy Goodman, Ouachita News Bureau

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With the kick-off of the first Arkadelphia Badger football game Sept. 1, Ouachita Baptist University students entered their 23^rd season of producing the high school football coach’s show.

This year’s show is hosted by Caleb Byrd, a sophomore mass communications, Spanish and political science triple major from Little Rock, Ark., and produced by Kevin Barnard, a senior mass communications major from Hot Springs, Ark. The J.R. Eldridge Show features highlights from each Badger game until the end of their season.

Ouachita Cited As Top Private University In State, Ranked Among "Best For The Money" Nationally, Trennis Henderson, Ouachita News Bureau

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Earning recognition as the top private university in Arkansas as well as being listed nationally among “Best for the Money” universities, Ouachita Baptist University continues to be ranked among the nation’s top universities by Forbes magazine, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today/CollegeFactual.com and Niche.com.

This year’s state and national rankings for Ouachita include being:

• Ranked as the No. 1 private university in Arkansas by Niche.com. Ouachita also was cited as the top university in the state by Niche in several other categories, including best liberal arts college, best Christian college, best small college, best value and safest …

Ouachita Marks 17.9 Percent Increase Among First-Time Freshmen For 2017, Trennis Henderson

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Welcoming 448 first-time freshmen to campus this fall – a 17.9 percent gain over the previous year’s incoming class – Ouachita Baptist University marked one of its largest year-to-year freshman class increases in recent history.

“The significant growth reflects a surge in middle-income families as well as stronger ACT and GPA scores, reflecting our commitments to affordability and excellence,” said President Ben Sells. “Students are attracted to Ouachita’s Christian liberal arts mission, personalized approach and high-impact learning that contribute to exceptional graduate school acceptance and job placement rates.”

Ouachita Professor Nathan Reyna Invited To National Science Foundation-Funded Mentor Program, Katie Smith, Ouachita News Bureau

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Dr. Nathan Reyna, Ouachita Baptist University’s associate professor of biology, has been selected to participate in the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) mentor program, CURE Net.

Dr. Reyna will have the opportunity to serve as a mentor to other science professors in the country and teach them how to run course-embedded undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) in their own institutions. This program mirrors several programs Ouachita’s J.D. Patterson School of Natural Sciences already sponsors, which is among the reasons Dr. Reyna was invited to participate.

Exhibit Featuring Works By Bierstadt, Kertesz, Moran Opens At Ouachita Sept. 1-27, Katie Smith, Tyler Rosenthal, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Rosemary Adams Department of Visual Arts will host an exhibit featuring selections from the university’s permanent collection Sept. 1-27, including original works by prominent artists Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran. The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Rosemary Gossett Adams Galleries, located in Moses Provine Hall on Ouachita’s campus.

Ouachita Faculty And Staff Honored For Combined 575 Years Of Service, Ouachita News Bureau

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Gathering for Ouachita Baptist University’s annual Faculty/Staff Banquet, the university recently honored 29 faculty and staff members who have served a combined total of 575 years at Ouachita. Among the longtime faculty and staff members honored, Clark Kuyper and David Sharp were recognized for 35 years of service each.

“Congratulations to our 29 faculty and staff members who were honored for significant service milestones,” said Ouachita President Ben Sells. “Ouachita is known for its commitment to a love of God and a love of learning. Our dedicated faculty and staff are deeply involved in modeling and instilling those values as …

Ouachita Senior Shelby Burchfield Honored At Summer Undergrad Research Symposium, Trennis Henderson, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University senior Shelby Burchfield, a biology major from Benton, Ark., was among students from central Arkansas who were recognized for their summer research projects at the recent Central Arkansas Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.

Burchfield, who was honored for her poster presentation about antibiotics, worked under the supervision of Dr. Ruth Plymale, associate professor of biology. Burchfield’s work was part of Ouachita’s Patterson Summer Research Program which provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to work one-on-one with faculty members on research projects at a level typically available only in …

Ouachita's Called 2 Ministry Retreat Attracts 150 Students And Leaders, Trennis Henderson, Ouachita News Bureau

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Helping equip the next generation of Christian ministers, Ouachita Baptist University recently hosted its inaugural Called 2 Ministry Retreat.

A total of 90 high school students interested in exploring a call to Christian ministry gathered for the July 28-29 retreat on Ouachita’s Arkadelphia campus. Participants included 52 high school students from across Arkansas as well as students from Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

Ouachita's Annual Spotlight On Arkadelphia Set For Aug. 22, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s annual Spotlight on Arkadelphia community and service fair is set for Tuesday, Aug. 22, the first day of the 2017 fall semester. It will be held from 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Heflin Plaza and the Student Village circle.

The annual event draws hundreds of Ouachita students, faculty and staff, providing area businesses, churches and organizations the opportunity to interact with the Ouachita community. It is hosted by Ouachita’s Elrod Center for Family and Community.

Ouachita Riley-Hickingbotham Library's Special Collections Earns National Award, Trennis Henderson

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The Arkansas Baptist History Collection of Ouachita Baptist University’s Riley-Hickingbotham Library Archives and Special Collections has been honored with the Baptist History and Heritage Society’s 2017 Davis C. Woolley Award for Outstanding Achievement in Assessing and Preserving Baptist History.

The national award honors the work of Dr. Wendy Richter, Ouachita professor and archivist, and her staff who coordinated the Special Collections project. The award was announced recently at the annual conference of the Baptist History and Heritage Society, hosted by First Baptist Church of Augusta, Ga., in partnership with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia.

“It is indeed an honor …

Ouachita Trustees Adopt 201718 Budget, Five-Year Enrollment Goals, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

Hearing positive reports about a projected increase in fall enrollment and significant growth in fundraising, Ouachita Baptist University’s Board of Trustees also adopted a 2017-18 budget and approved five-year enrollment goals during their June 8 summer meeting on campus.

Noting that “we’re continuing to think about the future of Ouachita,” President Ben Sells emphasized that “growing and strengthening the university – dreaming a larger dream for Ouachita – requires considerable work by faculty, staff and trustees and significant support by alumni and friends.”

Ouachita Professor Detri Brech Named To Endowed Chair By University Trustees, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University trustees addressed a number of personnel-related actions during their summer board meeting June 8 on Ouachita’s Arkadelphia campus, including naming a professor to an endowed chair and approving several faculty and staff positions.

Trustees named Dr. Detri Brech, professor of dietetics in the Patterson School of Natural Sciences, to the Charles S. and Elma Grey Goodwin Holt Chair of Dietetics and Pre-Medical Studies. The endowed chair was established in 1987 through a generous bequest from the estate of Dr. Charles S. Holt, a 1930 Ouachita graduate. Dr. Brech, who has taught at Ouachita since 2000, is a …

Ouachita Office Of Communication Earns Five National Awards From Baptist Communicators Association, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Office of Communications staff earned five national awards, including a pair of first place honors in marketing and design, during Baptist Communicators Association’s 2017 Wilmer C. Fields Awards Competition. The winners were announced at an awards banquet held in conjunction with BCA’s annual workshop in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Baptist Communicators Association is the professional development organization of professional communicators serving at Baptist universities, mission boards, state conventions, newspapers, children’s homes and related ministry organizations. The annual awards competition “is designed to encourage professional excellence among association members and to recognize those members who have done exemplary work,” …

Ouachita To Host Called 2 Ministry Retreat For High School Students On July 28-29, Ouachita News Bureau

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Have you sensed a call to Christian ministry? Are you interested in learning more about diverse ministry opportunities?

Ouachita Baptist University is hosting a Called 2 Ministry Retreat on Friday and Saturday, July 28-29 on Ouachita’s Arkadelphia campus. The unique two-day retreat is designed for high school students who sense God has called them into some area of vocational ministry or are interested in exploring the various areas of ministry available in today’s world.

The two-day retreat is co-sponsored by Ouachita, The Prestonwood Network, Cross Church School of Ministry and the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Keynote speakers include Jarrett Stephens, …

Ouachita Honors 293 Graduates At 130th Spring Commencement, Brooke Zimny, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University celebrated 293 graduates during its 130^th spring commencement on Saturday, May 13, with university officials conferring Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Associate of Arts degrees. Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita president, presided over the annual commencement exercises.

“Class of 2017, congratulations!” Dr. Sells said in his commencement address. “You completed a rigorous liberal arts program. You studied with talented faculty and worked alongside committed staff. You served your classmates, your campus, your community. … You worked hard. You had fun. You made lifelong friends. …

Thirty-Seven Ouachita Students Named To Who's Who, Sarah Davis, Ouachita News Bureau

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Thirty-seven students from Ouachita Baptist University will be included in the latest edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

The students were chosen by OBU’s faculty, staff and the 2017 senior class based on their academic performance, leadership in extracurricular activities, community service and potential for success.

Caroline Dunlap Wins Ouachita's 2017 Virginia Queen Piano Competition, Kacy Earnest Spears, Ouachita News Bureau

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Caroline Dunlap, a senior from Little Rock, Ark., won Ouachita Baptist University’s recent Virginia Queen Piano Competition.

A piano performance major and student of Dr. Adam Haas, visiting assistant professor of music, Dunlap earned $500 for her winning performances of “Prelude in D major, Op. 23 No. 4” by Sergei Rachmaninoff and “Sonatine, Animé” by Maurice Ravel.

“The Rachmaninoff ‘Prelude in D major’ was, by far, my favorite piece this semester, and I was excited to be able to share it with people during the competition,” said Dunlap, who averaged three to six hours of practice a day throughout most …

Five Ouachita Retirees Honored For Combined Total Of 133 Years Of Service, Trennis Henderson, Ouachita News Bureau

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Five retiring faculty and staff members with a combined total of more than 130 years of service to Ouachita Baptist University were honored during a campus retirement reception held May 3 in Walker Conference Center.

The honorees included Dr. Joe Jeffers, professor emeritus of chemistry, who taught 46 years at his alma mater; Charolette Allison, executive secretary to the president emerita, who served with six Ouachita presidents over 31 years; Julia Jones, assistant professor emerita of Spanish, who taught at Ouachita for 16 years; Jacque Cash who served 21 years in the campus post office; and Vicki Crossno who served …

Ouachita Students Present Research To State Legislators At Stem Posters At The Capitol, Katie Smith, Ouachita News Bureau

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A group of 10 Ouachita Baptist University students and three faculty members participated in the annual STEM Posters at the Capitol event held recently in Little Rock. They were among 110 undergraduate students who presented at the event, which highlights undergraduate research in natural sciences and math to elected state officials.

Dr. Detri Brech, professor of dietetics, as well as Dr. Nathan Reyna and Dr. Ruth Plymale, associate professors of biology, accompanied the students, who presented seven posters to high school students, other undergraduate students and professors, the media and Arkansas government officials at the capitol in Little Rock. Fifteen …

Ouachita Enactus Team Named Regional Champions, Advances To Nationals, Sarah Davis, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Enactus team was named champion at its annual regional competition recently in Dallas, Texas. The team will compete May 21-23 at the Enactus National Exposition in Kansas City, Kan. The competition includes five leagues with seven teams each that compete against each other. The top four teams in each league move on to nationals. The teams prepare a script and video and select a team of students to present.

“Throughout the year we push ourselves to create the best solutions to problems that we encounter and make sure that we document everything along the way,” said OBU …

Ouachita Honors Student Achievements At Annual Academic Awards Banquet, Ouachita News Bureau

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More than 100 students from Ouachita Baptist University were recently honored at the university’s 2017 Academic Awards Banquet. The event recognized various academic and leadership achievements of the students throughout the past academic year. The annual banquet is sponsored by Ouachita’s Student Senate.

Three Ouachita Students Honored As Finalists At Governor's Cup Business Plan Competition, Katie Smith, Ouachita News Bureau

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Three Ouachita Baptist University students recently were recognized as finalists in the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup business plan competition in Little Rock, Ark. These students competed against other students from universities around the state for cash prizes and a chance to compete in the Tri-State Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup competition in Las Vegas later in May.

Jake Edmondson, a junior biomedical sciences major from Benton, Ark.; Cole Jester, a senior Christian studies and political science double major from Benton, Ark.; and Evan McKinnon, a senior accounting major from El Dorado, Ark.; competed together with their business plan for …

Ouachita To Hold 130th Spring Commencement Ceremony May 13, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University will hold its 130th spring commencement exercises on Saturday, May 13, at 9:30 a.m. on the front lawn of the university’s historic Cone-Bottoms Hall. The ceremony will honor 293 graduates earning degrees including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education and Associate of Arts degrees.

Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita president, will preside over the annual commencement exercises. Dr. Ray Granade, director of library services and professor of history, and Dr. Mike Reynolds, professor of kinesiology and leisure studies, will serve as commencement marshals. Honorary marshals are Dr. …

Scholars Day Program Of Events 2017, Carl Goodson Honors Program

Scholars Day

No abstract provided.

Ouachita To Host Annual One-Act Play Festival May 4-5, Hannah Hines, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will host its annual One-Act Play Festival on Thursday and Friday, May 4-5. The performances, which are free and open to the public, will be held in Verser Theatre at 7:30 p.m. both nights.

A total of six one acts will be performed throughout the weekend, with three on each night. All of the shows are directed by senior theatre majors enrolled in the play directing class, a capstone course for a theatre degree.

Joy Estes Wins Ouachita's 2017 Student Juried Art Exhibit, Sarah Davis, Ouachita News Bureau

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Joy Estes, a freshman studio art major from Morrilton, Ark., won Ouachita Baptist University’s 2017 Student Juried Art Exhibit, which was sponsored by the OBU Art Club. The exhibit was on display April 17-26 in Ouachita’s Hammons Gallery.