Education Commons^™

Ouachita Trustees Celebrate Campaign Milestone, Authorize Feasibility Study For New Nursing Degree, Trennis Henderson, Ouachita News Bureau

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Convening Ouachita Baptist University’s first Board of Trustees meeting since the election of Dr. Ben Sells as OBU’s 16^th president, trustees addressed a number of key issues, ranging from a major fundraising milestone to a nursing feasibility study.

As trustees gathered on campus June 9 for their summer meeting, Board Chairman Jay Heflin affirmed that university leaders are “thankful to usher in the Ben Sells era at Ouachita Baptist University.”

“It’s a privilege for me to be here in this role,” Dr. Sells responded. “I think we can and we will dream a larger dream that honors God, that …

278 Ouachita Students Named To President’S List, Ouachita News Bureau

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A total of 278 students at Ouachita Baptist University were named to the President’s List for the spring 2016 semester.

To be named to the President’s List, a student must compile a 4.0 grade point average and be classified as a full-time student, with a minimum of 12 academic hours.

Ouachita Honors Three Retirees With Combined Total Of 70 Years Of Service, Trennis Henderson, Ouachita News Bureau

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Three retiring faculty and staff members with a combined total of more than 70 years of service to Ouachita Baptist University were honored during a recent campus retirement reception.

The honorees included Dr. Hal Bass, professor emeritus of social sciences, who taught 40 years at Ouachita; Kathy Fendley, who served 14 years in building services; and Suzetta Glenn, who served nine years as a lecturer in music.

Ouachita Office Of Communications Earns 11 State And National Awards, Ouachita News Bureau

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Honoring diverse communications projects produced over the past year, Ouachita’s Office of Communications staff recently earned 11 state and national awards from three professional communications organizations.

This year’s honors included seven national awards from Baptist Communicators Association and one from Collegiate Advertising Awards as well as three statewide awards from the Arkansas chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators.

Ouachita Honors 331 Graduates, Awards Honorary Doctorate To Larry Kircher, Trennis Henderson, Ouachita News Bureau

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Celebrating Ouachita Baptist University’s 129^th spring commencement on May 14, university officials conferred a total of 337 degrees on 331 graduates, including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees as well as Ouachita’s first Associate of Arts degrees earned through the university’s Ouachita at New Life Church program.

This year’s graduating class featured 142 honor graduates, including 21 who graduated summa cum laude with a grade point average of 3.95 or higher, 54 who graduated magna cum laude (3.75 GPA) and 67 who graduated cum laude (3.5 …

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 2016 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. Student Senate President Josh Rubin, a senior biology major from Dallas, Texas, presided over the event.

Forty-Four Ouachita Students Named To Who’S Who, Rachel Gaddis, Anna Hurst, Ouachita News Bureau

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Forty-four Ouachita Baptist University students have been selected for inclusion in the latest edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

These students were chosen for Who’s Who by OBU’s faculty, staff and the 2016 senior class based on their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success.

Ouachita To Hold 2016 Spring Commencement Ceremony May 14, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University will hold its 129th spring commencement exercises on Saturday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m. on the front lawn of the university’s historic Cone-Bottoms Hall. The ceremony will honor 331 graduates earning degrees including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees as well as Ouachita’s first Associate of Arts degrees earned through the university’s Ouachita at New Life Church program.

Ouachita Biology Students Represent Arkansas On Capitol Hill, Rachel Gaddis, Ouachita News Bureau

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A Ouachita Baptist University research team presented their findings to members of Congress at the 20th annual Posters on the Hill event in Washington, D.C. Heidi Hughes and John Givler represented OBU on Capitol Hill among 60 undergraduate research groups from across the nation. Nearly 400 schools nationwide applied to attend the event, and Ouachita was the only university selected from the state of Arkansas.

Posters on the Hill is hosted by the Council of Undergraduate Research, a national non-profit organization that promotes “high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship.”

Obu Students Win Agriculture Award At Donald W. Reynolds Governor’S Cup, Anna Hurst, Ouachita News Bureau

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L.B. Hudson and Evan McKinnon took first place in the agricultural division of the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition with their entry AGcorp. The competition was held March 31-April 1, with an awards ceremony in Little Rock Tuesday, April 19. Two other Ouachita teams also competed at the statewide competition.

Hudson, a senior accounting and business administration/finance major from El Dorado, Ark., and McKinnon, a junior accounting and business/finance major from El Dorado, Ark., earned a $5,000 cash prize along with their award.

Horton Wins 39th Annual Virginia Queen Piano Competition At Ouachita, Meaghan Pollizi, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University junior Joanna Horton from Arkadelphia, Ark., was named first place winner of the 39th annual Virginia Queen Competition for Excellence in Piano Performance, hosted by Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts on April 30.

Horton, a music major, won first place and a $500 cash prize for her performance of the first movement of Muzio Clementi's “Sonata Op. 47, No. 2,” and "Dreaming," from “Four Sketches” by Amy Beach. Horton is a piano student of Dr. Adam Haas, visiting assistant professor of music.

Obu Professor Terry Dewitt Named To Arkansas Athletic Trainers Association Hall Of Fame, Meaghan Pollizi, Ouachita News Bureau

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No abstract provided.

Ouachita Students, Faculty Earn Top Honors At Alpha Chi National Convention, Rachel Gaddis, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University students and faculty earned numerous top honors at the recent Alpha Chi national honor society convention in Alexandria, Va. An OBU student research team won the Collaborative Research Award, the largest prize of the convention, for the second consecutive year. Junior Jace Bradshaw earned one of two national Edwin W. Gaston, Jr. Scholarships for undergraduate research as well as the Region II Scholarship and was elected as a Region II student delegate to the national council. Dr. Lori Hensley earned one of two national Outstanding Sponsor Awards and was elected president of Region II.

Jace Bradshaw, Stoni …

Russell To Present Senior Vocal Performance Recital At Ouachita May 3, Anna Hurst, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will present Seth Russell in his senor voice recital Tuesday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. The recital, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. A reception will follow the recital in Hammons Gallery.

Russell, a senior vocal performance major from Crossett, Ark., is a three-time National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) regional finalist and a two-time NATS state finalist. He has held three lead roles in the Ouachita opera performances and is a young artist for The OperaMaya Foundation in Mexico …

Ouachita To Present One-Act Play Festival May 5-6, Ali Robinson, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will host its student-directed One-Act Play Festival on Thursday and Friday, May 5-6, at in Verser Theatre. Thursday’s performances will begin at 8 p.m., and Friday’s performances will begin at 7 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public.

The One-Acts are a project for students enrolled in a directing course who are working to complete a theatre degree. Ten one-act plays will be performed over the two-day festival.

Ouachita Singers And Women’S Chorus To Perform At Ouachita May 2, Elizabeth Baker, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University will host the Ouachita Singers and Women’s Chorus in concert on Monday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. The concert will be free and open to the public and will be professionally recorded for a new CD due for release in the fall.

Ouachita Singers includes 39 students who rehearse three times weekly to prepare for their performances. The group is under the direction of Dr. Gary Gerber, dean of the School of Fine Arts.

Ouachita’S Annual Elrod Awards Celebrate Community Service, Anna Hurst, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Elrod Center for Family and Community honored Rachel Wicker with the Cargill Leadership Fund Award at its annual University Community Service Awards banquet April 19. Many Ouachita students, faculty and staff were also commended for their service and community leadership during the past year.

“Tonight we celebrate lives of service,” said Judy Duvall, assistant director of the Elrod Center, welcoming those in attendance. “You are here tonight because serving is an integral part of your life, and when we honor you tonight, we are also honoring God, since your service reflects His character.”

“One of the mandates …

Ouachita’S Allison Austin To Present Sophomore Recital April 29, Rachel Gaddis, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host Allison Austin in her sophomore recital on Friday, April 29, at 11 a.m. The performance will be held in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall and is free and open to the public.

Austin, a sophomore musical theatre major from Mena, Ark., is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor society, Sigma Alpha Iota international music fraternity for women and the Student National Association of Teachers of Singing. She is also involved in Women’s Chorus and performed in Ouachita’s 2015 Muse Project theatre production, …

Ouachita’S Yearbook Recognized As Top In The State, Rachel Gaddis, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Ouachitonian yearbook was recognized by the Arkansas College Media Association (ACMA) as the top yearbook in the state with the first place award in General Excellence for yearbooks. The publication was recognized at ACMA’s recent annual convention, hosted this year by the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. The Ouachitonian and Ouachita’s student newspaper, The Signal, earned a total of 40 group and individual awards.

ACMA is an organization of collegiate newspaper, yearbook, online, magazine and television staffs from across the state. All Arkansas university publications compete in the awards regardless of the university’s size.

Ouachita’S Tiger Steel To Present Spring Concert May 4, Anna Hurst, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University will host the Tiger Steel Drum Ensemble in its spring concert May 4 in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. The concert will be held at 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Founded in 2013, Tiger Steel includes both music and non-music majors.

Ouachita Baptist To Host 39th Annual Virginia Queen Piano Competition April 30, Meaghan Pollizi, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts will host the 39th annual Virginia Queen Piano Competition on Saturday, April 30, at 3 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall in OBU’s Mabee Fine Arts Center. The competition is free and open to the public.

Participants will each perform two pieces in different styles from memory. The competition was established by Virginia Queen, professor emerita of music, who taught piano at Ouachita for more than 40 years.

Ouachita To Host Abbey Fowler’S Senior Art Exhibit April 25-May 14, Ali Robinson, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts will host the senior art exhibit of Abbey Fowler, a senior graphic design, mass communications and French triple major from Arkadelphia, Ark., from April 25-May 14 in Hammons Gallery, located in OBU’s Mabee Fine Arts Center. The exhibit is free and open to the public. A reception also will be held Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m.

Fowler’s exhibit, titled “Association,” will showcase an array of works inspired by the various interests in which she was involved throughout her years at Ouachita. The exhibit will focus heavily on graphic design, but also will …

Retired U.S. Ambassador David Greenlee Presents Birkett Williams Lecture At Ouachita, Rachel Gaddis, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University recently hosted retired U.S. Ambassador David Greenlee as a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow. During his stay April 4-6 Greenlee led discussions in both honors and faculty colloquiums, spoke in several classes and presented the Birkett Williams Lecture.

The Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows, a program which brings prominent and diverse professionals to college campuses, coordinated Greenlee’s visit. Greenlee served as U.S. ambassador to Bolivia (2003-06) and Paraguay (2000-03) and spent a total of 32 years in foreign service.

Obu Professor Dr. Craig Hamilton Earns National Award Honoring Career Of Excellence, Anna Hurst, Ouachita News Bureau

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Dr. Craig Hamilton, Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music at Ouachita Baptist University, recently received the Association of Concert Bands’ (ACB) Herbert L. and Jean Schultz Mentor Ideal Award.

"Dr. Craig Hamilton is a well-deserving professor of this award,” said Dr. Gary Gerber, dean of Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts. “He has been a leader and mentor to several students and faculty during his tenure at Ouachita.”

Perri Adcock And Lauren Scarbrough To Present Senior Art Exhibit At Ouachita April 25-May 6, Anna Hurst, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts will host Perri Adcock and Lauren Scarbrough’s senior art exhibit April 25-May 6. Their exhibit will be held in the Rosemary Gossett Adams Gallery on the second floor of Moses-Provine Hall. The exhibit is free and open to the public. A reception for both seniors also will be held in the gallery on Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m.

Senior exhibits are presented by students of the visual arts department both to fulfill a degree requirement and to display the work they have created during their time at Ouachita.

Ouachita Concert Choir To Perform Hayes’ Requiem And Te Deum April 28, Caitlyn Barker, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Concert Choir will perform Mark Hayes’ Requiem and Te Deum on Thursday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at www.obu.edu/boxoffice.

The performance will be “an uplifting, exhilarating and worshipful musical experience,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, chair of Ouachita’s Department of Applied Music and director of the choir. “The music of Mark Hayes has immediate appeal for the tastes of our student musicians and audience members alike.”

Ouachita To Host Composers Symposium April 25, Caitlyn Barker, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University will hold a Composers Symposium on Monday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. The symposium will be free and open to the public.

The Composers Symposium will feature the original compositions of several students. Music composition students spend several weeks and months working on and perfecting their pieces to prepare them for performance.

Ouachita’S School Of Fine Arts To Present “Footloose The Musical” April 21-24, Rachel Gaddis, Ouachita News Bureau

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No abstract provided.

Dr. Ben Sells Unanimously Elected 16th President Of Ouachita Baptist University, Trennis Henderson

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Ushering in a new era of leadership at Ouachita Baptist University, trustees unanimously elected Dr. Ben R. Sells as Ouachita’s 16^th president during a special called meeting April 7. He will begin serving this month as president-elect and officially will assume the presidency effective June 1.

Dr. Sells, who has extensive leadership experience in higher education, fundraising and missions involvement, recently served more than nine years as vice president for university advancement at Taylor University in Upland, Ind. Directing record fundraising efforts during his tenure at Taylor, Dr. Sells also had responsibilities for university strategic planning. Taylor has been …

Ouachita Honors Patty Jones As Support Staff Member Of The Year, Rachel Gaddis, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Staff Development Committee along with interim president Dr. Charles Wright recently named Patty Jones the Support Staff Member of the Year. Jones, who has worked for Ouachita 17 years, is a student account specialist and veterans affairs certifying officer in the Office of Student Financial Services.

The Support Staff Member of the Year Award is presented annually to a member of Ouachita’s support staff who demonstrates outstanding performance in his or her job, relates positively to students, co-workers and the general public and who supports the mission of university. The Staff Development Committee reviews all nominations before …