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Ouachita Students Named To Fall 2023 Dean's List, Office Of Communications & Marketing

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Ouachita Baptist University has named more than 395 students to its Dean’s List for Fall 2023.

To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must compile a 3.5–3.9 grade point average and be classified as a full-time student, with a minimum of 12 academic hours and no incomplete or failing grade for the semester.

Ouachita Baptist University, a private liberal arts university, is in its 138th year as a Christ-centered learning community and is ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report. Ouachita continues to break enrollment records, reporting its highest headcount in 57 years during the Fall 2023 …

Ouachita Senior Rebekah Wendt Presents Research At Acs National Meeting, Addie Woods, Office Of Communications & Marketing

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During the American Chemical Society national meeting, held March 26-30 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Ouachita senior Rebekah Wendt presented findings based on her research using polymers to prepare core-shell nanofibers.

Wendt, a chemistry major from Haworth, Okla., was awarded a Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in December 2021 to conduct her research. She also presented her findings at the Southwest Regional Meeting of the ACS in Baton Rouge, La., in November.

Ouachita Finance Students Earn National Award For Management Of Ary Student Investment Fund, Addie Woods, Office Of Communications & Marketing

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A team of finance students from Ouachita Baptist University placed second at the annual Quinnipiac Global Asset Management Education Forum held March 30-31 in New York City. Ouachita was awarded second place in the undergraduate core portfolio category for 2022 risk-adjusted return on the group’s management of the Ary Student Investment Fund, a $2 million stock portfolio.

Blum Wins First Place In Student Juried Art Show At Ouachita, Kaelin Clay, Office Of Communications & Marketing

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Ouachita Baptist University sophomore Tori Blum, a studio art major from McKinney, Texas, earned first place in the university’s 2023 Student Juried Art Show. Winners were announced during a reception held on April 26 in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s Hammons Art Gallery to open the show. Sponsored by the Ouachita Art Club, the exhibit features the work of 15 students – including Blum – and will be on display in Hammons Gallery through Oct. 6. It is free and open to the public.

Blum created a ceramics piece titled “Balance” for her Ceramics I course in Fall 2022 and entered …

Ouachita Student Media Honored Among The Best Locally, Nationally, Felley Lawson, Office Of Communications & Marketing

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Ouachita Baptist University student media have earned 82 awards for excellence, including seven national and 38 state awards for the Ouachitonian yearbook and 37 state awards for the Signal newspaper, Ouachita Sports Digital Network, online media, and television coverage.

The 2022 Ouachitonian was honored with a Pacemaker Award from the Associated Collegiate Press. Announced in March during the ACP National College Media Conference in San Francisco, the Pacemaker is one of the oldest nationwide awards for college journalism. Additionally, the Ouachitonian was awarded the All-American distinction in the ACP’s annual critique service of student publications. Marks of Distinction were earned …

Ouachita Senior Joshua Spiva Publishes Research Paper In "Polymers", Addie Woods, Office Of Communications & Marketing

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Joshua Spiva, a senior biomedical sciences and chemistry double major from Magnet Cove, Ark., published a research paper in the scientific journal, “Polymers.”

The paper, titled “Electrospinning Drug-Loaded Alginate-Based Nanofibers towards Developing a Drug Release Rate Catalog,” details the results of Spiva’s research on creating a catalog to help biomedical scientists understand how drugs release from certain materials. He worked for more than 2 ½ years on the project with Dr. Sharon Hamilton, associate professor of chemistry at Ouachita, to complete research that Hamilton began with students at Delta State University, where she was an assistant professor of chemistry before …

Ouachita Students Win Multiple Awards At Midwest Model United Nations Conference, Addie Woods, Ouachita News Bureau

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Seven students from Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Political Science participated in the Midwest Model United Nations, held Feb. 22-25 in St. Louis, Mo. Each received recognition for excellence.

Ouachita’s delegates were Caroline Derby, a senior communications & media/multimedia and political science double major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; Katie Henry, a junior political science and history double major from Little Rock, Ark.; Elise Hicks, a senior political science major from Benton, Ark.; Noah Sanders, a senior Christian studies/biblical studies & theology and political science double major from Little Rock, Ark.; Sarah Spakes, a senior political science and public history double major …

Courtney Ragsdell Receives Bsn Young Leadership Award, Kaitlyn Stoddard, Ouachita News Bureau

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Courtney Myers Ragsdell, a senior nursing major at Ouachita Baptist University, received the 2022 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Young Leadership Award as a part of the “40 Nurse Leaders Under 40” leadership program from the Arkansas Center for Nursing, Inc.

The ACN presents this award to the top five BSN students in the state, recognizing recipients for their commitment to service, dedication and leadership for the advancement of nursing in Arkansas.

Ragsdell, from Kansas City, Mo., received her award in the fall during a ceremony held at the Benton Event Center.

Three Ouachita Seniors Intern For U.S. Sen. John Boozman, Addie Woods, Ouachita News Bureau

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Three students from Ouachita Baptist University completed a five-week congressional internship for U.S. Sen. John Boozman this summer. Noah Sanders, a senior political science and Christian studies double major from Little Rock, Ark., and Sarah Spakes, a senior political science and public history double major from Benton, Ark., interned in Boozman’s Washington, D.C., office while Kathryn Totty, a senior political science and communications & media double major from Camden, Ark., interned in Boozman’s El Dorado office.

Learning To Serve (New Undergrad Programs Equip For Careers That Invest In People), Felley Lawson, Office Of Communications & Marketing

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Equipping students to integrate faith and career as they build lives of meaningful work is a priority at Ouachita. And this fall, brand-new tools will be available to help them.

Ouachita has approved new undergraduate degree pathways for Fall 2022 in order to better support students following a call to pursue a profession that invests in others. Additions to the curriculum include a pre-counseling program of study, a Christian foundations co-major and new clinical and human services emphases within the community and family services major, as well as a dual degree program to prepare students for careers in psychiatric nursing.

Hartsell Awarded Mid-America Regional Emmy For Battle Of The Ravine Video Essay, Kaitlyn Stoddard, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University junior Chase Hartsell was awarded a Regional EMMYⓇ for his video essay about the Ouachita-Henderson State University football rivalry Battle of the Ravine, titled “A November Morn.” The award was presented to him by the Mid-America chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) at the 46th annual Regional EMMYⓇ Gala on Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch in St. Louis, Mo.

According to John Paul, chair of the NATAS Mid-America education committee, the Mid-America chapter honors high school and college students with awards called crystal pillars that …

From The "Ouachitonian": Wyatt House, Angela Webb, Ouachita News Bureau

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Leaving all other sports behind, Wyatt House decided to pursue powerlifting. House, a freshman biomedical sciences major from Little Rock, Ark., achieved first place in the 90kg USPA for his junior class in April 2021. He held the state record deadlift of 507 lbs. His current personal records include 430 pounds in squats, 245 pounds in bench press and 585 pounds in deadlifts.

From The "Ouachitonian": Valeria Gomez, Angela Webb, Ouachita News Bureau

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One thing that high school does not teach in classes is what happens when your dreams do not work out. Valeria Gomez, a junior communications & media/multimedia journalism major from Alajuela, Costa Rica, has a testimony that encompasses this challenging path she had to navigate.

Parsons Wins First Place In Student Juried Art Show At Ouachita, Abigail Blankenship, Ouachita News Bureau

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Jill Parsons was named winner of the 2022 Student Juried Art Show sponsored by the Art Club at Ouachita Baptist University. An exhibit featuring works created by students and entered in the juried competition is on display in the Hammons Art Gallery in Mabee Fine Arts Center on Ouachita’s campus. The exhibit is free and open to the public through Oct. 8.

Parsons is a junior graphic design and communications & media/strategic communications double major from Celina, Texas. She earned first-place honors in the competition for her ceramics piece “Hercules and Hydra,” which features an octopus encompassing a coil pot, …

What Does That Student-Faculty Ratio Number Mean? Mentors Abound., Michael Burge, Ouachita News Bureau

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In my opinion, one of the best things Ouachita has to offer is that it is a university of roughly 1,500 on-campus students and with a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. What that means when you yourself are a Ouachita student is that you’ll have great opportunities for mentor relationships with your teachers.

Dear Furture Freshmen…: Advice For Your First Few Weeks Of Freshmen Year, Anna Weyenberg, Ouachita News Bureau

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I loved my freshman experience at Ouachita, and there’s not a lot that I would change. During that year, I grew closer to the Lord as I navigated through new friendships, experiences and challenges.

What Not To Buy: A Common-Sense Guide To Dorm-Room Purchases, Katie Kemp, Ouachita News Bureau

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When I was about to move in as a freshman at Ouachita, I was over-prepared and overwhelmed. I got sucked into buying all the things I thought I would need and wound up with more clutter than space.

Getting To Where You Want To Go: 2022 Commencement Address, Ben R. Sells, Ouachita News Bureau

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Last academic year, Ouachita was one of the few universities to provide a fully in-person education. As we prepared for this year, we challenged ourselves to provide all the benefits of a traditional campus experience.In this effort to provide the typical in the least typical of times, we called on our seniors—the only class who remembered a year without COVID—to restore and revive the traditions that make Ouachita, Ouachita. You, our seniors, rose to the occasion, and I will forever be grateful for you, for the leadership you demonstrated and the example you set.

Ouachita's Elrod Center Hosts Annual Volunteer Awards Banquet, Julie Shands, Ouachita News Bureau

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The Ben M. Elrod Center for Family and Community at Ouachita Baptist University held its annual University Community Service Awards banquet on Tuesday, April 12, in Walker Conference Center. The banquet honors volunteers and their service through programs organized by the Elrod Center.

Jaymee Dotson On Pace For Extended Reign, Brian Ramsey, Office Of Communications & Marketing

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When Jaymee Dotson takes the field in the fall of 2022 for Ouachita women’s soccer, she has a chance to accomplish a feat that no one else has.

The Princeton, Texas, native has been the best midfielder in the Great American Conference since her freshman season, a claim supported by the league’s head coaches with four consecutive first team all-conference selections. This past season, she was a unanimous first team selection and was the unanimous pick for the league’s midfielder of the year award. She also earned all- region honors from a pair of organizations, and was selected to the …

A Vision For Change Energizes Di Grad Student Latina Robinson, Mackenzie Hall, Ouachita News Bureau

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In March 2016, Latina Robinson, a Dietetic Internship graduate student from North Little Rock, Ark., lost her grandmother to Type 2 diabetes—a deadly disease that, according to the Centers for Disease Control, affects 37.3 million people in the United States.

Ouachita Junior Izzy Baughn Wins Award At Midwest United Nations Conference, Julie Shands, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University student Izzy Baughn, a junior communications & media/strategic communications and political science double major from Jonesboro, Ark., earned an award for Best Position Paper in the United Nations Environmental Assembly during the Midwest Model United Nations, held Feb. 23–26 in St. Louis, Mo. Ouachita’s team also earned an honorable mention award for Best Delegation.

In addition to Baughn, Ouachita’s student delegation to the Model UN included Maddie Bailey, a senior political science major from Bauxite, Ark.; Caroline Derby, a junior communications & media/multimedia journalism and political science double major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; and Anna Roussel, a senior …

Ouachita Chemistry Students Clower, Mccoy Named Arkansas Academy Of Science Grant Recipients, Claire Phillips, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University chemistry students Cori Clower and Aiiryel McCoy, both of Little Rock, have been chosen as two of the four students statewide to receive undergraduate student research grants from the Arkansas Academy of Science (AAS). AAS funds grants of up to $1,000 each spring to assist students with purchasing supplies for their research projects.

Both Clower and McCoy authored their own grant proposals, which were approved for funding and announced at the AAS in April 2021. Clower, a junior biomedical sciences major, and McCoy, a senior chemistry major, are conducting their respective research projects over the course of …

When A Part-Time Job Feeds A Passion And Prepares For A Career, Mackenzie Hall, Ouachita News Bureau

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Hannah Martin, a senior psychology and business administration/management double major from Conway, Ark., always knew she wanted to serve the special needs community. Becoming a registered behavior technician (RBT) as a part-time job while pursuing her undergraduate degree provided her the opportunity to do just this.

From The "Ouachitonian": Dawson Bray, Madi Darr, Ouachita News Bureau

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Being in love with the music industry gave Dawson Bray, senior music industry major from Little Rock, the drive to succeed as a musician. Bray decided to spend his pandemic summer in Nashville, Tenn., as an intern at the music label SSM Nashville on Music Row.

From The "Ouachitonian": Ben Blocker, Greg Bryant, Sean Mckinney And James Renshaw, Anna Roussel, Ouachita News Bureau

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While most people were stuck in quarantine for the summer, a few students opted to spend their time in the last frontier. Juniors Greg Bryant, James Renshaw, Ben Blocker and Sean McKinney spent nearly two months on salmon boats in Alaska. Just when they thought they would be having an uneventful time off, their plans changed within a matter of days.

From The "Ouachitonian": Emily Watson, Emily Barton, Ouachita News Bureau

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One family’s dream to help a country that they do not even live in has encouraged their daughter to lead a life in the same servant-hearted way. Emily Watson’s family owns Joyhouse Coffee Company, a premium Haitian coffee company dedicated to providing joy with every cup of coffee. Being a part of such a special exchange represents everything Watson loves.

Ouachita Student Awarded Advancing Diversity In Dietetics Scholarship, Mackenzie Hall, Ouachita News Bureau

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Latina Robinson of North Little Rock, Ark., a Dietetic Internship graduate student at Ouachita Baptist University, is one of two recipients a $25,000 Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Foundation.

The scholarship was established to advance inclusion, diversity, equity and access for dietetics students to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the field. The $25,000 scholarship is for the 2021-2022 academic year to support students as they pursue dietetic careers.

Still, Toles To Perform Senior Instumental Recitals At Ouachita On Nov. 19, Felley Lawson, Ouachita News Bureau

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will present Katelyn Still and Taryn Toles in their senior instrumental recitals Friday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Ouachita Student Participates In Arkansas Cinema Society's Filmmaking Lab, Julie Shands, Ouachita News Bureau

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Sarah Critton, a freshman communications and media major from Little Rock, Ark., participated in the Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmmaking Lab for Teen Girls from July 7-Aug. 6 in Little Rock.

The lab is held annually for high school girls who hope to follow in the footsteps of prominent women in directing, cinematography, costume designing, editing and screenwriting. Over the span of a month, Critton and eight other contributors chose a storyline, wrote a script, cast characters and shot a 5-minute short film.