Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Resurrection Purpose, J. Scott Duvall

Press Releases

Humanly speaking, besides a few of the disciples, Jesus's closest friends were undoubtedly Mary, Martha and Lazarus. They were like family, and their house in Bethany was a place of safety and refuge.

One day the sisters sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was extremely sick and about to die. After a two-day delay Jesus began his four-day journey to Bethany. I don't always know what to make of God's delays, but I'm convinced they don't mean he doesn't love us. We hope for a greater purpose.

The worst happens, Lazarus dies.

Estelle Mcmillan Blake ("Auntie" Blake), Donald Tatman

Press Releases

As we recognize Women’s History Month this March, we’re remembering some of the notable women in Ouachita’s history. Estelle McMillan Blake was an original faculty member of Ouachita Baptist College when its doors opened in 1886. Blake taught English at Ouachita for 53 years. Because of her support of the school’s library, the former Blake Library on campus was named for her in the 1930s. The Arkansas Baptist paper once noted about this beloved faculty member, “every student that has known her has created in his heart an undying love for this great Christian character and teacher.” The following is …

Kluck Takes On His Latest Leadership Challenge, Brooke Zimny, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

Dr. Wesley Kluck did not have a restful 2020. As university physician and vice president for student development at Ouachita, he led the university’s health efforts in response to COVID-19, chairing Ouachita’s Health Monitoring and Action Team (HMAT).

“The worst thing was waking up in the middle of the night, thinking of things,” he said. “There was a lot of that. Sometimes I would get up and make a PowerPoint real quick, just type it all down and go back to sleep.”

HMAT, a group of 13 faculty and staff members as well as the Student Senate president, worked through …

Maddy Moore To Present Senior Recital March 8, Abby Kemmer, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

Maddy Moore, a musical theatre major from Mesquite, Texas, will perform her senior recital March 8 at 11 a.m. in McBeth Recital Hall at Ouachita Baptist University. This recital is a project Moore has been working on since last semester and will include music, theatre and dance pieces. The performance is free and open to the public.

Moore will sing six songs, dance to two songs and perform two theatrical scenes. Some of her pieces include “Climbing Uphill” from The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown, “I Want to Go to Hollywood” from Grand Hotel by Maury Yeston and …

Beyond The Spotlight (Embracing Our Shared Narrative), Nicole Porchia

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March is often associated with celebrating and empowering women and recognizing the contributions of historical figures and trailblazers. This year, I was fortunate to be recognized during Women's History Month, and the experience sparked a deeper reflection on the impact of "ordinary" women like myself.

Honestly, a part of me felt hesitant. While I'm proud of my work and journey as a wife, mom and higher education practitioner, the spotlight felt intimidating. It's easy to admire the iconic figures whose stories fill history books, but to have your own story spotlighted feels different. But then, I remembered the true purpose …

Ouachita's Symphonic Band To Perform March 7, Ashleigh Estes, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will present the Symphonic Band in concert Thursday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Preforming Arts Center. The performance is free and open to the public.

“I am very proud of the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band and excited to play our programs for the audience,” said Dr. Craig Hamilton, director of bands and Trimble Professor of Music at Ouachita.

“Tharsos” by Jeff Jordan will open the concert, followed by Robert Sheldon’s “Appalachian Morning.” The program also includes “Country Gardens,” “My Dark-Haired Maid” and “The Gypsy’s Wedding Day” from A Tribute to Grainger …

Ouachita's Wind Ensemble Presents Concert March 4, Coleman Callan, Office Of Communications & Marketing

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Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music in the School of Performing Arts will present the Wind Ensemble in a spring concert Monday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public.

The program will feature “March,” “Song Without Words,” “Song of the Blacksmith” and “Fantasia on the ‘Dargason’” from Gustav Holst’s Second Suite in F, Op. 28 No. 2; “Despedida (Farewell)” from Concerto for Marimba and Symphonic Band by Ney Rosauro; “Lisbon,” “Horkstow Grange,” “Rufford Park Poachers,” “The Brisk Young Sailor,” “Lord Melbourne” and “The Lost Lady Found” from Percy …

Barnes' Composition Performed At National Music Conference, Abby Kemmer, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

A composition by Ouachita Baptist University student Jenna Barnes was presented in October at the 66^th College Music Society National Conference in Miami, Fla. Barnes is a senior music industry major from Sheridan, Ark.

Barnes submitted her original saxophone quartet titled, “Into the Fire,” which she described as “daring” because she challenged herself in the process of creating it.

Ouachita Announces Another Increase For Spring '24 Enrollment, Felley Lawson, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

Ouachita Baptist University has reported its highest spring enrollment in more than 40 years with a total Spring 2024 headcount of 1,722.

The university has sustained momentum in student recruitment and retention, maintaining steady growth with a total enrollment surge of 20% since 2016 in contrast to reports of declining enrollment in colleges and universities nationwide.

Submitting Plans With Open Hands, G. Allen, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

There’s a truth God has taught me throughout college and I’m sure will continue to teach me as I get older. Two passages of wisdom the Lord has used in service of continually reminding me of this lesson are Proverbs 16:9 – “The heart of a man plans his way but the Lord establishes his steps.” – and James 4:14-15, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’– yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your …

The Greatest Miracle, Anna Katherine Green, Office Of Communications & Marketing

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I believe a testimony is a lot more than just when you came to know Jesus as your personal savior – it’s about everything the Lord has done in your life. So, I’m going to start at the very beginning of my life, when God miraculously saved my physical life before I was saved spiritually.

There are a lot of things you can probably tell about me from the outside and even just by my walking around on campus. I’m a senior, I’m an elementary education major, I love to go on walks, and I am a part of the …

Tips For Handling The Holidays, Dan Jarboe

Press Releases

While the holidays can be a wonderful time as we get together with family celebrating the arrival of our Lord and Savior, the activities and demands can leave us feeling stressed and depleted. It’s important to care well for ourselves as we care for others. To support you and enhance your family harmony during the holidays, the Counseling Center staff offers the following tips. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

The Heart Of A Servant Leader, Lewis Shepherd

Press Releases

On Monday, January 15, people across America and in many places of the world will pause to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It is often when we reflect on the life of Martin King that we pay particular homage to his intellectual accomplishments. Yes, they are quite impressive when one considers he entered college at the age of 15 and completed a bachelor’s degree by 19, a master’s by 21, and a Ph.D. at 26, but Martin King was more than mere diplomas and academic regalia.

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

Press Releases

Ouachita Baptist University has named more than 425 students to its Fall 2023 President’s List.

To be named to the President’s List, a student must compile a grade point average of 4.0 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 Students Named To Fall 2023 Dean's List, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

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 …

Georgia Hickingbotham Remembered For Generous Investment In Ouachita Students, Felley Lawson, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

Having a residential campus helps give Ouachita Baptist University its uniqueness. And Georgia Hickingbotham was a friend of Ouachita who helped give residence living its heart.

Hickingbotham, who died Dec. 7 at 89, is well known for her successful business career. She was one of the first women in Arkansas elected to serve as an officer in a bank and was a co-founder of TCBY, which became the largest frozen yogurt chain in the world.

At Ouachita, “Mrs. Georgia” is also remembered for her generous personal investment in women students that began in 2013 when her husband of nearly 50 …

Dr. Lei Cai Inducted Into The Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall Of Fame, Addie Woods, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

Dr. Lei Cai, professor of piano in the Division of Music in Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Performing Arts, has been inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame. He was recognized during a ceremony held at the historic Steinway piano factory in New York City in October.

“We were absolutely thrilled, but not the least bit surprised, to hear that Dr. Cai was selected for this incredible honor,” said Dr. Caroline Taylor, professor and dean of the School of Performing Arts. “To have a pianist of his caliber on our faculty is truly a blessing.”

Cai was …

Confidence For Graduation, Tiffany Pickett, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

“Fake it until you make it.” While a common phrase in the leadership/business management advice genre, it’s genuinely how I survived my freshman year as a first-generation college student.

I smiled. I nodded. I tried to exude the confidence that I knew exactly what I was doing, but in reality, to quote Michael Scott from “The Office”: “I knew exactly what to do. But in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do.” I would quietly ask questions to friends I could trust or pray that another classmate asked the question I wanted to ask in …

Ouachita's Adams Department Of Art & Design To Host "Matter + Spirit" Through December 13, 2023, Georgia Richards, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

The Rosemary Gossett Adams Department of Art & Design at Ouachita Baptist University will host “Matter + Spirit: A Chinese/American Exhibition” through Wednesday, Dec. 13, in Adams Galleries 1 & 2 of Moses-Provine Hall and Hammons Gallery in Mabee Fine Arts Center. Admission is free.

Mentorship Beyond Graduation, Gayla Parker, Bailey Buettner, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

My grandmother could make the best biscuits ever over an open fire. My dad could tune a guitar to perfect pitch without a tuner. Those were just a few of the many skills they taught me. But there was one skill they could not teach me: navigating the world of higher education.

As smart and gifted as they were, high school graduation was not a part of their stories, much less college. When I graduated from high school, they were thrilled. They never imagined there would be multiple graduations to follow.

Ouachita Student Foundation Sets New Tiger Tunes Fundraising Record, Anna Roussel, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

The Ouachita Student Foundation raised more than $205,000 during Tiger Tunes 2023, surpassing its $200,000 goal and securing the most money raised in one year by the event. Held each year in Jones Performing Arts Center during the university’s Homecoming weekend, Tiger Tunes is a song and dance production that parodies popular music as a competition among student organizations.

The Secret To Graduation, Lisa Sells, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

My maternal grandparents grew up in the Depression-era poverty that surrounded the lumber mills around Ashdown, Ark. When World War II ended, and my grandfather came home from the front lines in Europe, there was no work in the Texarkana area. He and his young family moved to northeastern Oklahoma where he found a job at the newly opened BF Goodrich tire factory.

And so it is that my story starts in Commerce, Okla., and not Ashdown, Ark.

Dr. Kathy Collins Remembered For Investing In Students, Felley Lawson, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

Dr. Kathy Collins, associate professor and chair of the Department of Education at Ouachita Baptist University, died Sunday, Nov. 5. She was 69. Known as an educator who regarded teaching as a calling, Collins prioritized experiential learning and invested personally in her students to offer them the best preparation for careers in the classroom.

The Journey To Graduation, Addie Woods, Office Of Communications & Marketing

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This year marks my fourth and final year of college. It seems just like yesterday I was walking up the stairs of Frances Crawford Hall, too many bags in hand, to embark on my educational journey.

I grew up knowing I wanted to pursue a higher education to finish what my parents started. I didn’t know where and how to start my journey, but I leaned into my advisor, Dr. Deborah Root, who answered every question, met every need and solved every problem because she wanted to see me succeed.

The Legend Of The Lady In Black: 100 Years Later, Addie Woods, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

As Cone-Bottoms Hall celebrates its centennial birthday, stories arise that were passed down from generation to generation surrounding the iconic building on campus. One urban legend follows the story of Jane and her mysterious death.

In the early 1920’s, Jane began dating Joshua, a student at Henderson State University. As their relationship blossomed, Joshua’s friends started to pressure him to break up with her. His friends taunted and teased him because of the longstanding rivalry between the two schools as it was almost unheard of to be seen with someone from the opposing school.

On the eve of Henderson’s Homecoming, …

Ouachita To Begin Construction On Track & Field Complex, Felley Lawson, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

Ouachita Baptist University will begin construction on an NCAA-compliant track & field complex to serve as a home venue for its thriving cross country and track & field teams. Scheduled to be completed by Summer 2024, the complex will occupy land on the north side of campus adjacent to the cross country course and along the Ouachita River.

Ouachita's Elrod Center Hosts 53rd Tiger Serve Day, Rachel Dunnam

Press Releases

Ouachita Baptist University’s Ben M. Elrod Center for Family & Community held its 53^rd Tiger Serve Day on Saturday, Sept. 23. More than 800 Ouachita students, faculty and staff completed 83 projects at area homes, non-profits, churches and designated trash pickup sites across Arkadelphia and DeGray Lake.

“Tiger Serve Day is a wonderful opportunity for our campus to connect with the community and love them well,” said Duvall. “I am so proud to be part of a university that places such a huge value on service.”

Volunteers gathered at 8:30 a.m. at the Elrod Center to prepare for the …

I Believe, Help My Unbelief, Ben Sells

Press Releases

With Convocation, we formally bring together new and returning students with faculty and staff to begin the 138th year of Ouachita Baptist University.

Once a week, we pause campus life for Chapel. We come together to sing, to pray, to hear scripture and to be encouraged. Together. I believe this time together helps make Ouachita, Ouachita. I rarely miss Chapel.

Ouachita's Dr. Johnny Wink To Be Honored For 50 Years Of Service, Addie Woods, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

The Department of Language & Literature at Ouachita Baptist University will honor Dr. Johnny Wink, Betty Burton Peck Professor of English, during a campus reception on Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 6:30-8 p.m. in McClellan Hall’s Green-Blevins Rotunda. Open to the public, the party will begin with a brief ceremony to be followed by an informal gathering celebrating Wink’s 50 years on the Ouachita faculty.

Ouachita's School Of Performing Arts Presents Worship Concert Sept. 12, Abby Kemmer, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

The Division of Music in Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Performing Arts presents the Ouachita Choirs Worship Concert on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m. on the front steps of Evans Student Center. A relatively new event for Ouachita, the performance is a time for music students to lead the student body in contemporary choral worship.

The concert features a variety of contemporary worship music that many students are familiar with. This year’s performance includes “What a Savior, What a Friend,” written by Ouachita grad Leslyn (Ichter) Jacks ’11. Other songs on the program include “This is Our God,” “Endless …