The 14 faculty members served at Ouachita for a combined total of 339 years. Along with four staff members who also are retiring, the group served at the university a total of 410 years, averaging more than 24 years each.

“Friends, thank you for your service. You have made us a better university,” said Ouachita President Rex M. Horne, Jr. “We will not forget your sacrifice and toil at Ouachita across the years. You have done well.”

Two faculty members completed more than 40 years of service each: Glenn Good with 43 years of service and Tona Wright with 41 years of service. Three others served more than 30 years each: Dr. Richard Mills, 39 years; Russell Hodges, 34 years; and Eddie Ary, 32 years.

Several of the retiring faculty members served as honorary marshals during the commencement ceremony. All of the retirees previously were honored with a retirement reception.

Ten full-time faculty members retiring with more than 15 years of service each were honored by the Ouachita Board of Trustees as emeriti faculty. They include:

Glenn Good, professor emeritus of physics, 43 years of service. Good, who holds degrees from Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, served as the Charles S. and Elma Grey Goodwin Holt Professor of Physics.

Tona Wright, professor emerita of kinesiology and leisure studies, 41 years of service. A graduate of Henderson State University and Oklahoma State University, she also coached women’s volleyball at Ouachita for 24 years and women’s tennis for 21 years.

Dr. Richard Mills, professor emeritus of sociology, 39 years of service. Mills holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ouachita as well as a doctorate in education from East Texas State University.

Russell Hodges, associate professor emeritus of music and music librarian, 34 years of service. Hodges holds degrees from Oklahoma Baptist University, the University of Oklahoma and the University of North Texas.

Eddie Ary, associate professor emeritus of finance, 32 years of service. Ary is a graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma State University.

Nona Anderson, professor emerita of modern languages. 24 years of service. Anderson is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas and Henderson State University.

Dr. Sim Flora, professor emeritus of music, 22 years of service. Flora, who holds a master’s degree from Ouachita, also is a graduate of Southern Illinois University and the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Stephen Garner, assistant professor emeritus of music, 22 years of service. Garner holds degrees from William Carey College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dr. Irene Trofimova, professor emerita of modern languages, 21 years of service. She is a graduate of Leningrad State Teachers’ Training University, Alma Ata Teachers’ Training University and University of Philosophy, Alma Ata.

Shirley Dumais, assistant professor emerita and circulation/reference librarian, 17 years of service. She holds degrees from Baylor University, West Texas A&M and Texas Woman’s University.

In addition to the emeriti faculty, other retiring faculty members are: Rosemary Flora, lecturer in English, 19 years of service; Lindsay Van Sicklen, assistant professor and periodicals librarian, 13 years of service; and Dr. Jan Duncan, professor of modern languages, 12 years of service.

Retiring staff members include: Cindy Goodman, administrative assistant for special programs, 22 years of service; Jan Bass, public schools coordinator for the Ben M. Elrod Center for Family and Community, 17 years of service; Claire Gibson, assistant registrar, 17 years of service; and Eugene Pate, facilities services grounds crew, 15 years of service.

By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications

The SWPA includes psychologists from a nine-state region and will celebrate its 50^th anniversary next year. The organization seeks to “promote and strengthen psychology’s scientific, professional and educational facets,” according to its website, and involves students, who are “welcomed and treated as active and valued participants in the discipline.”

Dr. Randall Wight, dean of Ouachita’s Sutton School of Social Sciences and professor of psychology and biology, explained that Bartel and Berry took the initiative to submit their work for the conference. “Whitley and Taylor are two of the most self-motivated people I’ve seen come through here,” he noted. “It’s been truly a pleasure to work with them.” The peer-reviewed acceptance process is highly selective, and psychologists across the region evaluated the students’ abstracts.

“We want our students to do research, but research has two parts,” Wight said. “You need to do the work, and then you need to share it. Galileo’s commandment is to always contribute to science, so you can do the work but if you don’t present it to your peers, the scientific community, you haven’t followed through. It’s important to enter that conversation.”

Berry is a May 2012 magna cum laude graduate of Ouachita with a degree in psychology. The Arkadelphia native’s research, “Love your neighbor as yourself? An exploration of intergroup bias,” explored the perceived physical attractiveness and stereotypes that students from Arkadelphia’s rival universities may hold about each other.

Ouachita Baptist University and Henderson State University in Arkadelphia have one of the longest standing sports rivalries in the country and have the unique circumstance of being divided only by a state highway.

The Psi Chi Regional Research Awards are presented to the best research papers submitted at regional conventions, with cash awards of up to $300 presented to winners.

Berry said she especially appreciated the opportunity at the conference “to meet and talk with people who have done similar group bias research and share ideas about our work.”

Bartel, a May 2012 magna cum laude Ouachita graduate with degrees in psychology and biology, presented his research, “What would you do? The effect of moral decisions on decision fatigue,” at the conference. His research evaluated the effects of making a variety of decisions by willpower.

“My favorite part was presenting my research to a very diverse audience and talking with people who are interested in my topic,” explained Bartel, a native of Lucas, Texas. “It’s a good opportunity to get experience presenting research.”

“I was walking around the poster session, and frankly I thought they had two of the best pieces of research down there,” Wight noted. “They were standing next to colleagues from the nine-state area, so that’s pretty impressive.”

Senior faculty member Dr. Glenn Good carries founding President John Conger's inaugural commencement address, and commencement marshal Dr. Deborah Root carries the university mace during Ouachita's May 12 commencement ceremony. Photo by Nicole McPhate.

Marking Ouachita’s 125^th annual spring commencement, a copy of President Conger’s inaugural commencement address from 1888 was carried in the academic processional along with the university mace.

“We’re in a world that has great challenge and great opportunity, and we believe that the hope for change rests in you,” Dr. Horne told the graduates. “All of us are most impressed with you and your generation and the commitment that you have.”

University officials conferred a total of 325 degrees on 318 graduates, including 259 Bachelor of Arts degrees, 46 Bachelor of Science degrees, 13 Bachelor of Music Education degrees and seven Bachelor of Music degrees. The Saturday morning service was held on the lawn of Ouachita’s historic Cone-Bottoms Hall. Constructed in 1923, Cone-Bottoms is the oldest current facility on the university campus.

Ouachita’s 2012 graduating class featured 120 honor graduates, including 24 who graduated summa cum laude with a grade point average of 3.95 or higher, 37 who graduated magna cum laude (3.75 GPA) and 59 who graduated cum laude (3.5 GPA). University officials also recognized 17 graduates who completed Ouachita’s Carl Goodson Honors Program and 18 members of the Alpha Chi national honor society.

Three ROTC graduates commissioned with the rank of second lieutenant in the U.S. Army also were recognized: Jedidiah Allen of Mineola, Texas; Clinton DeWitt of Arkadelphia, Ark.; and David Nixon of Celeste, Texas.

Dr. Deborah Root, professor and chair of the Rogers Department of Communications, served as the commencement marshal. Several retiring faculty members served as honorary marshals: Nona Anderson, professor emerita of modern languages; Shirley Dumais, assistant professor emerita and circulation/reference librarian; Rosemary Flora, lecturer in English; Dr. Sim Flora, professor emeritus of music; Dr. Stephen Garner, assistant professor emeritus of music; Glenn Good, professor emeritus of physics; Dr. Richard Mills, professor emeritus of sociology; Lindsay Van Sicklen, assistant professor and periodicals librarian; and Tona Wright, professor emerita of kinesiology and leisure studies.

“Friends, thank you for your service. You have made us a better university,” President Horne told the retiring faculty members. “We will not forget your sacrifice and toil at Ouachita across the years. You have done well.”

During the ceremony, Senior Class President Nolan West, a biology major from Bolivar, Mo., led the invocation and Jesse Pruett, a Christian studies and Biblical languages major from Harrison, Ark., read Scripture. Gene Whisenhunt, chair of the Ouachita Board of Trustees, led the closing prayer of dedication.

Dr. Horne presented a special Purple & Gold Heart Award to Faye Connell, whose grandson, T.J. Connell, received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Biblical studies and Christian ministries. As Mrs. Connell pushed her grandson’s wheelchair across the stage to receive his degree, Dr. Horne noted that she had assisted T.J. throughout his studies at Ouachita, driving him to campus each day from Hope, sitting with him in class and helping him with his notes and studies.

“The military has what’s called a Purple Heart that’s such an inspirational recognition and medal,” Dr. Horne said. “Ouachita has what’s called the Purple and Gold Heart Award that’s given occasionally for certain meritorious service and sacrifice.” The commencement crowd responded with a standing ovation as he concluded, “Certainly there’s no more fitting recipient today than Faye Connell.”

In his commencement address, President Horne noted that Dr. Conger emphasized that “character begets character” and that “our life should confirm the belief of our hearts.”

Ouachita's class of 2012 gathers for the commencement ceremony. Photo by Nicole McPhate.

“We pray that just as God blessed President Conger and those who shared the vision of Ouachita College … that God would bless the faculty, the staff, the administration and particularly the students of Ouachita with the same kind of zeal and passion as we now are well into the 21^st century,” Dr. Horne added.

He suggested that when the 2012 graduating class gathers for its 50^th anniversary Gold Tiger reunion in 2062, service will be a hallmark of their lives. “There is no word that would better serve this Alma Mater nor is there a word that would please more our Savior than the word service,” he said. “In service, it’s always about people,” both at home and around the world.

Ouachita Baptist University, a leading liberal arts university, is ranked nationally among “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes magazines. Founded in Arkadelphia in 1886, Ouachita seeks to foster a love of God and a love of learning in a Christ-centered learning community.

A video of Saturday’s commencement exercises is available on the university website at www.obu.edu/broadcast.

By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications

Thirteen students competed in this year’s event. Bailey received the competition’s $600 first prize. Second place with a prize of $400 was awarded to Jillian Turner, a freshman piano and vocal performance major from Fort Worth, Texas. Third place was awarded to Sean Jackson, a freshman music theory and composition major from Milton, Fla., with a prize of $250. Honorable mention and $50 each was awarded to Rusty Butler, a junior worship arts major from Little Rock, Ark.; Jordan Denniston, a sophomore music major from Plano, Texas; and Christopher Mazen, a senior worship arts major from Shreveport, La.

Other students who competed were Stephen Curry, a freshman worship arts major from Little Rock, Ark.; Jenna Cummings, a senior music major from Jacksonville, Ark.; J.K. Slyby, a senior music, mathematics and software engineering major from Hot Springs, Ark.; Courtney Stanage, a sophomore piano performance major from Hot Springs, Ark.; Courtney Stanage, a freshman piano performance major from Hot Springs Village, Ark.; Sarah Stiles, a freshman Biblical languages major from Aubrey, Texas; and Christina Wood, a senior piano performance and music theory and composition major from Longview, Texas.

The Virginia Queen competition was established 35 years ago by Queen, professor emerita of music.

“Her idea in establishing it was to motivate our OBU piano majors and piano minors to improve and to succeed as pianists,” said Dr. Ouida Keck, OBU’s Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music. Queen, along with family member and former students, contribute to the endowment for the annual awards.

By Stephanie Hampton

“You are an inspiration to faculty and staff here at Ouachita,” Dr. Stan Poole, vice president for academic affairs, told students being honored. “You have contributed to the intellectual life here at Ouachita.”

John Gomez

John Gomez, a biology, chemistry and English major from Conway, Ark., earned Ouachita’s highest academic honor as the university’s Overall Academic Achiever. He also was named the top academic achiever in the Patterson School of Natural Sciences.

Top academic achievers in each of the other schools include: Reuben Cash, a senior accounting major from Springfield, Tenn., Hickingbotham School of Business; Jesse Pruett, a senior Christian studies and Biblical languages major from Harrison, Ark., Pruet School of Christian Studies; Melissa Butters, an early childhood education major from Denison, Texas, Huckabee School of Education; Grace Janzen, a senior art/graphic design and history major from Tulsa, Okla., School of Fine Arts; Jody Persson, a senior English major from Sherwood, Ark., School of Humanities; and Trevor Huxham, a history and Spanish major from Plano, Texas, Sutton School of Social Sciences.

Ouachita’s outstanding seniors, selected by faculty and staff, are Jacob Lively, a biology major from Queen City, Texas, Senior Outstanding Man, and Abby Dekle, a biology major from Sachse, Texas, Senior Outstanding Woman.

Dr. Scott Duvall, the J.C. and Mae Fuller Professor of Biblical Studies, was named by students as the Lavell Cole Most Inspirational Professor.

Other university awards include the Mrs. J.R. Grant Endowed Awards for freshman and senior female students and the Betty Oliver Grant Endowed Awards for sophomore and junior female students. Recipients include Laura Grace Shaddox, a freshman communication sciences and disorders major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Lindsey Fowler, a sophomore political science and accounting major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; Katelyn Bell, a junior biology major from Des Arc, Ark.; and Kelsey Bates, a senior music education major from Marion, Ark.

The Rotary Club Service-Above-Self Award was presented to Britta Stamps, a political science and business administration major from Fort Smith, Ark.

Individuals honored by the Carl Goodson Honors Program include:

• Ben Elrod Scholar, Rachel Harris, a musical theatre and voice performance major from Springdale, Ark.
• Carl Goodson Scholar, Jason Curlin, an English and Russian major from Arkadelphia, Ark.
• Honors Council Scholar, Stacy Beck, a political science, history and French major from Sheridan, Ark.
• Garrett Ham Scholar, Anthony Emerson, a senior Christian studies and history major from Fresno, Texas.
• Research Award Recipient, Valerie Nickel, a chemistry and biology major from Richardson, Texas.
• Most Valuable Professor, Dr. Johnny Wink, Betty Burton Peck Professor of English.

Reflecting on the evening’s recognitions, Student Senate President Jacob Lively told fellow students, “Don’t use your gifts and talents for your own gain. Use them to strengthen people around you.

“Thank you, Ouachita, for the memories,” he concluded. “I will forever hold you close to my heart.”

Diane Runyan, Brianna Hardaway, Cindy Meador, Jan Bass and Tayler Koller gather gift bags to deliver to children attending Ascent Children’s Health Services in Arkadelphia. Ouachita Baptist University’s Elrod Center for Family and Community provided the gift bags filled with books to distribute to the children.

“Meeting the needs of children in our city is a high priority for the Elrod Center,” said Ian Cosh, OBU vice president for community and international engagement. “We recognize the importance of reading in the development of a child and are pleased to provide books that will bring hours of joy to the children being served.”

Jan Bass, coordinator of public school initiatives; Diane Runyan, administrative assistant at the Elrod Center; and Tayler Koller, student program assistant, delivered the books to Brianna Hardaway, Ascent’s early childhood coordinator.  Cindy Meador is the new director of Ascent.

Youngsters at Ascent Children’s Health Services select books donated by Ouachita Baptist University’s Elrod Center for Family and Community.

“We look forward to delivering this gift of books each year,” Bass noted. “It is our pleasure to see the eager acceptance of books by children who really appreciate having a book of their own to take home.

“This is the eighth consecutive year that funding through the Elrod Center made it possible for the center to provide these books,” she added. “We purchase board books suitable for babies and toddlers as well as sturdy paperback books for the older preschoolers.”

“Ascent Children’s Health Services would like to thank the Elrod Center for providing books for our children,” Hardaway said. “It was amazing to see the look on each child’s face when they realized they could pick their own book and bring it home with them.

“Not only did we get enough books for each child in our facility, but there are plenty more for each classroom to have extras.” Hardaway added.  “This was a wonderful gift and our children loved the surprise.”

Ouachita Baptist University established the Ben M. Elrod Center for Family and Community in 1997 to encourage, coordinate and facilitate public service, volunteerism and community engagement throughout the state and region. For more information about the programs of the Elrod Center, call 870-245-5320 or visit www.obu.edu/elrod.

The Rays of Light Award is given annually to students from area schools who provide significant leadership through community service. Bolton, one of three students honored with the award, was introduced by Ian Cosh, OBU’s vice president for community and international engagement.

“From the moment Glenn arrived on our campus until the present, he has shown himself to be a servant. In fact, I dare say that he embodies Rotary’s motto of ‘Service Above Self’ as well as anyone I have ever met,” Cosh said. “Glenn has an incredible work ethic and a good heart. I have no doubt that he will succeed at anything he sets his mind to. Many have been blessed and will be blessed by his service in the future.”

Bolton, who has participated in community service throughout high school and college, is a member of ElderServe, an outreach program connecting students with senior adults, the Tiger Serve Day leadership team and various other projects sponsored by the Elrod Center for Family and Community.

Describing the Elrod Center as “a great ministry tool to work in the community,” Bolton said, “Even when I graduate, I plan to be in Arkadelphia working and volunteering through the Elrod Center.”

Bolton has participated in several disaster relief projects hosted by the Elrod Center throughout the state. “On each of these trips, Glenn has shown himself to be a servant leader by preparing meals, organizing and recruiting volunteers and working hard,” Cosh said. “The Elrod Center could always count on Glenn to do the work with excellence and diligence.”

Explaining that serving others has been a personal commitment throughout his life, Bolton said, “I was that kid who helped move chairs after a church event and I’d be doing dishes in the kitchen at the church. I do it because the way to show love in my family is through acts of service. I took that and applied it to my Ouachita life and the Arkadelphia community.

“The award is a gift and I’m grateful for it,” he added, “but I try and live not for awards but by Matthew 25 and the Spirit of God.”

By Breanne Goodrum

OBU alum Jacob Watson (second from left) recently tied for second place in the prestigious Lotte Lenya Competition. Watson poses with (L-R) first-place winner Matthew Grills, second-place winner Justin Hopkins and third-place winner Megan Marino. Photo courtesy Kurt Weill Foundation for Music.

The Lotte Lenya Competition, sponsored annually by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, is a renowned competition for young artists, ages 19-30, who specialize in singing both opera and musical theatre repertoire. This international theatre singing competition has sent on winners to play major roles on Broadway and perform with prestigious opera houses such as Metropolitan Opera.

Matthew Grills, a tenor from Rochester, N.Y., won the $15,000 First Prize. Watson tied with Justin Hopkins, a bass-baritone from Philadelphia, Pa., for second prize. Third prize and $7,500 was awarded to Megan Marino, a mezzo-soprano from Malvern, Pa.

“Jacob’s second place finish in the Lenya competition affects him positively in a number of ways,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, OBU professor of music. “First and foremost would be the cash award attached to the placement. When young performing artists are attempting to make their way in this profession, they don’t always know where the next paycheck will come from. Winning competitions and prizes such as the Lenya take the pressure to ‘earn’ their way in the marketplace off a little bit, allowing them to continue perfecting their performing craft, then auditioning for productions as they feel they are ready to.

“In addition, I’m sure Jacob has already made new professional contacts as a result of his being the second place winner of this competition. He will be remembered by casting directors and others in the field of performing arts as they are looking for singer/actors to fill roles in their productions,” Secrest said.

The competition began in January when contestants sent in a DVD of their performances of four songs of their own choosing. From there, Watson moved on to the semi-finals, held in New York City.

“At the semi-finals I got to sing not only for the Kurt Weill Foundation but my judge was Tony Award-winning actress and soprano Victoria Clark,” Watson said. “That was pretty incredible as she is a well-known and successful performer as well as teacher. After I performed, she gave tons of wonderful feedback to take my performance to an even higher level. One week later, I got a phone call informing me that I had made the finals.

“From mid-March to the end of April, the finals, I worked on making my performances as nuanced and specific as was possible,” Watson said. “During the finals I got to sing for Rebecca Luker, a three-time Tony-nominated soprano and actress; Rob Berman, a Broadway music director and music director of the Broadway Encores! Theatre; and Theodore S. Chapin, president of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization as well as the chairman of the board of directors for the American Theatre Wing.

“It was an incredible feeling to place in this competition among some of the best singing actors I’ve ever had the privilege of performing with. Every single person in the competition was passionate about honest storytelling using music. It was so inspiring to be amongst a group of people like that,” Watson added.

“This competition was so enjoyable because of the shared passions among the performers and judges for storytelling in every way possible. There were opera singers who love music theatre and music theatre singers who love opera, as well as everything in between. This is something I believe is necessary in the world in which we perform,” Watson said. “People always try to split people up into boxes as either opera singers or music theatre singers when the truth is that we are all storytellers and should know and want to tell stories in every medium possible. My desire is to see those walls begin to break down and this competition celebrates that ideal. That was one of the most wonderful things to be around.

“My entire life informed my performances for this competition and any other performance, for that matter. My beliefs and experiences of faith, love, loss, death, joy, etc. all contributed to success in my competition,” Watson explained. “It’s difficult to say that one thing I did was the right thing that made me successful. What I feel called to do is wake up every morning and be the absolute best at the opportunities that I have been given and to work as hard as possible to grow into the artist I’ve been called to be.”

Watson’s plans for the future include performing with the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center this summer. He will perform as Rodolfo in La Boheme and in the chorus of Barber of Seville, Dialogues of the Carmelites and HMS Pinafore. When his time with the Janiec Opera Company is finished, Watson will travel to Shreveport, La., to be a resident artist with the Shreveport Opera where he will be performing and covering leads in their operas as well as performing in their educational outreach program. Watson’s ultimate goal is to move to New York City.

“The Division of Music and Department of Theatre Arts are so very pleased for Jacob and proud of the accomplishments he has achieved already. His talent is one of the most substantial to come through our program, and we know God will lead him to even greater opportunities in the future,” Secrest said.

By Nicci Fillinger

Ouachita President Rex M. Horne, Jr., will preside over the annual commencement exercises. The ceremony will include an invocation by Senior Class President Nolan West, a biology major from Bolivar, Mo.; scripture reading by Jesse Pruett, a Christian studies and Biblical languages major from Harrison, Ark.; and remarks by President Horne.

Dr. Deborah Root, professor of communications, will serve as the commencement marshal. Ouachita’s 13 retiring faculty members will serve as honorary marshals: Nona Anderson, professor emerita of modern languages; Eddie Ary, associate professor emeritus of finance; Shirley Dumais, assistant professor emerita and circulation/reference librarian; Dr. Janice Duncan, professor of modern languages; Rosemary Flora, lecturer in English; Dr. Sim Flora, professor emeritus of music; Dr. Stephen Garner, assistant professor emeritus of music; Glenn Good, professor emeritus of physics; Russell Hodges, associate professor emeritus of music; Dr. Richard Mills, professor emeritus of sociology; Dr. Irene Trofimova, professor emerita of modern languages; Lindsay Van Sicklen, assistant professor and periodicals librarian; and Tona Wright, professor emerita of kinesiology and leisure studies.

Dr. Stan Poole, vice president for academic affairs, will confer degrees upon the graduates. Dr. Danny Hays, dean of the Pruet School of Christian Studies, will lead a responsive reading and Gene Whisenhunt, chairman of the Board of Trustees, will deliver the prayer of dedication.

Ouachita Baptist University, a leading liberal arts university, is ranked nationally among “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes magazines. Founded in Arkadelphia in 1886, Ouachita seeks to foster a love of God and a love of learning in a Christ-centered learning community.

A video of Saturday’s commencement exercises will be posted on the university website at www.obu.edu/broadcast following the service. For more information about commencement, visit www.obu.edu/registrar/graduation-and-commencement.

By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications

OBU's SIFE team was named regional champions and will advance to nationals. SIFE members pictured include (L-R): Tanner Ward, Brittney Jones, Michael Crowe, Britta Stamps, Judith Brizuela, Austin Walsh, Stephanie Batsel and Nate Peace. Photo by Jessica Chang.

Competing teams each present the projects they have completed throughout the year that have sought to meet SIFE’s goal to empower people in need “by applying business and economic concepts and an entrepreneurial approach to improve their quality of life and standard of living.” Teams were divided into leagues of five or six schools each with the top teams in each league advancing to nationals.

Ouachita’s team of six presenters and its director showcased the 11 projects SIFE has been involved with in the past year, such as working to open a pregnancy resource center, “Go Green or Go Home” initiatives on campus and outreach projects in Honduras.

“We’ve practiced [our presentation] since February,” said SIFE President Britta Stamps, a senior business administration/management and marketing and political science major from Fort Smith, Ark. “Our presentation is scripted and memorized by six presentation team members, and we have a video that shows us working with the kids in Honduras and teaching classes that plays on screen and is timed perfectly with our presentation.”

After the presentation, the judges had the opportunity to ask team members specific questions about the projects.

Looking toward the national competition, Dr. Jim Files said that the students have the opportunity “to sit with business leaders and pick their brains and get face time; it’s really advantageous.” Files serves as faculty sponsor of OBU’s SIFE chapter. “When students aren’t physically competing, they get to go to conferences and talk to the judges about their futures and careers. It’s a really special event for the students who get to go.”

In addition to Stamps, members of the presentation team include: Stephanie Batsel, a senior business administration/marketing and music major from Mansfield, Texas; Judith Brizuela, a junior business administration/management and psychology major from Cortes, Honduras; Michael Crowe, a sophomore business administration/finance major from Donaldson, Ark.; Brittney Jones, a sophomore business administration major from Texarkana, Ark.; and Austin Walsh, a senior psychology major from Dallas, Texas. Tanner Ward, a junior business administration/finance and mass communications major from Bryant, Ark., serves as the presentation team’s director.

Schools are randomly placed in the leagues, meaning small schools like Ouachita can be placed against larger schools such as the University of Texas at Austin. For OBU SIFE, that stiff competition against such a large school did not pose a problem; they walked away as regional champions — something Frank Hickingbotham, namesake of OBU’s Hickingbotham School of Business, affirmed.

After Ward posted a picture on Facebook, Hickingbotham commented on it “and just said that he was so proud of us,” Stamps said. “It was pretty much the best comment on a Facebook picture you could get.”

OBU SIFE will travel to Kansas City, Mo., for the SIFE National Competition on May 21 with hopes to continue on to the World Competition in Washington, D.C., in September.

By Emily Terry, The Signal

Reuben Cash, a senior accounting major from Springfield, Tenn., earned first place in the business division of presentations at the society’s recent national convention in Baltimore. His presentation focused on “Bailing Out America.”

Jason Curlin, a junior English major from Arkadelphia, Ark., has been named an alternate for Alpha Chi’s Alfred H. Nolle Scholarship, which is awarded to rising seniors. Twenty-six members of Alpha Chi have been awarded national fellowships and scholarships totaling $60,000 for the 2012-13 academic year. Curlin worked with Dr. Amy Sonheim, professor of English, to submit his paper “The Importance of a Proper Education: A Deconstructionist Marxist Reading of To Kill a Mockingbird” for the scholarship.

“Reuben and Jason’s accomplishments reflect that they are not only among the strongest scholars and best students on the Ouachita campus, but they are among the brightest in the country,” said Dr. Lori Hensley, associate professor of biology and faculty advisor of Ouachita’s Alpha Chi chapter.

Cash presented at the national convention, a two-day conference featuring student presentations in a variety of academic disciplines. “There are several hundred students from Alpha Chi representing their schools,” Cash said.

Cash’s presentation was a portion of his Ouachita honors thesis, which he has worked on with Dr. Phil Rice, professor of business administration since his freshman year.

“My thesis focuses on the financial downfall in 2008 where home values and mortgages values went down,” Cash explained. “From that I analyzed the effects of the crisis on the financial markets and the impact of the subsequent government intervention through the bailout legislation.

“I didn’t expect to win,” Cash said. “I knew I had a good presentation but I didn’t expect this at all.

“I’ve already used the award to help me in my job search,” Cash added. “Through this competition and with this prize I have gotten a great job by applying my assets and will be working as a member of the FDIC after graduation.”

Alpha Chi inducts only the top 10 percent of students from all disciplines in the junior and senior classes and graduate programs. There are now more than 300 active chapters across the U.S.

For more information about Alpha Chi, visit www.alphachihonor.org or contact Lori Hensley at hensleyl@obu.edu or 870-245-5529.

By Breanne Goodrum

Ouachita Chancellor Ben Elrod (right) presents the Elrod Center’s 2012 Community Service Excellence Award to Dr. Cecil Sutley. (OBU photo by Kristen Barnard)

Dr. Sutley has served as volunteer chaplain for Baptist Hospice of Arkadelphia for 18 years. He and his wife, Ellajane, have served as volunteer replacements for missionaries on furlough, delivered meals-on-wheels for 20 years and participated in numerous disaster relief efforts with Red River Baptist Association. Sutley served at Ouachita in such roles as university counselor, dean of students and professor of psychology and religion for a total of 33 years. An Army Air Corps veteran, he earned his bachelor’s degree at Mississippi College and his Doctor of Religious Education and Doctor of Education degrees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ouachita Chancellor Ben M. Elrod said Sutley “is truly a servant leader. He has tirelessly given his time and effort throughout his life to God and people in service to his community. He serves as an outstanding example of how volunteering changes and enriches our lives and the lives of others.”

Shirley McMillan, director of the Foster Grandparent program, presented Gracie Wright with the Foster Grandparent of the Year Award for her outstanding work with special needs preschoolers. Wright has served with the program for eight years and a total of 7,793 hours of service.

“She’s such a blessing to the kids and the teachers,” McMillan said. “Gracie, we feel like you exemplify what foster grandparents are.”

Jan Bass, coordinator of public school initiatives at the Elrod Center, was also recognized with a Retirement and Outstanding Service Award as she retires this month. Bass has served as founding coordinator of Ouachita’s America Reads/America Counts program since 1997.

“We appreciate Jan’s long, faithful service to the Elrod Center. She is a woman of real character and faith,” said Ian Cosh, vice president for community and international engagement. “The legacy that you have offered will last for a long time as these men and women go out to change the lives of others.”

Other Ouachita faculty, staff and students honored during the banquet include:

America Reads: Chelsea Ariola, Donnie Copeland, Brittany Green, Hayley Hill, Nikki Kambanis, Tayler Koller, Hannah Nolan and Whitley Poole.

America Counts: Sarah Liz Carter, Shannon Hunt, Kayla Kagel, Clay McKinney, Lauren Telford, Nate Wade and Seth Wilson.

America Reads Senior Awards: Ashlee DeVore, tutor/mentor 2008-2012; Katelyn Mustain, tutor/mentor 2010-2012; and Dielle Short, tutor/mentor 2010-2012.

America Counts Senior Awards: Lauren Bacon, tutor/mentor 2010-2011; Audrey Craven, tutor/mentor 2009-2011; Natalie Holmes, tutor/mentor and program assistant 2009-2011; Jenelle Kaske, volunteer 2009-2011; Dayton Lavender, tutor/mentor volunteer 2009-2011; and Josiah Wheeler, tutor/mentor 2008-2011.

Missionary-in-Residence Award:Trey and Elise Atkins.

ElderServe: Stephanie Butcher, Amy Campbell, Lauren Carpenter, Jennifer Coon, Tuyajargal Enkhbayar, Kaycee Giammarco, Emily Hastings, Bethany Peevy, Hunter Threadgill, Taylor Wentz and Kaitlin Williams.

ElderServe Senior Awards: Sarah Anderson (2009-2012), Lauren Bacon (2008-2012), Kinsey Ann Carpenter (2008-2012), Chris Chandler (2011-2012), Abby Dekle (2008-2012), Hillary Hill (2009-2012), Grady Howell (2012), Chelsie Kauffman (2009-2012), Beth Kohl (2011-2012), Michelle Lackey (2010-2012), Madison Lewis (2010-2012), Kezia Nanda (2009-2012), Matthew Pope (2009-2012), Elizabeth Quick (2011-2012), Meghan Savage (2009-2012), Mary Smethers (2008-2012), Wendy Vick (2009-2012), Nate Wade (2011-2012), Sarah Waymire (2008-2012) and Hannah West (2012).

Transerve Awards (75 or more hours of service for the academic year): Brynn Alford, Sarah Anderson, Sarah Bishop, Lacey Brooks, Stephanie Butcher, Chris Chandler, Jennifer Coon, Michael Crowe, Abby Dekle, Kelsey Frink, Kiley Gamble, Leigha Hill, Tim Horton, Sara Huneycutt, Ryan James, Joy Kelly, Madison Lewis, Devan Malone, Devon Melear, Dani Moses, Shelby Pierceall, Whitley Poole, Buck Schroeder, Rachel Spencer, Britta Stamps, Hunter Threadgill, Carrington Tillery, Joel Ubeda, Alyson Walker, Kaitlin Williams, Kelsey Willis and Jessica Winston.

125^th Anniversary Steering Committee: Ian Cosh (chair), Cheyenne Flemister, Gary Gerber, Ray Granade, Phil Hardin, Trennis Henderson, Rex Horne, Joe Jeffers, Jacob Lively, Mallory Moddelmog, Bill Phelps, Keisha Pittman and Amy Sonheim.

International Student Service Award: Judith Brizuela.

Friends of the Grant Center for International Education Service Award: Bill Aldon Dixon, president of FGCIE from 2009-2012.

Kluck Student Enrichment Grants, Fall 2011: Taylor Bartel for Psi Chi international honor society in psychology, Glenn Bolton for Senior Seminar, Kimberly Carlton for Alpha Chi national honor society, Devan Malone for Tri Chi women’s social club, Dawson Pritchard for Tiger Serve Day, Timothy Squires for Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club and Caitlyn Wamble for Campus Ministry’s Operation Christmas Child.

Kluck Student Enrichment Grants, Spring 2012: Reuben Cash for Students in Free Enterprise, Emily Davis for Sigma Tau Delta international English honor society, Abbey Jamieson for Campus Ministry’s Art and Worship Christian Focus Week session, Sarah McKimmey for the women’s soccer team and the adaptive physical education methods class, Audrey Melson for Campus Ministry’s Camp Wamp, Brandon Sanders for sociology, David White for the program design and management class and Garrett Whitehead for Theta Alpha Phi national theatre honors fraternity.

Campus Ministries Leadership Team: Backyard Bible Clubs ­– Jordan Neal and Jessica Stanley; Big Brothers – Daniel Richardson; Big Sisters – Hannah Pilcher; Christian Focus Week – Mark Bartels, Abbey Jamieson and Stewart Kelly; Men’s Discipleship – Grady Howell, Landon Riley and Andrew Shotts; Women’s Discipleship – Hannah Hilburn; Freshman Family Groups – Kendall Calvert and Taylor Geurin; Missions – Brad Stark and Caitlyn Wamble; Missionary Kids – Kimberly Carlton; Monticello Children’s Home – Will Sparks; Noonday – Mary Castleman, Emmanuel Engulu and Allison Grigsby; Special Events – Mary Castleman and Aubree Fry; Promise House – Lauren Shawver; Publicity – Amy Vaughan; Refuge – L.J. Brooks, Cory Epps and Jesse Pruett; Off the Broadway – Steven Harvell; Tiger Tunes – Ryan James and Laura Sikes.

Campus Ministries Community Service Awards: Jessica Stanley and Jordan Neal for their continued service with Backyard Bible Clubs.

Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team: Daniel Aylett, Bridget Bloxom, Jeremy Dixon, Jake Edwards, Rachel Gilmer, Jasper Jackson, Lauren Jackson, Ryan James, Abbey Jamieson, Caleb Knight, Rebekah Poynor, Dawson Pritchard, Dawson Pritchard, Courtney Puddephatt, Kyle Rapp,Jessica Stewart, Sara Walker, Garet West and Rachel Williams.

Tiger Serve Day Senior Leadership Awards: Glenn Bolton, Reuben Cash, Leigha Hill, Emily Morgan, Katelyn Mustain, Nate Peace and Wendy Vick.

Ouachita Baptist University established the Ben M. Elrod Center for Family and Community in 1997 to encourage, coordinate and facilitate public service, volunteerism and community engagement throughout the state and region. For information about the programs of the Elrod Center, visit www.obu.edu/elrod or call 870-245-5320.

By Brooke Zimny, OBU Assistant Director of Communications