Remembering Bill Downs

Bill Downs didn’t always tell the truth. I have proof of it. In 2004, Downs wrote a book called “The Fighting Tigers: The Untold Stories Behind the Names on the Ouachita Baptist University World War II Memorial." I asked him to autograph the book for me in December of that year, and this is what he wrote: “To Rex Nelson, the only OBU student I have ever had who wrote so beautifully that I never found anything to correct.”

Conger's grave: The story behind the resting place of Ouachita's founding president

Perhaps you’ve paused long enough by the river overlook on Ouachita’s campus to notice a small burial site. It is the final resting place of Ouachita’s founding and longest-serving president, Dr. John “Jack” William Conger, who died on April 7, 1924.

Early Registration (ER) podcast

Check out this podcast episode where Ouachita juniors Addy Goodman, Ethan Dial and Josh Salim sat down to discuss some helpful information and tips for a great Early Registration experience.

I'm only 18. How do I pay for college? #askingforafriend

We know you have questions, some that you might be afraid to ask, about how to pay for college in order to attend Ouachita. So, we’ve put together some common questions and answers to give it to you straight. No need to ask questions for your friends – we’ve got you!

I've never lived in a dorm before. HELP. #askingforafriend

We know you have questions, some that you might be afraid to ask, about campus housing at Ouachita. So, we’ve put together some common questions and answers to give it to you straight. No need to ask questions for your friends – we’ve got you!

Freshman dorm perks: It's not where you live, but who you live with

If you’re like me, the idea of living in a building with lots of tiny rooms that are full of random young women (we’re not girls anymore) who’ve just been released into adulthood isn’t very appealing. Yet, here I am, a junior, thinking back to all the fond memories I made living in Frances Crawford West my freshman year at Ouachita.

What is the Enneagram anyway?

Ennea…what? If you have been around Ouachita lately, you might have overheard some unfamiliar vocabulary or maybe even phrases like, “What number are you?” or “So, you’re a 9, wing 1? Well that explains a lot!” or “I’m having trouble figuring out if I’m a 2 or a 4.” Enneagram is a strange word for a helpful tool.

Finding opportunity in unfamiliar places: A first-generation student's journey

I considered myself to be an “average student” in high school. I wasn’t enrolled in gifted and talented courses, and college wasn’t highly spoken of within my immediate family. My mother received her GED and attended cosmetology school. As my brothers and I got older, she would tell us that she knew college wasn’t for everyone, but that she hoped we would go because she wanted us to have the experience that she missed out on for many years.

Celebrate Black History Month: 28 books for 28 days

Celebrate Black History Month by exploring one or more of these 28 classic and award-winning must-reads that honor the lives of black Americans, authors, artists, political figures and characters that have changed our world.

Finding a college home if you're undecided about your major

Road trip! My best friend and I decided to start our college search journey with a road trip to three different universities. Three days to visit three schools and, potentially, to find our future home for the next four years. Ouachita was the second school we visited on our trip.

The life of a library worker

The library always seems to be a place where students can come and study to their heart’s delight. It is filled with the tools a student needs to be successful in college: computers, printers, books, even a charging station! Almost every student has spent at least a portion of their time in the library – preparing for an exam, a group project or working on that exegetical.

Breaking the "cycle": Fighting human trafficking on a 1,700-mile bike ride

In the spring of 2018, I was training for a 50k. This is a roughly 31-mile run on mountainous trails. The week before this race, I went on a training run with a few friends. We started Friday evening, running well into the night. We were running on Lake Ouachita Vista Trail right outside of Hot Springs. After running 14 out of 20 miles, I found myself alone, in the dark, running down Hickory Nut Mountain.

Remember the name: Inspiration for what to name your Tiger Traks team

Get ready! “Arkansas’ most exciting college weekend” is almost here! Nope, not Battle of the Ravine or Homecoming. It’s Tiger Traks!

Need a break? 8 spontaneous things you should do this spring

During the spring semester I always get a restless feeling. It never fails: the days are longer, and I am ready for summer because it feels like my days are filled with classes, work and the occasionally stressful extracurricular activity. I often find it very difficult to just relax.

Six tips as you search for private scholarships

You may have applied to college, made a visit to campus and thought about what you want to study, but now reality is setting in – you need to figure out how to pay for college. At Ouachita, once you are accepted and have submitted your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will receive a financial aid award letter that shows your scholarships, grants and available loans that will help you cover the costs of college.

From culture to culture: Study abroad has taught me what we have in common

Ouachita, which many of us affectionately call “the bubble,” is its own world and culture, of sorts. Many of us come from different backgrounds, states and even countries, but we can relate because we are studying for the same CORE classes, practicing for Tiger Tunes and standing out in the cold to cheer for the tigers during Battle of the Ravine.

Programmed to serve

Computer science is studying how computers work, and how to tell a computer what to do. Dr. Matocha, professor of computer science at Ouachita, talked to me about majoring in computer science toward the end of my freshman year. After two or three meetings, I was sold and switched to computer science and haven’t looked back since.

Rebound: From car wreck to college basketball

As Christians, the common goal of our faith is to exalt the name of God and do great things for His glory. That’s what we all want and strive for as we grow and walk in faith, and this was my goal in 2014 when I was 17 years old. One morning, as I was spending time with God before I left for school, I felt that He revealed to me that He was about to do something really special with my life.

Uniquely prepared: Appreciating my multifaceted Ouachita education

My precious Ouachita — I wish I could put into words how special my four years at Ouachita truly were. It was an exciting time of learning and growing my relationship with the Lord. As I have exited “the bubble” and entered graduate school, I cannot help but be so thankful for all the ways that Ouachita prepared me.

A prayer for place: Dedicating Berry-Peeples Bible Building

Dr. John McCallum, pastor of First Baptist Church of Hot Springs and chair of Ouachita’s Board of Trustees, offered this prayer at the dedication service for the newly renovated Berry-Peeples Bible Building on Sept. 27, 2018.