Homecoming: A Ouachita family reunion
September 28, 2018 - Donna Gosser
Ouachita is a special place, and Homecoming is a time to renew friendships, walk down
memory lane and enjoy traditions, both past and present. As a freshman in the fall
of 1978, I never imagined how much the fours years I spent at Ouachita would impact
my life! The education I received equipped me professionally, the friendships impacted
me personally and the spiritual guidance shaped me eternally. I met my husband, Bobby
Gosser Jr. (‘79), at Ouachita, and that’s the best part of all!
“Coming home” for Homecoming is a sweet chance to pause, remember and renew. I love
that Ouachita works hard – especially the alumni staff – to keep long-standing traditions
intact, while creating new, fun experiences for both alumni and current students like
the Purple Plaza Party, Tiger Alley on 5th Street, themed class reunion dinners and,
of course, Tiger Tunes!
What an impactful event Tiger Tunes has become. The money raised from this event enables
many students to stay at Ouachita and complete their education. The personal reward
the participants and student leadership staff gain is invaluable.
I had the opportunity to participate in the very first Tiger Tunes show and to co-direct
the EEE “Money” show with my now sister-in-law, Jenny Gosser Turner. Those early years
were quite different, but crazy fun! My niece, Molly Anne Turner Sandefur, directed
the award-winning “There’s Gnome Place Like Home" show several years ago, and my daughter,
McKenzie Gosser, is co-directing the EEE "Emergency Responders" show this year with
her dear friend Selby Tucker. My nephew, JJ Askins, also is participating this year
in the Campus Ministries "Swiss Alps" show.
I am excited that the groups working on Tiger Tunes today are forming the same deep
bonds and gaining lifelong memories just like we did 40 years ago! I am so thankful
that Ouachita has continued to allow this deeply-rooted tradition to take over the
campus each fall, impacting students’ lives forever!
Ouachita will always be near and dear to my heart, and coming home for Homecoming
is a tradition that my family will never choose to miss. My in-laws, Dr. Bob and Marianne
Gosser, paved the way for our family to be deeply rooted in Ouachita when they attended
together in the 1950s. Over 50 years later, their children, grandchildren, cousins
and friends come home each year for this wonderful reunion – our Ouachita Family Reunion.
Hope to see you this weekend!
By Donna Gosser, 1982 Ouachita choral music education graduate
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