From the "Ouachitonian": Kirsten Swanson

As high school graduation grew near for Kirsten Swanson, a dietetics and nutrition major from Canyon Lake, Texas, she struggled to make a college decision. After realizing she was unsure of what she wanted to do career-wise, Swanson decided to take the year off and started her journey for what would become a seven-year gap period.

From the "Ouachitonian": Hunter Swoboda

TikTok took the world by storm in 2020 as a social media app that allows users to create and share fun videos. Each video can consist of dancing, comedy or anything in between.

From the "Ouachitonian": Eric Phillips

When going home in the Spring 2020 semester became a reality for students, staff and faculty at Ouachita, one of the greatest challenges became how to continue to feel motivated and inspired while in isolation. For Eric Phillips, chair of the Department of Theatre Arts, specializing in light, stage, costume and prop design, this reality was one he felt he could help bring some inspiration and encouragement to. Luckily for Phillips, roughly a year before being sent home due to the COVID-19 outbreak, he decided to take a season on sabbatical.

From the "Ouachitonian": Chloe Lay

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that disturbs nerve cell activity in the brain, which will cause the person to experience seizures. This disorder affects 1.2 percent of people in the U.S.. That comes out to around 3.4 million people nationally. Chloe Lay, a freshman elementary education major from Little Rock, Ark., is a victim of this disorder.

From the "Ouachitonian": Nancy Hardman and Carol Morgan

Students who major in communication sciences & disorders at Ouachita are commonly known around campus as “Speechies.” The speech pathology program is led by two professors, Dr. Nancy Hardman, professor and chair, and associate professor Carol Morgan.

From the "Ouachitonian": Colin McWhorter

Colin McWhorter, a business major from Rogers, Ark., is a sophomore baseball player, but roaming the outfield and hitting a baseball is not all he’s passionate about. On December 24, McWhorter’s grandfather Jim McWhorter passed away. The family was searching for someone to administer the funeral, and Colin stepped up.

From the "Ouachitonian": Mallory Wallace

The idea came in seventh grade when Mallory Wallace, a sophomore Biblical Studies and Strategic Communications double major from Longview, Texas, was inspired by the ice cream truck circulating the neighborhood. What started as money for trips to the movies with friends became a way Wallace could pay for college.

From the "Ouachitonian": Mitchell Waite & Logan Daust

What started as just an idea in the minds of sophomores Mitchell Waite and Logan Daust soon turned into the campus-wide sensation known as Caf Reviews. Daust had seen a similar pizza review segment on the Barstool Instagram accounts, and the two decided to post a parody on Waite’s Instagram story.

From the "Ouachitonian": Luke Hill

Luke Hill, a junior biology major with chemistry, military science and a math triple minor is from Sheridan, Ark. Hill spent his summer doing research at UAMS and ROTC training.

From the "Ouachitonian": Jomari Bailey

Serving his school, multicultural students and his country, Jomari Bailey has dedicated his time at OBU to working hard to make a difference. A freshman art and graphic design major from Prescott, Ark., Bailey was once known as the shy kid but has flourished through his first year in college.

From the "Ouachitonian": Julianna Parsons

Julianna Parsons, a freshman business entrepreneurship major from Celina, Texas, is Madame Pastry. Parsons has baked recreationally and professionally in her time as a baker and has drawn her inspiration from the sweeter things life has to offer.

From the "Ouachitonian": Hannah Pilcher

Hannah Pilcher, the resident director of Frances Crawford Hall, found a unique opportunity for ministry within her job in the freshman girls’ dorm. Pilcher is originally from Little Rock and has spent the past eight years pouring into the lives of freshmen girls and resident assistants, as a student and as an RD. Her time at Ouachita inspired Pilcher to build relationships with others that directly parallels her experience as a student.

From the "Ouachitonian": Bill Phelps

Coming to Ouachita as a student many years ago, Bill Phelps never could have imagined being at Ouachita for 36 years. Studying history and planning to attend law school, programming and IT were far from Phelps’ radar at the time. The trajectory of his future changed forever whenever he became willing to try something new.

From the "Ouachitonian": Trey Lamb

Trey Lamb, a freshman Christian Studies major from Oak Grove, Ark., had a plan, but it was going to take hard work, commitment, and prayer. He was selfless and totally reliant on the Lord. He had this plan for a while and had to figure out how to execute it with grace and efficiency.

From the "Ouachitonian": Carli Copell

Most people have had good experiences with glow sticks and dance parties, but Carli Copell, a junior psychology and sociology double major from Canton, Texas, couldn’t say the same due to an injury that involved a glow-stick and her losing her hearing.

From the "Ouachitonian": Kyleigh Stevens

Being the new kid can be intimidating, but also overwhelmingly exciting. Kyleigh Stevens, a freshman music major from Hot Springs, Ark., knew this feeling all too well after she moved to Serbia when she was only 8 years old.

From the "Ouachitonian": Donnie Copeland

Donnie Copeland had an unconventional upbringing. He grew up over 6,000 miles away from the United States in Ogbomosho, Nigeria. His parents taught at a local seminary and did mission work, such as traveling to remote villages to connect with local churches.

From the "Ouachitonian": Melissa Lee

A year and a half ago, Melissa’s life changed forever, all by a coincidence. Through her faith, the Lord guided her here to Ouachita where she uprooted her entire life.

From the "Ouachitonian": Tyler Reibock

With dozens of NCAA Division I athletes getting an invitation into the Coastal Plain League, standout Tiger baseball third baseman Tyler Riebock, a junior biology major from Rockwall, Texas, had the opportunity to spend his summer playing against top competition.

From the "Ouachitonian": Mattie Motl

For many students, college was a time when an abundance of new opportunities were in their grasp. Mattie Mae Motl, a senior English major from Arkadelphia, took advantage of one such opportunity when she applied for a travel grant through Ouachita's Honors Program.