Ouachita's La Fuerza and Riley-Hickingbotham Library Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month, held Sept. 15-Oct. 15 annually, honors Hispanic and Latin Americans’ histories, cultures and contributions in the United States. This year’s campus-wide celebration kicks off with a luncheon Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. at Ouachita Commons, hosted by Ouachita’s Office of Multicultural Student Programs and La Fuerza, Ouachita’s Latino student organization. La Fuerza’s Fiesta Mesa is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 24, at noon in Evans Student Center, followed by Tiger Serve Day on Saturday, Sept. 25.

Casting a vision for a race run well

Each year we select a theme to help us focus on Ouachita’s essential purpose. That theme is based on our university’s vision, mission and value statements. This year’s theme is: “Vision, Integrity, Service.” Each year, my convocation remarks introduce the theme. This morning, I want to spend a few moments to offer one perspective on the idea of “vision.”

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.

History alumni profile: Kevin Jackson ('15)

What can you do with a history major? Kevin Jackson, a 2015 Ouachita graduate, currently works as an immigration lawyer to advocate for asylum seekers and trafficking victims, among others.

From someone who's been there: Consider Ouachita even if you don't know anyone

Being from Midlothian, Texas (a suburb of Dallas), most of my classmates had their sights set on large, nearby state schools. I couldn’t muster the same excitement they had about attending schools with such huge student populations. I wanted to be known by my professors, not just some number or a face in an auditorium full of students.

A Ouachita story comes full circle

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. I was fortunate to grow up in a home where we were taught about Jesus and grew to love Him. My parents are both pillars of faith in the foundation of my life, and for that I am grateful.

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.

Ouachita baseball's Carter Wade on playing college sports: "It doesn't matter what division you are in"

In choosing a college to further his education and baseball career, Carter Wade, a senior accounting major from Little Rock, Ark., first decided to attend a Division I university. After a year of playing baseball at another Arkansas university, Wade said knew he was meant to attend Ouachita.

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.

A Benediction: Commencement 2021

Dr. John McCallum, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Hot Springs and vice chair of Ouachita’s Board of Trustees, offered this prayer at the close of Commencement on May 8, 2021.