facebook pixel
skip to main content

Ouachita Stories

Jon Merryman

Sara McDaniel
magazine

Sara (Wheeler) McDaniel '98

April 24, 2023

If you’ve ever wondered why Minden, La., is called “the friendliest city in the South,” one visit with Sara McDaniel ’98 explains it all. She is genuine, friendly, humble and kind – much like others you’ll meet in this sweet, Southern town.

Matthew Shepherd
magazine

Matthew Shepherd ('98)

November 18, 2022

There are a few things that seem to be in Matthew Shepherd’s DNA—politics, law, Arkansas and Ouachita. He is a fifth-generation Ouachitonian, a family legacy starting with his great-great-grandfather, who attended Ouachita in the 1890s.

Holly Kyzer
magazine

Holly (Burris) Kyzer ('00)

November 18, 2022

Growing up around Ouachita’s campus, Holly Kyzer knew Ouachita was going to be an integral part of her life, but she never guessed she would be a faculty member, much less an instrumental part of re-launching graduate programs at the university.

Steve Guymon
magazine

Steve Guymon

November 18, 2022

Some might think starting a track program would require a track. Not Steve Guymon. Sure, it would come in handy. But while plans are in the works to build one on campus, Guymon went ahead and grew Ouachita’s cross country and track & field teams from seven athletes in 2019 to 90 this fall.

Terry DeWitt
magazine

Terry DeWitt ('88)
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, and professor of kinesiology

May 24, 2022

As a high school senior in Gravette, Ark., Dr. Terry DeWitt didn’t have college on his radar until just before graduation. A first-generation college student, DeWitt enrolled as a freshman at the University of Central Arkansas. But he transferred after just one semester when his aunt, Nancy Hardman, encouraged him to consider Ouachita and Coach Buddy Benson offered him a work- study job as an athletic trainer.

Jason Tolbert
magazine

Jason Tolbert ('97)
Chief Financial Officer

May 24, 2022

As soon as Jason Tolbert started his college search as a high school student in Wynne, Ark., he knew if he could afford to go to Ouachita, he would. It’s not hard to believe that, even then, making the numbers work was a top priority for Tolbert, who now serves as Ouachita’s chief financial officer (CFO).

Tiger for Life podcast
blog

Tiger for Life Podcast: Michael Krikorian ('10) The Thing About Pam and Life as an Actor in the Big Easy

April 14, 2022

On this episode of the Tiger for Life Podcast, Ouachita graduate Michael Krikorian ('10) shares about his career in acting including roles on American Horror Story, NCIS: New Orleans, The Thing About Pam and many more.

Rachel Pool
magazine

Rachel (Waggener) Pool ('07)

December 14, 2021

When Dr. Rachel Pool stepped onto Ouachita’s campus for Super Summer in high school, she fell in love. Not with a boy from another Arkansas town – she was in love with Ouachita.

Photo of Rickey and Lydia Rogers
magazine

Rickey Rogers ('02), Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life

December 14, 2021

Rickey and Lydia Rogers have developed more than 20 years of history at Ouachita, in part due to simple geography. With Rickey recruited to play football from six hours away in Mississippi and Lydia coming from six hours away in Texas, Ouachita and Arkadelphia were right in the middle – which made attending college and settling after graduation here between their families a perfect fit.

The Johnson family gathered for Sally’s 90th birthday in May (left to right):  Lauren (’16), Jessica (’23), Cameron (’13), Keeley (’19), Jerry E., Sally (’54),  Lacey (’14), Jerry G., Buffie, Hamilton (’17) and Felicity (’20).
magazine

The Johnson Family

December 14, 2021

When you think of Tigers for Life, the Johnson family may have set a record – six Ouachita graduates in eight years, and one more headed for the stage in 2023.

Top