Ouachita Stories

Ouachita confers degrees on 360 students during May 14 Commencement

Ouachita Baptist University conferred degrees on 360 graduates during its 135th Spring Commencement held Saturday, May 14, on the front lawn of Cone-Bottoms Hall. Graduates received Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science degrees, as well as post-baccalaureate certificates for Dietetic Internship.

Getting to where you want to go

Last academic year, Ouachita was one of the few universities to provide a fully in-person education. As we prepared for this year, we challenged ourselves to provide all the benefits of a traditional campus experience.

Ouachita to honor more than 350 graduates during May 14 Commencement

Ouachita Baptist University will hold its 135th Spring Commencement Saturday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m. on the front lawn of Cone-Bottoms Hall. The ceremony honors more than 350 graduates who have earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science degrees, as well as those who have earned post-baccalaureate certificates for Dietetic Internship. The nursing graduates, a cohort of 19, are the university’s first-ever B.S.N. degree recipients.

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.

Ouachita honors 364 graduates during 134th Commencement

Ouachita Baptist University celebrated 364 graduates from the class of 2021 during its 134th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 8. University officials conferred Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education and Associate of Arts degrees, with seven students receiving Ouachita’s first ever post-baccalaureate certificates for dietetic internship.

Progress is more about direction than speed: 2021 Commencement address

I feel a special relationship with this graduating class. Many of you began in the fall of 2017, but we first met during your senior year in high school – my first year as president. We’ve been on this journey for five years. Our kinship runs especially deep because of our shared struggles and shared responsibilities. The persistence of COVID-19 marked your entire senior year. We asked you to help us manage that threat, and you rose to the occasion.

Ouachita to honor 364 graduates May 8 at Cliff Harris Stadium

Ouachita Baptist University will hold its 134th Commencement honoring the class of 2021 on Saturday, May 8, at 9:30 a.m. in Cliff Harris Stadium on Ouachita’s campus. The ceremony will honor 364 graduates earning Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education and Associate of Arts degrees, with seven students receiving Ouachita’s first ever post-baccalaureate certificates for dietetic internship.

Commencement 2020: A year of circumstance ends in celebration

Only days after typically bitter December weather, 213 Ouachita graduates walked under a beautiful cloudless blue sky on Benson-Williams Field at Cliff Harris Stadium to receive their diplomas. Saturday, Dec. 5, marked nearly seven months since the class of 2020’s original May commencement date, which was canceled due to COVID-19 last spring.

Ouachita honors 309 graduates during 133rd commencement

Ouachita Baptist University celebrated 309 graduates from the classes of 2019 and 2020 during its 133nd commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 5. The ceremony, which was rescheduled from its original date in May due to COVID-19, was held outdoors at Cliff Harris Stadium on Ouachita’s campus.

If you can't see very far ahead, go ahead as far as you can see

In an historic commencement for Ouachita, Dr. Ben Sells addressed 2020 graduates on Dec. 5 by reflecting on the difficulties of the year and offering words of wisdom that were once shared with him.