Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University officials have announced the students selected to receive the Bill and Sharon Arnold Family Educational Foundation Scholarships. The recipients include: Samantha Chidester, B. J. Harrison, Jonathan King and Colby Petty, all of DeValls Bluff; and Paige Walters of Hazen. Each of the students graduated from Hazen High School in the class of 2009.

The Arnold Foundation Scholarships will provide funding up to full cost of tuition, fees, room and board to attend Ouachita Baptist University for each of the five recipients. The scholarship winners were selected on a competitive basis and will enroll at Ouachita this fall.

According to Curtis Arnold, who serves as the trustee of the Arnold Family Foundation, "The Bill and Sharon Arnold Family Foundation is excited about supporting graduates of Hazen High School who are interested in pursuing their college education at Ouachita. We firmly believe that Ouachita is one of the best liberal arts schools in the country.

"At the same time," Arnold added, "we strongly believe that students from the Hazen and DeValls Bluff area who are interested in OBU shouldn't let financial concerns stop them from pursuing their dreams."

The Arnold Family affirmed the recipients of the scholarships saying they believe each will "excel at OBU."

Terry Peeples, vice president for development at Ouachita, expressed gratitude to the Arnold family for their generous support of students from Hazen High School, saying, "The gift the Arnolds are giving these students is overwhelming. Each of these students has been given a wonderful opportunity to focus on their educational journey at Ouachita and to experience one of the strongest academic programs in the region.

"We are deeply appreciative of the support of the members of the Arnold family," Peeples added, "and we are proud of the strong relationship the university has with alums like members of the Arnold family who are willing to give young people the chance to fulfill their educational goals at Ouachita. We look forward to welcoming these students to the university in August."

By Rebecca Jones