Ouachita Stories

Hayley Nolan, a senior Spanish and psychology major from North Little Rock, was crowned 2009 Ouachita Baptist University’s 2009 Homecoming Queen at the pre-game homecoming celebration on Saturday, Oct. 10.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Nolan said. “I saw Dr. Kluck aim his camera at me right before they said I had won and I thought to myself, ‘No way. No way!’”

Nolan is the chair of student recruitment for the Ouachita Student Foundations and is involved in Freshman Fifteen intramural athletics. She was escorted by her father, Garry Nolan, and represented OBU Campus Ministries. Nolan was crowned by Dr. Rex Horne, Ouachita’s president, and OBU’s 2008 Homecoming Queen, Katelyn Cash, a senior Biblical studies and speech communications double-major from Southlake, Texas.

“I would have to say this was definitely the best part of Homecoming,” Nolan said. “It’s not every day that you get to be the queen.”

Completing Ouachita’s 2009 Homecoming court were Sam Parrish, Laura Kirby, Megan Lindsey and Nancy Christner.

“It was so exciting and surreal. It was fun being on the court with Nancy, Megan, Laura and Sam; they're awesome. We just sat up there and laughed the entire time,” Nolan said.

First runner-up was Sam Parrish, a senior musical theater major from Forney, Texas. She is involved with Ouachita Singers and Theta Alpha Phi national honor fraternity for theatre arts. Escorted by her father, Donny Parrish, she represented OBU’s chapter of Theta Alpha Phi.

Second runner-up was Laura Kirby, a senior speech communication major from Mesquite, Texas. She is co-president of the Ouachita Student Foundation and a member of the Welcome to Ouachita’s World executive team. Escorted by her father, Gary Kirby, she represented the Ouachita Student Foundation.

Third runner-up was Megan Lindsey, a senior mass communications major from Camden, Ark. She is editor of the Ouachitonian yearbook and is a member of EEE Women’s Social Club. Escorted by her father, Dr. Mickey Lindsey, she represented the Ouachitonian.

Fourth runner-up was Nancy Christner, a senior dietetics major from Denton, Texas. She is s member of EEE Women’s Social Club is and involved in Elderserve. Escorted by her father, Vaughan English, she represented the Dietetics Club.

The Homecoming contestants were nominated by campus clubs, classes and organizations, and were presented to the Ouachita student body during the weekly chapel service. Following the chapel service, students cast their ballots for their top five choices. The results were not revealed until the pre-game ceremony on Saturday.

Homecoming Queen activities at Ouachita are sponsored each year by the university’s Student Senate. In addition to the field activities, the new queen and her four runners-up were introduced on stage on Saturday night at the conclusion of Tiger Tunes, an all-campus music and entertainment event on Saturday night.

Thirty Ouachita Baptist University students competed for the title of 2009 Homecoming Queen. The following students completed the field of 30:

Breona Aikins is a sophomore mass communications major from Mount Pleasant, Texas. She is a Ouachita cheerleader who represented Chi Delta 2009 pledge class. She was escorted by her brother, Jamarri Aikins.

Megan Antley is a senior biology major from Hope, Ark. She is a member of Tri Chi Women’s Social Club, and is a Kappa Chi Men’s Social Club little sis. Escorted by her father, Clay Antley, she represented the men of Kappa Chi.

Haley Barron is a senior Biblical studies and Russian double-major from Flower Mound, Texas. She is involved in the Big Sisters program and plays on Ouachita’s Lady Tigers Soccer Team. Escorted by Corey Hiscocks, she represented Eta Alpha Omega Men’s Social Club.

Sarah Berry is a senior early childhood education major from Little Rock. She is a member of Tri Chi Women’s Social Club and the Ouachita Student Foundation. Escorted by her father, Dan Berry, she represented the women of Tri Chi.

Celeste Bird is a senior biology major from Ashdown, Ark. She is a member of Chi Rho Phi Women’s Social Club and the Dietetics Club. Escorted by her father, Ed Bird, she represented the women of Chi Rho Phi.

Bethany Briscoe is a senior graphic design major from Plano, Texas. She serves on Student Senate and is a member of EEE Women’s Social Club. Escorted by her father, Rick Briscoe, she represented Beta Beta Men’s Social Club.

Colbe Christopher is a junior biology major from Prescott, Ark. She is a member of Reaching Out to Multi-cultural Students (ROMS). Escorted by her grandfather, Herdith Anthony, she represented ROMS.

Tara Davidson is a senior mass communications and speech communication double-major from Mountain Home, Ark. She is a member of EEE Women’s Social Club and is a Rho Sigma Men’s Social Club sweetheart. Escorted by her father, Vanis Davidson, she represented OBU’s chapter of International Association of Business Communicators.

Lauren English is a senior mass communications major from Hot Springs, Ark. She is a member of EEE Women’s Social Club and Alpha Chi national college honor society. Escorted by her brother, Benjamin English, she represented the men of Ernest Bailey residence hall.

Andrea Hare is a sophomore elementary education major from Hope, Ark. She is involved in Student Senate and EEE Women’s Social Club. Escorted by her father, Randy Hare, she represented the sophomore class.

Lindsay Hay is a junior early childhood education major from Blytheville, Ark. She is a member of Tau Beta Sigma national honorary band sorority and plays in the OBU band. Escorted by her father, Dennis Hay, she represented OBU’s chapter of Tau Beta Sigma.

Lori Hilburn is a junior business marketing and mass communications double-major from Monticello, Ark. She serves on Student Senate and is a member of Tri Chi Women’s Social Club. Escorted by her father, Jimmie Hilburn, she represented the junior class.

Lindsay Hollingsworth is a senior accounting major from Mountain Home, Ark. She is involved in the Big Sister program and is on OBU’s Hickingbotham School of Business Student Advisory Board. Escorted by her father, Mark Holligsworth, she represented the EEE Women’s Social Club.

Shannon Hunt is a sophomore choral music education major from Longview, Texas. She is involved in Ouachita’s Women’s Chorus and Tri Chi Women’s Social Club. Escorted by her father, Steve Hunt, she represented Tri Chi’s 2009 pledge class.

Chelsy Lewis is a sophomore speech pathology major from Benton, Ark. She is captain of the OBU cheerleading squad and is a member of Chi Delta Women’s Social club. Escorted by her father, Mike Lewis, she represented the OBU Cheerleaders.

Dawn McNulty is a freshmen English and secondary education double-major from Katy, Texas. She serves on Student Senate and is in the OBU marching band. Escorted by Dr. Doug Sonheim, she represented the freshman class.

Lauren Nelson is a senior biology major from Russellville, Ark. She is a member of Tri Chi Women’s Social Club and the Campus Activities Board. Escorted by her father, Greg Nelson, she represented Student Senate.

Andrea Newton is a senior biology major from Hampton, Ark. She is a member of Chi Delta Women’s Social Club and is a Rho Sigma Men’s Social Club sweetheart. Escorted by Quint Ashburn, she represented the women of Chi Delta.

Madison O’Connor is a junior sociology and political science double-major from Boulder, Colo. She is a leader in OBU Goes Green and is involved with the Campus Activities Board. Escorted by John Gaston, she represented the Campus Activities Board.

Holland Powell is a senior mass communications major from Nashville, Ark. She is editor of The Signal student newspaper and is a member of the International Club. Escorted by her father, Shawn Powell, she represented The Signal.

Anna Ryan is a senior athletic training education and biology double-major from Redlands, Calif. She is a Rho Sigma Men’s Social Club sweetheart and plays on Ouachita’s Lady Tiger volleyball team. Escorted by her father, Mike Ryan, she represented the men of Rho Sigma.

Kate Shell is a senior early childhood education major from Batesville, Ark. She is involved in the Big Sisters program and is vice president of EEE Women’s Social Club. Escorted by her father, Jay Shell, she represented the Gridiron Girls.

Sarah Sparks is a junior mass communications major from Texarkana, Texas. She is captain of the color guard and is a member of EEE Women’s Social Club. Escorted by her father, Kevin Sparks, she represented Kappa Chi Men’s Social Club’s 2009 pledge class.

Morgan Thornton is a sophomore early childhood education major from Bismark, Ark. She is involved in the Big Sisters program and EEE Women’s Social Club. Escorted by her father, Brian Thornton, she represented EEE Women’s Social Club’s 2009 pledge class.

Amy Lynn Wentz is a senior mass communications major from White Hall, Ark. She is sports editor of the Ouachitonian yearbook and a member of EEE Women’s Social Club. Escorted by her father, Jeff Wentz, she represented the senior class.

By Meg Gosser