Ouachita Stories

The Ouachita Circle, Ouachita Baptist University’s alumni magazine, earned a pair of awards Oct. 27 from the Arkansas chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. The Bronze Quill awards from IABC Arkansas were presented during a ceremony at Philander Smith College in Little Rock.

Ouachita’s office of communications staff received a Bronze Quill Award of Merit for the 24-page magazine which is published three times annually. The past three issues of The Circle, which was redesigned last fall, featured an emphasis on Ouachita’s threefold commitment to vision, integrity and service highlighted on the university seal.

The communications staff also received a Bronze Quill Award of Merit for The Circle’s overall publication design. The Circle also was recognized earlier this year with a national award from Baptist Communicators Association.

The Circle is produced, designed and edited by Trennis Henderson, vice president for communications, and Brooke Showalter, assistant director of communications, with assistance from Ouachita students who work in the university’s news bureau, graphic design services and photo lab.

The communications staff also works in cooperation with the office of institutional advancement, led by Wesley Kluck, vice president for institutional advancement, and the OBU alumni office, led by Lauren Land, internal director of alumni, and Chris Babb, external director of alumni. Other areas that contribute to The Circle include the president’s office, athletics and development.

IABC judges affirmed The Ouachita Circle’s “excellent design that draws the reader in to want to learn more.” Noting that the publication is “very engaging and professional,” the judges added, “There is a clear design eye at work here that allows for solid communication.”

“While our primary goal is for each issue of The Circle to effectively communicate the Ouachita story to the university’s alumni and friends, recognition by professional peers is an affirmation of that effort,” Henderson said.

“These awards especially highlight the talent and creativity of Brooke Showalter, The Circle’s associate editor, and the team of students and staff who make valuable contributions to each issue,” he added.

In addition to Henderson and Showalter, several students from Ouachita’s campus chapter of IABC attended and assisted with IABC Arkansas’ Bronze Quill Awards ceremony.