Ouachita Stories

Students at Ouachita Baptist University will have the opportunity this week to gain financial support for their creative and imaginative service projects through Kluck Student Enrichment Grants.

Each semester, university-recognized, student-led programs are awarded grants to enhance student growth opportunities academically, spiritually, socially or physically. According to grant guidelines, “Preference will be given to proposals demonstrating a servant-leadership emphasis or projects that are entrepreneurial and creative in character.”

Recent recipients have ranged from Big Brother/Big Sister and Operation Christmas Child to Freshmen Family Groups and Students in Free Enterprise.

The average award amount is $250, but various amounts are awarded based on the specific projects. The deadline for submitting proposals is noon on Friday, Sept. 17. Proposals must be submitted by a student under the sponsorship of an administrator of faculty member.

Applications and guidelines for the grants are available on the Elrod Center website at http://obu.edu/famcom/kseg_application.htm. Grant recipients will be selected and notified one week after their applications are submitted.

"The Kluck grants provide an ideal incentive to allow students to put their community service ideas into action," said Ian Cosh, vice president for community and international engagement and director of the Elrod Center for Family & Community. “Our hope is that these funds will be used to provide assistance to those in need.”

Over the years, funds from the Kluck grants have been used to “motivate students to think and act creatively,” Cosh said. “The funds leverage the time and energy of students to move out and reach out to the community.”

The student leadership encouraged by the grants impacts the community surrounding Ouachita. “We all benefit,” Cosh said, “when each of us becomes aware that identifying a need and providing the leadership and resources to meet that need is at the heart of servant leadership.”

For more information on applying for a Kluck Student Enrichment Grant, contact Diane Runyan at [email protected] or (870) 245-5320.

By Lori Hilburn