Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s student publications received 27 awards at the recent Arkansas College Media Association Conference in Conway, Ark.

“I am very proud of our students for the recognitions they received at Arkansas College Media,” said Dr. Deborah Root, chair of the Rogers Department of Communications and faculty advisor for the Ouachitonian.

“I think one thing Ouachita stands for is excellence,” said Becca Watts, a senior mass communications major from Smackover, Ark. Watts serves as co-editor-in-chief for the 2011 Ouachitonian yearbook. “Our book not only shows Ouachita’s excellence but also shows the effort we put into achieving excellence at the school.” Watts earned two third place awards in the Organizations Layouts category.

The Ouachitonian earned 17 awards including second place for general excellence. The awards given are based on the 2010 edition of the book. The book also received six Golden Circle Awards and a Gold Medalist rating from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and was featured in the Jostens’ 2011 Gotcha Covered Look Book, Volume 9. The Signal student newspaper staff earned five awards and the Photo Lab staff added five recognitions. The Signal is also a CSPA Gold Medalist publication.

“Our students worked very hard to produce quality publications, and it’s nice to see them honored for their hard work and dedication,” Root added.

“It’s impressive that the book did so well considering the size of our campus,” said Tanner Huffman, a junior mass communications and graphic design major from Wynne, Ark. “It just goes to prove that a small, close-knit environment can succeed alongside larger schools with unlimited resources.” Huffman earned second place in Special Features Writing and second place in Sports Layout.

“It was great to have our hard work recognized at the ACMA awards,” added Ananda Boardman, news/features co-editor of The Signal. “We’re so proud of our staff for all the effort they put in this year.” Boardman, a senior political science and Spanish major from Geronimo, Texas, along with News/Features Co-editor Tanner Ward, a sophomore mass communications and business administration/finance major from Benton, Ark., received honorable mention in Front Page Layout.

2010 Ouachitonian Editor Megan Lindsey, a 2010 mass communications graduate, won second place in Portrait Layouts, second place in Feature Layouts, second place in the Yearbook Cover category, third place in Closing Theme Pages and second place in Feature Layout, an award she shared with Cassie Harrell.

Harrell, a senior mass communications major from Ruston, La., and co-editor-in-chief of the 2011 Ouachitonian, also earned second place honors in Student Life Layout, third place in Student Life Layout and honorable mention in Organizations Writing.

Other members of the Ouachitonian staff who were recognized include: Shea Higgerson, a former mass communications student from Stuttgart, Ark., who received second place in Academic Layout; Bethany Moss, a senior Christian studies/Biblical studies major from Mesquite, Texas, who received third place and honorable mention awards in Special Features Writing; Brittany Vick, a mass communications and Christian studies/Biblical studies graduate who received third place in Academic Writing; and Whitney Crews, a senior mass communications major from Jonesboro, Ark., who received honorable mention in Sports Writing.

In addition to Boardman and Ward’s award, the following Signal staff members earned awards: Tarah Elliot, a junior mass communications major from Benton, Ark., who received third place in Review Writing; Townsend Keller, a junior mass communications major from Celina, Texas, who received honorable mention in Sports Story Writing; and Neil Wacaster, a junior business administration/management major from Hot Springs, Ark., who received third place and honorable mention awards for Comic Strips. Leah Garavelli, a junior mass communications major from Olive Branch, Miss., serves as editor-in-chief of The Signal.

In photography, OBU Photo Editor Callie Stephens, a senior mass communications major from Conway, Ark., won third place in Photographer of the Year, first place in Academics Photo, first place in Feature Photos and second place in News Photo. William Wood, a senior accounting major from Magnolia, Ark., earned third place in Sports Photos.

For more information, contact Dr. Deborah Root at [email protected] or (870) 245-5510.

By Breanne Goodrum