Ouachita Stories

To say thank you for 125 years of community support, Ouachita is inviting the residents of Arkadelphia to a community celebration. The celebration will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the center of OBU’s campus. The event is free and open to everyone in the Arkadelphia community.

“The event is designed as the signature event on the 125^th Anniversary calendar,” said Keisha Pittman, OBU development officer. “It is essentially us throwing a birthday party and inviting the community to join us. It is our special way to open up our living room and say thank you to the Arkadelphia and Clark County Community.”

Pittman and Mallory Moddelmog, OBU’s director of Career Services, both serve on Ouachita’s 125^th Anniversary Steering Committee and serve as coordinators for the celebration. The two, along with a team of Ouachita students, have been working on this event since last spring.

“This summer, Save the Date cards were hand delivered by OSF (Ouachita Student Foudation) students to business and community leaders,” Pittman said. “The Community Celebration has also been included in the weekly Chamber of Commerce e-blast.” An estimated 1,000 people are expected to attend.

“The event is meant to have a ‘festival’ type feel,” Moddelmog said. “We will have dinner on the grounds, a Cub Zone with inflatables for small and big (college) kids and a dunk tank. Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be doing sport-related activities, clubs and organizations will have booths with activities for young and old and the OBU Jazz Band combo will be playing from 5-5:30 p.m. in front of Mabee. Event sponsors include Suddenlink, which is sponsoring the Amphitheatre Stage, and Centerpoint Energy, which is sponsoring the Mabee Stage.

“A formal program at 5:30 p.m. will include remarks from Mayor Chuck Hollingshead, Chamber of Commerce Director Connie Nelson, OBU Vice President for Community and International Engagement Ian Cosh, Student Senate President Jacob Lively and President Horne,” Moddelmog added. “The program will also include performances by Perritt Primary and Central Primary School choirs and end with a pep rally.”

Ouachita students are encouraged to attend and get involved. A variety of groups on campus will host booths and special events to welcome guests to the Ouachita campus.

“Students should come to the event to celebrate our university's birthday and to interact with the community in which we live,” said Lively, a senior biology major from Queen City, Texas.

“This event is a celebration of Ouachita's 125 years in the community of Arkadelphia,” said Catie Bennett, a junior early childhood education major from Nixa, Mo., and a member of the student leadership team. “This is a great opportunity for the student body to thank the City of Arkadelphia and Clark County for their wonderful support over the past few—well, 125—years.”

For more information about this event, contact Mallory Moddelmog at [email protected] or 870-245-5593 or Keisha Pittman at [email protected] or 870-245-4278.

By Lacey Brooks