Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University will host a reception Monday, Nov. 28, to honor Miss Arkansas Kristen Glover. A 2011 Ouachita graduate and reigning Miss OBU, Glover was crowned Miss Arkansas 2011 earlier this year and will compete in the Miss America Pageant in January. The reception will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Hickingbotham Hall Lobby and Young Auditorium.

A meet-and-greet reception will start off the evening in Hickingbotham Hall, providing students, faculty, staff and other guests the opportunity to visit with Glover and wish her well on her journey to the Miss America Pageant.

Following the meet-and-greet time, a brief program will be held in Young Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. including remarks from President Rex Horne and Kirt Thomas, co-executive director of the Miss OBU Pageant, and special music by the Ouachita Sounds. Glover will also speak briefly during the program about her experience as Miss OBU and Miss Arkansas. The program will be followed by an additional opportunity for guests to visit with Glover.

“The Ouachita reception for Kristen is an opportunity for the university and the community to offer our congratulations for her significant accomplishments and best wishes at the next level,” said Trennis Henderson, OBU vice president for communications. “We encourage her friends, classmates and others to join Kristen in this special time of celebration.

“We are pleased to honor Kristen for her achievements as Miss OBU and Miss Arkansas,” Henderson added. “During her years as a student at Ouachita, Kristen excelled in the classroom and in community service. She is an outstanding representative for Ouachita and we wish her the very best as she competes in the Miss America Pageant in January.”

Glover will be presented with a special gift from the university “to mark this milestone and remind her that the entire campus supports her in her journey,” said Lauren Land, director of OBU’s Alumni Office.

Glover, the daughter of Keith and Mary Glover of Stuttgart, Ark., graduated from Ouachita in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. She plans to attend the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy following her year as Miss Arkansas.

“Second Chances: Empowering Youth to Rise Above” is Glover’s pageant platform. In the Miss Arkansas competition, Glover also received the crowd favorite award, interview award and lifestyle & fitness award as well as preliminary awards for lifestyle & fitness and evening gown.

Crowned by outgoing Miss Arkansas Alyse Eady, a 2010 Ouachita alumna, Glover is the fifth reigning Miss OBU to be named Miss Arkansas and the 10^th OBU alumna to earn the state crown.

Glover was active in campus and community service during her years at Ouachita, serving as student recruitment co-chair of the Ouachita Student Foundation and Tiger Tunes director for Tri Chi women’s social club. She also was involved in the American Chemical Society and intramural sports. A Ouachita Scholar, she was named to the Ouachita President’s List and Dean’s List and was a recipient of the Mondy-Provine Chemistry Scholarship. She also volunteered with the Promise House, the Courage House and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

By Breanne Goodrum