Ouachita Stories

The Ouachitonian yearbook and The Signal newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University won 30 awards at the Arkansas College Media Association meeting held April 20 in Little Rock. In yearbook general excellence, the Ouachitonian won second place behind the University of Arkansas Razorback yearbook. The OBU yearbook won first place awards in Introduction Theme Page, Divider Theme Page, Closing Theme Page and Endsheets as well as a third place award in Yearbook Cover.

“We are excited our students did so well in the ACMA competition,” said Dr. Deborah Root, professor and chair of the Rogers Department of Communications and Ouachitonian adviser. “We take pride in our student publications and are proud of our students for their hard work and dedication.”

In addition to Ouachita, Arkansas colleges and universities represented by ACMA include University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, University of Central Arkansas, Southern Arkansas University, John Brown University, Central Baptist College and Northwest Arkansas Community College.

“ACMA provides a valuable network for our students to learn from other students and professional journalists,” said Dr. Jeff Root, dean of the School of Humanities and adviser of The Signal. “Our publications provide our students with hands-on experience which is valuable as they prepare for careers in media.”

Yearbook individual awards were presented to:

• Cassie Harrell-Franklin, a 2011 graduate from Benton: first place in Yearbook Portrait Layout and Yearbook Sports Layout; second place in Yearbook Feature Layout, Yearbook Portrait Layout and Yearbook Academic Layout; third place in Yearbook Organizations Layout; honorable mention in Yearbook Academic Layout


• Becca Watts, a 2011 graduate from Smackover: first place in Yearbook Student Life Writing; third place in Yearbook Organizations Writing


• Travis King, former student from Dallas, Texas: first place in Yearbook Sports Layout


• Tori Abellera, a sophomore from Garland, Texas: first place in Yearbook Academic Layout, second place in Yearbook Academic Layout


• Shay Michael, a senior from Grapevine, Texas: first place in Yearbook Student Life Writing


• Mauri Sparks, a sophomore from Queen City, Texas: third place in Yearbook Organizations Layout


• Jake Coffman, a sophomore from Tyronza: third place in Yearbook Academics Writing, Yearbook Sports Writing

Newspaper individual awards were presented to:

• Jessica Wasmund, a senior from Denison, Texas: first place in Review Writing


• Townsend Keller, a senior from Celine, Texas: second place in Sports Feature Writing, two third place awards in Sports Column Writing


• Neil Wacaster, a senior from Hot Springs: third place and honorable mention in Cartoon Strip or Single Panel Entertainment Cartoon


• Tanner Ward, a junior from Bryant: honorable mention in Front Page Layout


• Sam Cushman, a freshman from Springdale: honorable mention in Review Writing

Photography awards were presented to:

• Nicole McPhate, a junior from Conway: third place in Newspaper Sports Photo, second place in Yearbook Academics Photo


• Jason Pullano, a sophomore from Bedford, Texas: honorable mention in Newspaper Sports Photo


• Kristen Barnard, a sophomore from Hot Springs: first place in Yearbook Sports Photo


• Callie Stephens, a 2011 graduate from Conway: honorable mention in Yearbook Sports Photo


• Trevor Huxham, a senior from Plano, Texas: third place in Yearbook Art/Illustration Photo

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