Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University will hold its 125th annual spring commencement exercises on Saturday, May 12, at 9:30 a.m. on the front lawn of the university’s historic Cone-Bottoms Hall. The ceremony will honor 318 graduates with a total of 325 degrees, including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees.

Ouachita President Rex M. Horne, Jr., will preside over the annual commencement exercises. The ceremony will include an invocation by Senior Class President Nolan West, a biology major from Bolivar, Mo.; scripture reading by Jesse Pruett, a Christian studies and Biblical languages major from Harrison, Ark.; and remarks by President Horne.

Dr. Deborah Root, professor of communications, will serve as the commencement marshal. Ouachita’s 13 retiring faculty members will serve as honorary marshals: Nona Anderson, professor emerita of modern languages; Eddie Ary, associate professor emeritus of finance; Shirley Dumais, assistant professor emerita and circulation/reference librarian; Dr. Janice Duncan, professor of modern languages; Rosemary Flora, lecturer in English; Dr. Sim Flora, professor emeritus of music; Dr. Stephen Garner, assistant professor emeritus of music; Glenn Good, professor emeritus of physics; Russell Hodges, associate professor emeritus of music; Dr. Richard Mills, professor emeritus of sociology; Dr. Irene Trofimova, professor emerita of modern languages; Lindsay Van Sicklen, assistant professor and periodicals librarian; and Tona Wright, professor emerita of kinesiology and leisure studies.

Dr. Stan Poole, vice president for academic affairs, will confer degrees upon the graduates. Dr. Danny Hays, dean of the Pruet School of Christian Studies, will lead a responsive reading and Gene Whisenhunt, chairman of the Board of Trustees, will deliver the prayer of dedication.

Ouachita Baptist University, a leading liberal arts university, is ranked nationally among “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes magazines. Founded in Arkadelphia in 1886, Ouachita seeks to foster a love of God and a love of learning in a Christ-centered learning community.

A video of Saturday’s commencement exercises will be posted on the university website at www.obu.edu/broadcast following the service. For more information about commencement, visit www.obu.edu/registrar/graduation-and-commencement.

By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications