Ouachita Stories

Thirty-six Ouachita Baptist University students have been selected for inclusion in the 2012 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

The students were chosen for Who’s Who by OBU’s faculty, staff and 2012 senior class based on their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success.

The following Ouachita students will be included in Who’s Who:

Rebecca Atkinson, 21, is an early childhood education major from Arkadelphia, Ark. A graduate of Arkadelphia High School, she has served as treasurer of EEE women’s social club, service co-chair of Ouachita’s chapter of Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education and as a little sis for Kappa Chi men’s social club. She has also been a member of Ouachita Student Foundation and Alpha Chi national college honor society and has been named to Ouachita’s President’s List. Atkinson has received OBU’s Alice Searcy Award and the Lions Club’s Curtis Echols Award. She volunteers with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program as well as Tiger Serve Day, is an active member of First Baptist Church in Arkadelphia and has worked at Gymnastics Plus and Kelzek Fine Jewelry and Gifts. Upon graduation from Ouachita in May of 2013, she plans to pursue a career in elementary education.

Stephanie Batsel, 21, is a music and business administration/marketing major from Mansfield, Texas. A graduate of Mansfield High School, she has served as section leader and vice president of Ouachita Singers and is a member of Students in Free Enterprise. Batsel has been named to Ouachita’s Dean’s List and was chosen as Ouachita’s 2012 Homecoming Queen as well as a 2012 Tiger Tunes hostess. She has volunteered as team leader for Tiger Serve Day and as project leader for SIFE’s new initiative with the Pregnancy Resource Center of Southwest Arkansas. A member of Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, she also serves with the youth group there and at First Baptist Church of El Dorado. Batsel has worked at Serenity Salon & Skincare in Mansfield and, upon graduation from Ouachita in December, plans to pursue additional degrees in music education in order to teach at the university level.

Kendall Calvert, 22, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in church media/production arts from Ouachita in May. A graduate of Timberview High School in Mansfield, Texas, she has served as a Campus Ministries ministry leader for photography, Freshman Family Groups and Tiger Tunes choreographer and has been a member of the Welcome to Ouachita’s World steering committee and the Jones Performing Arts Center crew. Calvert has also served as a women’s discipleship leader, a new student retreat leader and a Disciple Now leader and was named first runner-up on Ouachita’s Homecoming Court. She has volunteered with Tiger Serve Day and Beach Reach and has served with the youth at First Baptist Church in Benton, including mission trips to Alaska and Peru. Calvert said she plans to pursue a career “that involves having fun and glorifying God.”

Kinsey Ann Carpenter, 22, is a choral music education major from Mason, Tenn. A graduate of Evangelical Christian School, she has served as vice president and social chair/alumni correspondent of Tri Chi women’s social club as well as secretary and fundraising and finance co-chair of Ouachita Student Foundation. She has also been a member of Ouachita Singers, Concert Choir, the 2010 Homecoming steering committee, Pi Kappa Lambda national music honor society, Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education and the 2011 Mission, Vision and Values student leadership team. Carpenter volunteers with OBU’s ElderServe and TranServe programs and has served with the children’s and college ministries at Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. She has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists. Upon graduation from Ouachita in December, she plans to pursue a career in public elementary or secondary education.

Natalie Carroll, 24, earned her Bachelor of Music of Education degree from Ouachita in December 2011, graduating with honors. A graduate of Gateway High School in Harare, Zimbabwe, she has served as song leader of Tri Chi women’s social club and rehearsal accompanist for Concert Choir and has been named to OBU’s President’s and Dean’s Lists. Carroll has been a member of Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education, the American Choral Directors Association and Covenant worship arts ensemble. She has served as worship leader for Baptist Bible Church in Harare and has been on the worship team at Fellowship Church in Arkadelphia. She has been the recipient of OBU’s Distinguished International Student Award and the Friends of Fine Arts award for keyboard and earned honorable mention and runner-up honors in OBU’s Virginia Queen Piano Competition. Carroll completed her student teaching internship in the public schools in Malvern, Ark., where she also organized and participated in a service-learning project at First Step. Carroll currently works as a music teacher and choral director in Zimbabwe and continues to pursue her love of composition.

Reuben Cash, 21, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and business administration with emphases in finance and marketing from Ouachita this May, graduating with highest honors. A graduate of Gateway Christian Schools, the Springfield, Tenn., native has served as a project leader and officer in Ouachita’s Students in Free Enterprise chapter. He has also been a member of Beta Gamma Sigma international honor society for business and Ouachita’s Carl Goodson Honors Program. Cash completed his undergraduate thesis for the Honors Program on the 2008 securities market crisis and the effectiveness of the resulting TARP bailout program and was named top academic achiever for OBU’s Hickingbotham School of Business. He has been a First Tee Scholar and has served as a retail management intern at Sam’s Club in Dallas as well as on OBU’s Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and as a Liberal Arts tutor. Cash plans to pursue a career as a Certified Public Accountant.

Abby Dekle, 22, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Ouachita this May, graduating with high honors. A graduate of Garland Christian Academy, the Sachse, Texas, native has been named a Ouachita Scholar, a Carl Goodson Honors Scholar and Senior Outstanding Woman and has been a recipient of Ouachita’s Betty Oliver Grant Endowed Award. Dekle has served as chair of Alpha Tau honors society and sweetheart for Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club and has been a member of Campus Activities Board, Tri Beta biological honor society and Campus Ministries Tiger Tunes. She served as a resident assistant for two years and has served as co-chair for Ouachita’s Thanksgiving Day Basket program and as a leader for New Student Retreat and Welcome to Ouachita’s World new student orientation. She has also volunteered with ElderServe and Tiger Serve Day and attended Park Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. She will attend medical school in the fall and hopes to pursue a career in pediatrics and participate in medical missions.

Cheyenne Flemister, 22, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance from Ouachita in May, graduating with highest honors. A graduate of Monticello High School in Monticello, Ark., she has been named to Ouachita’s President’s List and is a member of Alpha Chi national college honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma international honor society for business, EEE women’s social club, Hickingbotham School of Business Student Advisory Board and OBU’s 125^th Anniversary Steering Committee. She has served as co-president as well as fundraising and finance co-chair of Ouachita Student Foundation and as a student facilitator for Freshman Business Seminar and the OBU Experience seminar. Flemister has volunteered with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, TranServe, Tiger Serve Day and Second Baptist Church of Arkadelphia as a 6^th and 7^th grade girls leader. She has also been involved in The Desk Project in Ghana, Africa, and represented OBU at the National Student Leadership Conference. She has worked in OBU’s Office of Student Services and as a phonathon caller for the Office of Development and completed an internship with Echols, Thompson & Davis Ltd., a local CPA firm.

Max Ford, 22, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry from Ouachita this May, graduating with high honors. A graduate of Arkadelphia High School in Arkadelphia, Ark., Ford has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists and was awarded first place in the biochemistry poster division at the state IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) symposium. He has been a member of Ouachita Student Foundation and American Chemical Society and has volunteered with Tiger Serve Day. Ford serves as an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Arkadelphia and has worked at the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce as well as collecting and analyzing water samples at Ouachita’s Water Lab. Ford plans to pursue further education in environmental studies or environmental toxicology with a career goal of completing geological impact research on water quality analysis near industrial work sites.

John Gomez, 21, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology and his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Ouachita in May, graduating with highest honors. A graduate of Graham High School in Bluefield, Va., Gomez currently resides in Conway, Ark. He has served as president and vice president of Ouachita’s chapter of the American Chemical Society and has been named Overall Academic Achiever for the university as well as top academic achiever for the Patterson School of Natural Sciences, a Mondy-Provine Scholar, Ben Elrod Scholar and Outstanding Junior English Major. Gomez completed biological research internships at both Stanford University School of Medicine in California and Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg, Germany. He has served as a science and math tutor at OBU and has volunteered with the Arkadelphia Human Development Center and the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Gomez plans to pursue a Ph.D. in physical chemistry or English in order to teach at the university level.

Mason Hayes, 21, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Ouachita in May. A graduate of Cabot High School in Cabot, Ark., Hayes has been named to Ouachita’s Dean’s List. He has served as a member of the student leadership team for Welcome to Ouachita’s World student orientation and has been a member of OBU’s Student Senate and Beta Beta men’s social club. Hayes has been involved in Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia as a K-Group member and a member of the worship planning committee. He has volunteered on the mowing crew for Tiger Serve Day and has been a two-time intramural flag football champion. Hayes is married to Hayley (Nolan) Hayes and enjoys hunting. He plans to pursue a career as a Certified Public Accountant.

Leigha Hill, 22, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in communication sciences and disorders from Ouachita in May. A graduate of Bolivar High School in Bolivar, Mo., Hill has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists. She has served on the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and as a resident assistant at OBU. Hill has been involved in Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia as a Sunday School teacher and a member of K-Groups. She has worked at Arkadelphia Kids Club, the after-school program of Third Street Baptist Church, and has volunteered as a speech therapist and childcare provider. Hill enjoys crafting, tennis, the outdoors and facilitating conversations. She plans to pursue further education to become a speech pathologist.

Natalie Holmes, 22, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education from Ouachita in May, graduating with honors. A graduate of Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas, Holmes has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists and has been a recipient of the Sylvia Gates Webb Award from OBU’s Huckabee School of Education. She has served as program assistant and tutor for America Reads/America Counts at Ouachita. She has also been involved with the Ouachita Student Foundation, Campus Ministries Tiger Tunes and the OBU Food Committee and has volunteered with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and Backyard Bible Clubs. Holmes has worked as an educator at Children’s Choice Learning Centers, children’s minister at First Baptist Church of Crossett, Ark., and student assistant at OBU’s Wetherington Lab. She plans to pursue a career teaching kindergarten through sixth grade.

Paul Heunefeld III, 21, is a worship arts major from Heber Springs, Ark. A graduate of Heber Springs High School, he has served as president of Ouachita Singers and has been named OBU Choral Student Conductor. Heunefeld has been involved in Ouachita’s Tiger Tunes production as a host in 2011 and as musical director for the Campus Ministries show in 2009. He has volunteered with Tiger Serve Day and Men’s Discipleship Wolfpacks at Ouachita and has worked as music minister of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Little Rock. Heunefeld enjo ys recording music in his home studio, aPauling Records, and also spending time outdoors, cycling, watching movies and playing intramural sports. Upon graduation from Ouachita in December, he plans to pursue a career as a music minister or conductor.

Trevor Huxham, 21, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history and Spanish from Ouachita in May, graduating with highest honors. A graduate of Legacy Christian Academy, the Plano, Texas, native, has been named to Ouachita’s President’s List and has also been named the top academic achiever in OBU’s Sutton School of Social Sciences. He has also earned the Fran Coulter Award for outstanding junior history student and the Outstanding Spanish Major award. Huxham has served as academic chair for Alpha Tau honors society, as history and traditions co-chair for Ouachita Student Foundation and on the International Food Festival Steering Committee. He has been a member of OBU’s Concert Choir, Carl Goodson Honors Program and International Club as well as Alpha Chi national college honor society, Phi Alpha Theta history honor society, Pi Gamma Mu international honor society in social sciences, Sigma Tau Delta international English honor society and Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology. Huxham has studied abroad in Costa Rica, has worked as an office assistant at R.L. Townsend & Associates, Inc. and has volunteered with Tiger Serve Day, mission trips and Welcome to Ouachita’s World new student orientation. He plans to pursue a career in writing and also seeks to teach English in Latin America.

Grace Johnson, 22, earned her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from Ouachita in May, graduating with honors. A homeschool student from Tyler, Texas, Johnson has been a member of Ouachita Singers and the choir of First Presbyterian Church of Arkadelphia. She has also been the featured vocalist for the OBU Jazz Band and is a sweetheart for Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia national fraternity for men in music. Johnson was named second runner-up to Homecoming Queen her senior year and has placed at both the state and regional levels of auditions for the National Association of Teachers of Singing, including: third place in junior women, Arkansas; second place in sophomore women, Southern Region; and third place in lower division music theatre, Arkansas. She plans to continue her education with a Master of Music degree in performance and pursue a career with national and international opera companies.

Austin King, 22, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Ouachita in May, graduating with honors. A graduate of Arkadelphia High School in Arkadelphia, Ark., King has served as president, vice president, special events director and assistant Tiger Tunes director for Kappa Chi men’s social club at Ouachita. He has also served as fundraising and finance co-chair for Ouachita Student Foundation and as a Freshman Family Group leader. King has served on OBU’s Judicial Council, is a member of Sigma Tau Delta international English honor society and has volunteered with Tiger Serve Day. He has also participated in a mission trip to South Africa with OBU’s Campus Ministries. A member of Second Baptist Church of Arkadelphia, King helps lead worship for the youth and also helps lead a middle school guys small group. He plans to attend law school in the fall.

Natasha May, 26, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian studies with an emphasis in Christian missions from Ouachita in December 2011, graduating with honors. A graduate of Highland High School in Hardy, Ark., the Cherokee Village native has been named to the Dean’s List at OBU and also was a recipient of OBU’s Betty Oliver Grant Endowed Award. May and her husband, Wesley, live in northwest Arkansas, where she is a full-time mother to their daughter, Esther, and he works with children living in poverty. She enjoys spending time with her family.

Wesley May, 25, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian studies with an emphasis in Biblical studies from Ouachita in May. A graduate of Highland High School in Hardy, Ark., May has been the recipient of the T.J. Connell Award for Communicating the Gospel. May and his wife, Natasha, live in northwest Arkansas, where he works with children living in poverty and she is a full-time mother to their daughter, Esther. He enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his family and plans to pursue master’s and doctorate degrees in the future.

Cara McKinney, 21, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Ouachita in May, graduating with honors. A graduate of Hughes Springs High School in Hughes Springs, Texas, McKinney has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists and has been a recipient of the Hannah Joy Sullivan Scholarship and Ouachita Student Foundation scholarships. A member of Tri Chi women’s social club, she has served as president of Panhellenic Council and sophomore vice president on Student Senate and was awarded third runner-up to Homecoming Queen. She has been a member of OBU Marching Band and Wind Ensemble, Ouachita Student Foundation, Campus Ministries’ Women’s Discipleship and the steering committee for Welcome to Ouachita’s World new student orientation. In addition to various volunteer opportunities through Tri Chi and OBU’s TranServe program, McKinney has volunteered with Tiger Serve Day and Operation Christmas Child. She has worked as a counselor and a member of top staff for Camp War Eagle and was involved in Second Baptist Church of Arkadelphia. McKinney plans to pursue further education for a career as a physical therapist.

Katelyn Mustain, 21, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics and nutrition from Ouachita in May, graduating with high honors. A homeschool student from Lewisville, Texas, Mustain has served as co-president of Ouachita’s Dietetics Club and has been a member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and the steering committee for Welcome to Ouachita’s World new student orientation. She has been a recipient of the Service Above Self Award from the Rotary Club of Arkadelphia and has been active in Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia as a small group member. Mustain has worked as a tutor for America Reads and as a part-time employee of the Arkadelphia Kids Club, the after-school program at Third Street Baptist Church, and also volunteers with the Big Brothers Big Sisters and TranServe programs. Mustain enjoys spending time outdoors, especially running, and has completed multiple half marathons. She plans to pursue certification to become a Registered Dietician.

Kezia Arya Nanda, 22, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and speech communication from Ouachita in May, graduating with honors. A graduate of Sekolah Pelita Harapan in Sentul, Indonesia, the Jakarta native has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists. Nanda has been involved in the OBU International Club by serving as vice president and student director of the International Food Festival as well as captain for a variety of intramural sports teams. She has been named third runner-up to OBU Homecoming Queen and has been a recipient of the Mochtar Riady Scholarship, the John and Gloria Elrod Scholarship, the Global Scholarship and a Ouachita Grant. Nanda has been involved in ElderServe, Tiger Serve Day, TranServe, Compassion International and Psi Chi national honor society for psychology. She has worked as a tutor for America Counts and as a server for Sodexo; she has also served as a musician for her church, International Full Gospel Fellowship Gereja Injil Seutuh Internasional of Little Rock. Nanda plans to pursue further education and a career as a journalist or talk show host.

Zach Nottingham, 23, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications from Ouachita in December 2011. A graduate of Delta Secondary School of Windhoek, Namibia, Nottingham produced a number of video projects for Ouachita, including Tiger Tunes broadcasts, annual reports and other promotional videos such as his “Ouachita Time” stop-motion/time-lapse production. He attended Second Baptist Church of Arkadelphia and spent summers assisting with the Gulf Coast oil spill clean up and working as a youth intern at Second Baptist Church of Houston. Nottingham plans to pursue his passion for media in his career.

Beulah Osueke, 22, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Ouachita in May. A graduate of Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas, Osueke has been involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and has served as president of Ouachita’s chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She has been a member of OBU’s women’s basketball team and worked with the Upward Bound TRIO program. Osueke enjoys reading satirical comedy as well as writing as hobbies and plans to pursue a graduate degree in the fall.

Nate Peace, 22, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical languages, mass communications and Christian studies from Ouachita in May, graduating with honors. A graduate of Trinity High School, the Bedford, Texas, native has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists and was named the Garrett Hamm Honors Scholar and Sophomore of the Year. He has served as president of Ouachita’s chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology, media officer for Ouachita’s chapter of Students in Free Enterprise, publicity officer for the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and associate producer for Ouachita’s video production department, including the monthly “Ouachita Show.” Peace has also been a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation and served as an intern at Park Hill Baptist Church of Arkadelphia. He plans to pursue a ministry career as a senior or young adult pastor.

Jeremy Prine, 21, earned his Bachelor of Music degree in church music with a vocal emphasis from Ouachita in May. A graduate of DeWitt High School, the Hazen, Ark., resident has been a recipient of vocal, instrumental and Ouachita Student Foundation scholarships and is a Ouachita Scholar. Prine has served as president, Tiger Tunes director, historian and social director for Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club, parliamentarian for Kappa Kappa Psi national honorary band fraternity and beau for Tri Chi women’s social club. He has also been a member of OBU Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and OBU choirs. In addition to service projects with Eta Alpha Omega and Kappa Kappa Psi, Prine has volunteered with Tiger Serve Day, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Arkansas County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program and a community organization for drug education. He has also been involved in Campus Ministries’ Refuge and Noonday worship services. Prine has worked as contemporary worship leader and youth minister as Southside Baptist Church in Stuttgart, Ark., and as an intern at New Life Fellowship in DeWitt, Ark., and has served as a resident assistant and post office worker at Ouachita. Prine plans to pursue a ministry career as a worship pastor.

Laura Sikes, 22, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in communication sciences and disorders from Ouachita in May, graduating with honors. A graduate of Conway Christian School, the Greenbrier, Ark., native has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists. Sikes has served as vice president of Ouachita’s chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, director and leadership team member of Campus Ministries’ Tiger Tunes production, secretary of the senior class on Student Senate and social chair of OBU’s Speechie club. She is also a member of Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology. Sikes studied abroad in Liverpool, England, and also participated in a mission trip to South Korea. She has completed more than 100 hours of volunteer service with Tiger Serve Day and the OBU Speech Clinic as well as leading speech therapy at Ouachita Elementary School. Sikes plans to pursue a career as a speech language pathologist.

David Street, 22, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Ouachita in May, graduating with honors. A graduate of Highland High School in Hardy, Ark., the Cherokee Village native has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists. He has been a member of Alpha Chi national college honor society, Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology and the leadership team for Welcome to Ouachita’s World new student orientation. Street has been involved in intramural sports at Ouachita, having been a member of a flag football team that represented OBU at state and regional tournaments for four years, and attended Fellowship Church in Arkadelphia. He plans to pursue a ministry career as a youth pastor.

Allison Grigsby Sweatman, 22, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications from Ouachita in May. A graduate of Cabot High School in Cabot, Ark., Sweatman has been named to Ouachita’s Dean’s List and has served on OBU’s Student Senate. She has been a Campus Ministries ministry leader for Noonday worship services as well as a small group leader for Campus Ministries’ Women’s Discipleship. Sweatman has been involved in intramural sports and has volunteered with Tiger Serve Day. She has been involved with Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia’s K-Groups and enjoys cooking, writing, playing sports, reading and watching films with her husband, Andrew. Sweatman has worked as both a resident assistant and interim hall director at Ouachita and is continuing her work with Residence Life at OBU since graduation and also plans to pursue further education.

Wendy Vick, 22, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Ouachita in May, graduating with honors. A graduate of Conway Christian High School in Conway, Ark., Vick has been named to Ouachita’s Dean’s List and was a recipient of OBU’s Betty Oliver Grant Endowed Award. She has served as treasurer of OBU’s International Club and as a leader for Welcome to Ouachita’s World new student orientation and has been a member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, the International Food Festival Committee and Campus Ministries’ Tiger Tunes production. She has volunteered with Tiger Serve Day, ElderServe and the International Food Festival and has worked in Ouachita’s Registrar’s Office. Vick has also served as a Disciple Now leader and a Sunday School teacher. She plans to pursue further education to become a physician’s assistant and serve as an international missionary.

Jeffery Neil Wacaster, 20, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with an emphasis in management from Ouachita in May, graduating with highest honors. A homeschool student from Hot Springs, Ark., Wacaster has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists. He has also been a member of OBU’s Carl Goodson Honors Program, Students in Free Enterprise and the Hickingbotham School of Business Student Advisory Board. Wacaster’s team won first place in the business plan competition between Ouachita and Henderson State University; his comic strip for The Signal student newspaper won third place and honorable mention in Cartoon Strip or Single Panel Entertainment Cartoon from the Arkansas College Media Association; and he played Dr. Lester Cantaloupe III in Ouachita’s production of Goldilocks on Trial. Wacaster has volunteered with Tiger Serve Day and has worked as the IT and activities director for Jellystone Park in Van Buren, Mo. He plans to pursue a career as an entrepreneur and business professor.

Nate Wade, 22, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Ouachita in May, graduating with high honors. A graduate of Harmony High School in Big Sandy, Texas, Wade has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists and has been a member of OBU’s Hickingbotham School of Business Student Advisory Board, Alpha Chi national college honor society and Beta Gamma Sigma international honor society for business. He has volunteered with Tiger Serve Day and ElderServe and as a tutor for America Counts. Wade has been involved in Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia as well as intramural sports and Tiger Tunes at Ouachita. He enjoys reading, playing sports, camping, hiking and rollerblading and has accepted a position as staff accountant with Hudson, Cisine & Co. in Little Rock.

Caitlyn Wamble, 22, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian studies with an emphasis on Christian missions from Ouachita in May, graduating with high honors. A graduate of Watson Chapel High School, the Pine Bluff, Ark., native has been named to Ouachita’s President’s List. She has served as historian for OBU’s International Club and is a member of Alpha Chi national college honor society, Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology and the Campus Ministries’ Leadership Team. Wamble has volunteered with Operation Christmas Child and Tiger Serve Day and as a member of the International Food Festival Planning Committee and has worked in the Campus Ministries Office. She has also been involved in intramural sports as a member of En Fuego and Team Becky Horne and was involved in Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia’s K-Groups. Wamble plans to pursue a career in international medical missions.

Nolan West, 22, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Ouachita in May, graduating with highest honors. A graduate of Bolivar High School in Boliver, Mo., West has been named to Ouachita’s President’s List and served as senior class president on Student Senate. West was a member of Alpha Chi national college honor society, Alpha Tau honors society and OBU’s Carl Goodson Honors Program. He was chosen as a Carl Goodson Honors Scholar and Richard Brown Outstanding Biology Student. West volunteered as a ministry leader and mentor for Ouachita’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program and also served with Tiger Serve Day. He was involved in Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia as a Kids K-Group leader and a K-Group participant, and he worked in Ouachita’s library and biology department. West also was involved in intramural sports, having competed on a flag football team that represented Ouachita in state and regional tournaments. He plans to pursue further education to become a physician’s assistant.

Haley Whisenhunt, 22, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in communication sciences and disorders from Ouachita in May, graduating with high honors. A graduate of Little Rock Christian Academy, Whisenhunt has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists. She has served as treasurer and social chair for Ouachita’s chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and as a Campus Ministries ministry leader for missions. As a captain of Ouachita’s women’s soccer team, Whisenhunt was named to the All-Gulf South Conference Academic Team and the All-GSC Honor Roll and received an All-South Academic Honorable Mention from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. She has been involved in Ouachita Student Foundation, Tiger Tunes, intramural sports and Tiger Traks and has volunteered with TranServe, Tiger Serve Day, Campus Ministries’ Griffithtown food ministry and speech therapy clinics. She has been involved in a variety of ways at her church, including Vacation Bible School, children and youth summer camps and retreats, mission trips, the nursery, Sunday School and the coffee shop. Whisenhunt has also worked as a family caretaker and at Kanakuk Kamp as a counselor and girls wakeboard specialty leader. She plans to pursue further education for speech-language pathology.

Jessica Winston, 22, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Ouachita in May, graduating with honors. A graduate of Sheridan High School in Sheridan, Ark., Winston has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s Lists. She has served as co-chair of special events for the Ouachita Student Foundation and was a member of Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology and the steering committee for Welcome to Ouachita’s World new student orientation. She also served as a Freshman Family Group leader and a student facilitator for the OBU Experience seminar. Winston was involved at Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia’s K-Groups, volunteered with Tiger Serve Day and participated in intramural sports at Ouachita. She has worked as a counselor at Camp War Eagle, as a youth intern at Parkway Hills Baptist Church of Plano and as a receptionist for The Winston Clinic. Winston plans to pursue a career as a physician’s assistant.

By Brooke Zimny