Ouachita Stories

“Arkansas’ most exciting college weekend” is just around the track – Tiger Traks that is. On April 12 and 13, the Ouachita Student Foundation will host the 38th annual event beginning at 6:15 p.m. Friday with a giant egg toss game on A.U. Williams football field following the Ouachita Tiger football scrimmage.

Tiger Traks presents students with a chance to compete in a variety of different games and events, and is hosted by the Ouachita Student Foundation, whose mission includes raising scholarship money for Ouachita students.

Students participating in Traks form teams of eight and compete in various events over two days. Teams compete, gather points and can receive cash prizes for first, second and third place finishes. But Traks isn’t all about the prizes.

Tim Harrell, director of campus activities, says that Traks gives students a stress reliever from a hectic time of the year. “Its an opportunity to not forget about studies,” he said, “but to take a small break right before the semester is over with and take part in one of the older traditions the school has ... and honestly, it’s just fun.”

Students are invited to cheer on the Tigers Friday afternoon before Traks activities begin. The Tiger baseball team will take on Arkansas Tech at Rab Rodgers Field at 2 p.m., and the Tiger football team will play their spring scrimmage on A.U. Williams Field at 4:30 p.m. Sodexo will serve dinner at the field from 4:30-6:15 p.m.

Tiger Traks will officially begin with the egg toss on A.U. Williams Field at 6:15 p.m. That evening, a rotation of games will be played in Sturgis Physical Education Center (SPEC) and in the Student Village circle, followed by Tiger Trek, a campus-wide scavenger hunt beginning at the Village circle. Saturday’s events include raft races at Waggoner Pool in SPEC and trike races in the Village circle, both at 9 a.m. The mega-relay will be held at 11 a.m. on the intramural fields, and tug-of-war and oozeball will conclude the competition that afternoon beginning at 1 p.m.

Saturday evening, the Tiger Traks Awards Ceremony will be held in the Rachel Fuller & Ouachita Singers Memorial Amphitheatre at 6:30 p.m., followed by Tiger Idol at 7 p.m., presented by Student Senate.

Most of the equipment for Traks is supplied by OSF, however, a group of businesses in the community also have volunteered to help cover the cost for Traks, donating more than $1,000.

“Maybe that doesn’t sound like a lot,” said senior Mary Castleman, chair of OSF’s Special Events Committee, “but to a student that’s going to get an extra thousand dollar scholarship, that will mean a lot.”

Going forward with Tiger Traks, Castleman sees growth potential. “I think we have a really good direction right now as far as bringing the community into this and finding creative ways to raise more funds,” she said. “I think in the future you can expect to see even more business involvement ... more sponsorships and hopefully just more people from the community at the events.”

Students, faculty and staff may register for Tiger Traks up until April 10. For more information, as well as team applications, visit www.obu.edu/osf/tiger-traks or contact OSF at [email protected].

By Garet West