Ouachita Stories

Kelsey Frink, a senior early childhood education major from Marion, Mass., was crowned Ouachita Baptist University’s 2013 Homecoming Queen during Ouachita’s pre-homecoming game ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Frink and other members of the court were presented at A.U. Williams Field, followed by the kickoff of the Homecoming football game against Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Ouachita President Rex Horne and OBU’s 2012 Homecoming Queen, Hannah Pilcher, crowned Frink. The 2013 Homecoming Court included Carli Sasser, Lindsey Fowler, Molly Bowman and Kristen Barnard.

The nominees were presented to the Ouachita student body during the weekly chapel service. They represented various campus clubs, classes and organizations. After the service, students were given the opportunity to vote for the court by casting ballots for their top five choices. The results were not announced until the Oct. 12 pre-game ceremony.

“I was really surprised at first, whenever they called my name,” Frink said. “I’m really proud to represent Ouachita as their Homecoming Queen, and I’m proud to be the Campus Ministries rep.”

Frink represented OBU Campus Ministries and was escorted by her father, Kim Frink. She serves as a CM Ministry Leader and participated in the CM Tiger Tunes show. She has been named to Ouachita’s Dean’s and President’s Lists and is a member of the International Club and Carl Goodson Honors Program. Frink is a member of Off the Broadway drama ministry, Freshman Family Groups and intramural sports and serves in the children’s ministry at Park Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia.

“My mom and dad and baby sister were able to come for Homecoming and for Tunes this year, so my dad was able to escort me. We’re from Massachusetts, so it’s a really big deal,” Frink added. “I’m just really thankful to have such a great group of peers and faculty and staff to represent here as Homecoming Queen. Go OBU Tigers!”

First runner-up was Carli Sasser, a senior music education major from Crossett, Ark. Sasser represented Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club’s 2011 pledge class and was escorted by her father, Scott Sasser. She serves as president of Ouachita Singers and is a sweetheart of Eta Alpha Omega and also is involved in the Refuge band and Campus Ministries Tiger Tunes show.

Second runner-up was Lindsey Fowler, a senior business administration/finance, political science and history major from Arkadelphia, Ark. Fowler represented Student Senate and was escorted by her father, Bob Fowler. She is president of Student Senate and special events chair of Ouachita Student Foundation and also is involved in EEE women’s social club, KX men’s social club, the Hickingbotham School of Business Student Advisory Board and the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.

Third runner-up was Molly Bowman, a senior mass communications, Christian studies/Christian theology and art major from Conway, Ark. Bowman represented Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club and was escorted by her father, Gary Bowman. She is involved in Tri Chi women’s social club, Eta Alpha Omega, Ouachita Student Foundation, Alpha Chi national college honor society, OBU Art Club, Pruet Sisterhood, Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology and ElderServe.

Fourth runner-up was Kristen Barnard, a senior mass communications and business administration/management major from Hot Springs, Ark. Barnard represented Beta Beta men’s social club and was escorted by her father, Shawn Barnard. She serves as OBU student photo director and as an OBU Admissions Counseling telecounselor and also is involved in OBU Campus Ministries and Enactus.



The 2013 Ouachita Homecoming Court, pictured above, includes (L-R): fourth runner-up Kristen Barnard, third runner-up Molly Bowman, Queen Kelsey Frink, second runner-up Lindsey Fowler and first runner-up Carli Sasser.   [ Photo by John Bunch. To view and order photos of the Homecoming nominees, visit www.bunchphoto.com. ]



Other Homecoming court nominees included:

Tori Abellera, a senior mass communications major from Garland, Texas, represented Rho Sigma men’s social club. She is involved in Rho Sigma as a sweetheart, Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce Student Ambassadors, the Ouachitonian yearbook, The Signal student newspaper and Ouachita Student Foundation. She was escorted by Ace Collins, her church small group leader.

Erica Armstrong, a junior psychology and graphic design major from Benton, Ark., represented Chi Delta women’s social club’s 2013 pledge class. In addition to Chi Delta, she is involved in the Art Club. She was escorted by her father, Jeff Armstrong.

Elizabeth Bacon, a sophomore Christian studies and psychology major from Bryant, Ark., represented the Pruet Sisterhood in Ouachita’s Pruet School of Christian Studies. In addition to the Pruet Sisterhood, she is involved in the Big Brother Big Sister program and the Campus Ministries Tiger Tunes show. She was escorted by her father, Tommy Bacon.

Harmony Bussell, a senior kinesiology major from Texarkana, Ark., represented the Kinesiology Club. In addition to the Kinesiology Club, she has served with Special Olympics and TranServe and is a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa kinesiology honor society. She was a recipient of the 2013 Arkansas Governor’s Council in Fitness Group Leadership Award and assisted in cancer rehabilitation research through the kinesiology department. She was escorted by her father, Doug Bussell.

Ellen Butler, a sophomore business administration and mass communications major from Waco, Texas, represented College Republicans. In addition to College Republicans, she is involved in Freshman Family Groups, EEE women’s social club and the Ouachita Student Foundation. She was escorted by her father, Clay Butler.

Krista Carlisle, a senior accounting major from Searcy, Ark., represented the Ouachita Cheerleaders. She serves as co-captain of the cheer squad and secretary of EEE women’s social club and is a member of Enactus. She was escorted by her father, Keith Carlisle.

Layne Castleman, a sophomore early childhood education major from Allen, Texas, represented the sophomore class. She is involved in Freshman Family Groups and Tri Chi women’s social club. She was escorted by her father, Greg Castleman.

Abby Catlett, a junior communication sciences and disorders major from Hot Springs, Ark., represented Kappa Chi men’s social club. She is involved in Kappa Chi as a little sis, serves as president of OBU’s chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and is a member of EEE women’s social club. She was escorted by her father, Glen Catlett.

Emory Clayborn, a senior communication sciences and disorders major from Camden, Ark., represented EEE women’s social club’s 2011 pledge class. In addition to EEE, she is involved in National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and OBU Wrestling Mat Maids. She was escorted by her father, Bobby Clayborn.

Shelby Davis, a junior biology major from White Oak, Texas, represented Campus Activities Board, where she serves as co-chair. She also is involved in Alpha Chi national college honor society, Welcome to Ouachita’s World Steering Committee and Tri Beta biological honor society. She was escorted by her father, Tracey Davis.

Trinity Dial, a junior biology major from Texarkana, Texas, represented Panhellenic Council. She also is involved in College Republicans, Chi Delta women’s social club and Tri Beta biological honor society. She was escorted by her father, Brian Dial.

Aaryn Elliott, a junior early childhood education major from Bentonville, Ark., represented the Ouachita Student Foundation. She also is involved in Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education and EEE women’s social club. She was escorted by her father, Wyley Elliott.

Tori Harper, a junior pre-nursing major from Kaufman, Texas, represented Chi Delta women’s social club, where she serves as Tiger Tunes director. She was escorted by her mother, Linda Harper.

Annelise Henley, a senior history, psychology and graphic design major from Arkadelphia, Ark., represented the senior class. She is involved in Tri Chi women’s social club, Student Senate, Ouachita Student Foundation and Phi Alpha Theta national history honor society. She was escorted by her father, Dr. Keldon Henley.

Hayley Hill, a senior Spanish and secondary education major from Rogers, Ark., represented Tri Chi women’s social club. She also is involved in Ouachita Student Foundation, Fellowship Church K Groups, Veritas women’s ministry and intramural sports. She was escorted by her father, Roger Hill.

Brittney Jones, a senior business administration/finance and management major from Texarkana, Ark., represented Enactus. She also is involved in Beta Gamma Sigma international honor society for business, the Hickingbotham School of Business Student Advisory Board, The Signal student newspaper and Alpha Chi national college honor society. She was escorted by her father, Larry Jones.

Kristen Liles, a sophomore biology major from Whitehouse, Texas, represented the OBU Baseball Team Diamond Dolls, which she serves as president. She also is involved in the Tiger Steel Drum Ensemble. She was escorted by her father, Rusty Liles.

Abby Lindsey, a junior business administration/management major from Van Buren, Ark., represented the OBU Football Team Gridiron Girls. She also is involved in Student Senate, EEE women’s social club and Enactus. She was escorted by her father, Kenny Lindsey.

Lauren Linton, a senior musical theatre major from Millington, Tenn., represented Sigma Alpha Sigma men’s social club, where she is a sweetheart. She also is involved in Chi Delta women’s social club and Theta Alpha Phi national honor fraternity for theatre arts. She was escorted by her boyfriend, Jonathan King.

Gracie Lundstrum, a junior mass communications and speech communication major from Springdale, Ark., represented the junior class. She is involved in EEE women’s social club, Student Senate, Ouachita Student Foundation and the Big Brother Big Sister program. She was escorted by her father, Tom Lundstrom.

Bonnie Magee, a sophomore accounting major from Conway, Ark., represented Tri Chi women’s social club’s 2013 pledge class. She also is involved in Ouachita Student Foundation and Freshman Family Groups and is an America Counts tutor. She was escorted by her father, Jimmy Magee.

Madeline Martin, a junior biology and secondary education major from Garland, Texas, represented the Carl Goodson Honors Program, where she serves as community chair. She also is involved in Alpha Chi national college honor society, Ouachita Singers, Tri Beta biological honor society, Campus Activity Board and EEE women’s social club. She was escorted by her father, Jeff Martin.

Lauren McElyea, a senior music major from Garland, Texas, represented Chi Rho Phi women’s social club. She also is involved in Pi Kappa Lambda national music honor society and the Pruet School of Christian Studies’ Pruet Sisterhood. She was escorted by her father, Andrew McElyea.

Katie Meador, a senior graphic design major from San Antonio, Texas, represented EEE women’s social club’s 2013 pledge class. She was escorted by her father, Scott Meador.

Kristen Morris, a senior communication sciences and disorders major from Hamburg, Ark., represented Chi Delta women’s social club, where she serves as vice president. She also is involved in OBU Football Club Gridiron Girls, National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, College Republicans and OBU Baseball Diamond Dolls. She was escorted by her father, Mark Morris.

Hannah Nolan, a senior dietetics and nutrition major from North Little Rock, Ark., represented Panhellenic Council. She also is involved in Tri Chi women’s social club, Ouachita Student Foundation and the Dietetics Club. She was escorted by her father, Garry Nolan.

Reagan Parsons, a sophomore biology major from Arkadelphia, Ark., represented EEE women’s social club’s 2013 pledge class. She also is involved in the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team. She was escorted by her father, Odas Parsons.

Michelle Perez, a senior business administration and political science major from Maracaibo, Venezuela, represented the International Club. She serves as a tutor for Ouachita’s Academic Success Center, as a student ambassador for the Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Hickingbotham School of Business Student Advisory Board. She was escorted by Ian Cosh, OBU’s vice president for community and international engagement.

Sarah Pollock, a senior dietetics and nutrition major from Fort Worth, Texas, represented the Dietetics Club. She also is involved in Tri Chi women’s social club and the Ouachita Student Foundation. She was escorted by her father, Robert Pollock.

Chandler Powell, a sophomore communication sciences and disorders and Spanish major from Arkadelphia, Ark., represented Chi Delta women’s social club. She also is involved in ElderServe, National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and College Republicans. She was escorted by her father, Dr. Brett Powell.

Mauri Sparks, a senior Christian studies and mass communications major from Queen City, Texas, represented the Ouachitonian yearbook. She also is involved in Campus Ministries and Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology. She was escorted by her father, David Sparks.

Jenna Suen, a freshman from Bentonville, Ark., represented the freshmen class. She is involved in intramural sports and Women's Chorus. She was escorted by her Freshman Family Group leader, Josh Rubin.

Carrington Tillery, a senior business administration/management, marketing and political science major from Hot Springs, Ark., represented EEE women’s social club, where she serves as president. She also is involved in the Big Brother Big Sister program and Enactus. She was escorted by her father, Chad Tillery.

Elizabeth White, a senior mathematics major from Searcy, Ark., represented the Ouachita Cheerleaders, where she serves as co-captain. She also is involved in EEE women’s social club and Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education and serves as a math tutor. She was escorted by her father, Bob White.

Rachel Wicker, a sophomore Christian studies/missions and mass communications major from Benton, Ark., represented the Ben M. Elrod Center for Family and Community, where she is a member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team. She also is involved in the Campus Ministries Leadership Team and Tiger Tunes show. She was escorted by her father, Tim Wicker.

Kelsey Willis, a senior chemistry and biology major from Redfield, Ark., represented the American Chemical Society. She also is involved in Tri Chi women’s social club and Alpha Chi national college honor society. She was escorted by her father, Troy Willis.