Ouachita Stories

Celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Ouachita Baptist University’s Carl Goodson Honors Program, the program recently hosted its fourth annual Black and White Reception. The reception, held in Walker Conference Center, featured research grant awards for current honors program students.

Students who participate in the honors program during their time at Ouachita work outside their major, take innovative interdisciplinary seminars and experience one-on-one time with professors from various disciplines.

Several current students in the honors program were awarded grants to further their academic studies outside the classroom.

Molly Bowman, a senior mass communications and Christian studies/theology major from Greenbrier, Ark., was named the Ben Elrod Scholar. Bowman will attend an international marketing conference in Singapore. Dr. Ben Elrod, Ouachita chancellor and former president, presented the award named in his honor.

Anna Sikes, a senior Christian studies/Biblical studies and Christian ministry major from Greenbrier, Ark., was named the Garrett Ham Scholar. She will attend a conference on spiritual formation in Houston, Texas. The award is named in honor of 2007 honors program alumnus Garrett Ham, currently on duty as First Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General Corps Attorney in the Army National Guard.

Three students were named Carl Goodson Scholars: Kyle Hargis, a senior biology and philosophy major from Camden, Ark.; Madeline Martin, a senior biology and secondary education major from Garland, Texas; and Dustin Walter, a senior biology and chemistry major from Marion, Ark. They will attend the National Collegiate Honors Council National Convention in Colorado. The award is named for Dr. Carl Goodson, the program’s founding director and former Ouachita vice president for academic affairs. His son, Dr. Tim Goodson, a Little Rock physician, presented the award.

Jessica Hargis, a junior chemistry and psychology major from Camden, Ark., was named the Honors Council Scholar. Hargis also will attend the National Collegiate Honors Council National Convention in Colorado.

Jessica and Kyle Hargis, Martin and Walter will present their research on the Carl Goodson Honors Program, looking back on the past 50 years of the program at Ouachita. In addition to presenting their research, the students attending the national conference will have the opportunity to learn more about how to improve the program and experience for Ouachita students in the future.

“I am honored to have been selected so that I can help make a difference in our honors program,” Walter said.

For more information about the Carl Goodson Honors Program, contact Dr. Barbara Pemberton at [email protected] or (870) 245-5541.

By Jessica Stewart