Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Elrod Center for Family and Community honored W. Percy Malone with the Community Service Excellence Award at its recent University Community Service Awards banquet. Many Ouachita students, faculty and staff also were recognized for their service during the past year.

“The Elrod Center awards banquet highlights the significant commitment that Ouachita students have to making a difference in their community,” said Ian Cosh, OBU vice president for community and international engagement. “The banquet not only highlights the intensity of the service in terms of hours served but also the diversity and depth of involvement that Ouachita students have in the community.”

Percy Malone, president and owner of W.P. Malone Inc., is an Arkadelphia native and a graduate of the University of Arkansas. Prior to construction of the new Elrod facility, Malone’s former home served as the home of the Elrod Center for Family and Community. Malone’s support also made possible the Gary and Matt Turner television studio on Ouachita’s campus.

“Senator Malone has distinguished himself through many avenues of service and has been one of the key persons in the economic development of this community,” said Ouachita Chancellor Dr. Ben Elrod, describing Malone as a tireless advocate for Arkadelphia, Clark County and the state of Arkansas. “Cumulatively, the contributions that have been made to Clark County and surrounding areas as a result of his work in the legislature have amounted to over $2 billion.”

Malone served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1994-1999 and in the Senate from 2001-2012. He has served as president of the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Arkansas Business Education Alliance and the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy. In the late 1970s, Malone became involved with Clark County’s economic development efforts, working with the local Chamber of Commerce. He later created the Clark County Industrial Council through an effort with then-Governor Bill Clinton and local leaders, which developed the county’s industrial park. His dedication to children’s welfare led to the creation of the Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center in Arkadelphia in 2014 and his serving as chair of the Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Abused and Neglected Children.

W.P. Malone Inc., a pharmaceutical company that services long-term health facilities, prisons and the retail chain AllCare, employs nearly 150 people in Clark County with a staff that includes pharmacists, pharmacy and entry techs, accountants and I.T. specialists. Malone and his wife also own and operate the W.P. Malone Supreme Angus Ranch.

“I am extremely appreciative to be recognized with this award,” Malone said. “I stand here tonight receiving an award for what God has given me. I am truly humbled, and I love this place.”

Malone advised Ouachita students in attendance, “Ouachita has shown you what to do and how to do it. Now go use what you’ve learned, appreciate what God has given you and you will enjoy the same opportunities as me in your lifetime.”

Additionally, Shirley McMillan, director of the Foster Grandparent Program at Ouachita, was honored with an Outstanding Service Award. McMillan is retiring after 31 years of service to Ouachita and the community of Arkadelphia.

 

Other Ouachita faculty, staff and students honored during the banquet include:

America Reads: Rebecca Bloodworth, Stoni Butler, Layne Castleman, Erin Cheshire, Linda Copeland, Danielle Droste, Jamie Flowers, Haylee Garland, Abby Huggins, Peyton Hutchins, Danielle Jayroe, Cassie Lynch, Ashlyn Meece, Jessica Saunders, Mollie Taylor and Rachel Tucker

America Counts: Natalie Batres, Kaela Butler, Rebekah Davis, Lauren Deckelman, Taylor Graves, Lizzie Hall, Hannah Kuhn, Ali Kinsey, Bonnie MaGee, Margaret Miller, Rebecca Mitchell, Hannah Pearce, Kacie Richards, Lauren Snow, Paige Snow and McKenzie Wells

Peake Partnership Volunteer Tutors: Alex Abbott, Lizzy Adams, Caylen Campanello, Corie Denny, Rachel Dilatush, Taylor Dooly, Buzz Hardin, Emily Harris, Alex Ingram, Hayden Kirchhoff, Kaytlin Mackie, Phoebe O’Conner Law, Colleen Owen, Kayla Payne, Laura Prince, Rylee Schwaller, Spencer Soles, Patrick Sworn and Tyler White

America Reads Senior Awards: Megan McLaughlin (2013-2015), Hannah Shull (2014-2015) and Melissa Smith (2014-2015)

America Counts Senior Awards: Korey Byrd (2014), Megan Clay (2014-2015), Libby Gracia (2014-2015), Kelly Mezzananto (2013-2015) and Joel Ubeda (2013-2015)

Peake Partnership Tutors Senior Awards: Amy Simon (2014)

Missionary-in-Residence Service Award: Jon Mark and Amanda Page

Cargill Leadership Award: Joel Ubeda

ElderServe Senior Awards: Libby Gracia, Neelie Lee, Zach Matthews and Joel Ubeda

ElderServe: Mattie Alexander, Elizabeth Bacon, Sarah Balch, Johnathon Boyce, Hannah Bunch, Kaela Butler, Michael Calhoun, Elise Cobb, Morgan Cummins, Andrea Foster, Rachel Gaddis, Janna Gammon, John Givler, Arden Hall, Nina Hefner, Sydney Hesiep, Libby Hilliard, Heidi Hughes, Payton Hutchins, Bethany Johnson, Kara Lindquist, Ashley Lovely, Julie Marcks, Hannah Osborne, Marissa Pilcher, Allison Reynolds, Audrey Rodriguez, Jessica Saunders, Ashley Sharpe, Meredith Shockey, Lauren Snow, Shannon Talley, Carilyn Tarrant and Logan Turner

International Student Service Award: Craig Martin

Thanksgiving Basket Ministry: Kelly Cortez

Kluck Service Enrichment Grants, Fall 2014: Rachel Wicker and Campus Ministries Outreach to fund Bibles for new international students in their native language. Sam Beary and International Justice Mission Ouachita to provide supplies for PATH (Partners Against Trafficking Humans) and the Pregnancy Resource Center for Southwest Arkansas. Dustin Walter and Alpha Chi to purchase modeling clay for Perritt Primary School art classes so the first grade art classes could create crafts to be used as Christmas gifts. Katelyn Smith and the Art Club in partnership with the Foster Grandparents Program at OBU to produce a collaborative clay mural to decorate the new Foster Grandparent office area. Logan Kuhn and Eta Alpha Omega to fund a free event after the final Tiger Tunes show. Hannah Sweeden and Chi Rho Phi to host a drive-in movie night on the OBU campus and raise funds for PATH.

Kluck Service Enrichment Grants, Spring 2015: Johnathon Boyce and Brighter Tomorrow Foundation for a movie and children’s ministry. Katherine Melson to provide a free overnight camping and ministry experience for neighborhood children through Backyard Bible Club’s Camp Wamp. Dustin Walter and Alpha Chi Honor Society to purchase children’s books and snacks for the Fun Time Learning Center. Dustin Walter and Sara Hubbard with the American Chemical Society to fund science demonstrations for children in the Arkadelphia community. Reagan Parsons to purchase tools for the Tiger Serve Day community projects.

Campus Ministries Ministry Leaders: Bridget Bloxom, Sarah Bolin, Will Combs, Beau Daggett, Sophie DeMuth, Drew Farris, Brandon Freeman, Damaris Garcia, Connor Goad, Emily Harris, Ryan Kirk, Anna Kumpuris, Ragan Ledbetter, Katherine Melson, Marissa Pilcher, Hannah Pinkerton, Samantha Roybal, Steven Rutherford, Sadie Sasser, Treslyn Shipley, Hannah Shull, Anna Sikes, Wade Stotts, Katie Theriot, Kaiti Walker, Stephanie Westberg, Rachel Wicker and David Winkler

Tiger Serve Day Senior Leadership Awards: Bridget Bloxom, Jeremy Cooper, Jeremy Dixon, Drew Farris, Coleson Lechner, Craig Martin, Anna Sikes and David Winkler

Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team Awards: Titus Brooks, Seth Bubbus, Michael Butler, Brook East, Amber Easterly, Emily Speer Gammon, Damaris Garcia, Staci Gore, Kyle Jackson, Haley Martin, Reagan Parsons, Becca Robinson, Treslyn Shipley, Kristopher Torres, Rachel Wicker and David Willhite

Transerve Award for 75 hours or more of service for Spring 2015: Sarah Balch, Johnathan Boyce, Claudia Brizuela, Morgan Brothers, Emily Gammon, Michael Holden, Gail Lane-Smith, Phoebe O’Connor, Emily Payne, Estefanie Perez, Samantha Roybal, Lauren Snow and David Winkler

Ouachita Baptist University established the Ben M. Elrod Center for Family and Community in 1997 to encourage, coordinate and facilitate public service, volunteerism and community engagement throughout the state and region. For information about the programs of the Elrod Center, visit www.obu.edu/elrod or call (870) 245-5320.

 

By Chelsea Whelpley