Ouachita Stories

Bonnie Magee, a senior accounting major from Conway, Ark., was crowned Ouachita Baptist University’s 2015 Homecoming Queen during Ouachita’s pre-Homecoming game ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 3.

Magee and other members of the court were recognized at Cliff Harris Stadium before Ouachita’s 26-21 Homecoming football win over Harding University. She was escorted by her father, Jimmy Magee.

“I was so incredibly surprised to be crowned Homecoming Queen,” Magee said. “I love Ouachita so much, and it is such a blessing to know that students voted for me!”

Magee represented the Tri Chi women’s social club. She serves as president of Tri Chi and also is a little sister for Kappa Chi men’s social club, a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation and a tutor for the America Counts program.

“Tri Chi has been such an important aspect of my time at Ouachita,” Magee said. “Through Tri Chi I gained many characteristics of a Ouachitonian, such as leadership and service, and I am thankful I got to represent them on Saturday!”

The 38 Homecoming Court nominees represented many campus clubs and academic departments and organizations at Ouachita. Nominees were presented to the student body in Evans Student Center on Friday, Sept. 25, and a vote to determine the top 20 followed. The top 20 were presented during the Purple Plaza Party on Friday, Oct. 2, and a second vote selected the queen and four runners-up. The top 20 were presented on the field on Homecoming day.

First runner-up was Abby Root, a junior speech communication and theatre education double major from Arkadelphia, Ark., who represented Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club. She is also involved in the Welcome to Ouachita’s World Steering Committee, the Ouachita Student Foundation, Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor society, Alpha Chi national college honor society, Campus Activities Board and is an Eta Alpha Omega sweetheart. She was escorted by her father, Dr. Jeff Root, dean of Ouachita’s School of Humanities.

 

Second runner-up was Gail Lange-Smith, a sophomore dietetics and nutrition major from Zimbabwe, who represented the International Club. She also is involved in the Residential Life Program, is a Young Life Leader and is a member of the Dietetics and Nutrition Club. She was escorted by her brother, Ben Lange-Smith, a senior at Ouachita.

 

 

Third runner-up was Kayla Walker, a junior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark., who represented Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor society’s 2017 class. She serves as chaplain of Alpha Psi Omega and is a member of Ouachita Sounds, Ouachita Singers and Campus Activities Board. She was a Tiger Tunes 2015 Hostess and is a sweetheart for Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club. She was escorted by her grandfather, Charles Gibbs.

 

 

Fourth runner-up was Emily Weeden, a junior worship arts major from Rogers, Ark., who represented Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club, where she serves as a sweetheart. She also is involved in Campus Ministries Tiger Tunes Leadership Team, Refuge Leadership Team, Ouachita Singers, Alpha Chi national college honor society and Pi Kappa Lambda national music honor society. She was escorted by her father, Dan Weeden.

 

 

 

Other top 20 Homecoming nominees included:

Jessica Ashcraft, a senior biology major from White Hall, Ark., represented the Ouachita Student Foundation. She also serves as induction chair for EEE women’s social club and as vice president of Student Senate. She was escorted by her father, John Ashcraft.

 

 

 

Morgan Brothers, a senior communication sciences and disorders major from Collierville, Tenn., represented Student Senate, where she serves as secretary. She also is involved in the Ouachita Student Foundation and Welcome to Ouachita’s World Steering Committee and serves as induction chair for Tri Chi women’s social club and little sister for Kappa Chi men’s social club. She was escorted by her father, George Brothers.

 

 

Erin Cheshire, a senior choral music education major from Colorado Springs, Colo., represented Panhellenic Council. She also serves as president of Sigma Alpha Iota international music fraternity for women and is a member of Ouachita’s student chapters of National Association of Teachers of Singing and National Association for Music Education, Ouachita Singers and the Carl Goodson Honors Program. She was escorted by her father, Dave Cheshire.

 

 

Staci Gore, a junior business administration/management and finance major from Springdale, Ark., represented Campus Ministries Freshman Family Groups. She also is a member of Student Senate and the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and serves as treasurer for EEE women’s social club. She was escorted by her father, Stacy Gore.

 

 

 

Mariah Gough, a junior biology and kinesiology and leisure studies/pre-professional studies double major from Smackover, Ark., represented the OBU Cheer Squad. She also is involved in the Chi Delta women’s social club, Kinesiology Club, Chemistry Club and College Republicans. She was escorted by her step-father, Kenny Benson.

 

 

Jessica Hargis, a senior chemistry and biology double major from Camden, Ark., represented the Gridiron Girls, where she serves as president. She also serves as community chair for Alpha Tau honors society and community outreach coordinator for American Chemical Society. She is a member of the Campus Ministries Tiger Tunes Leadership Team, Psi Chi national honor society for psychology and Tri Beta biological honor society. She was escorted by her father, Leigh Hargis.

 

 

Sydney Hoffman, a senior Christian studies/Christian missions major from Jonesboro, Ark., represented Campus Activities Board. She is also involved in the Outdoor Recreation Program, International Club, Campus Activities Tiger Tunes Leadership, Veritas and the Pruet Sisterhood. She was escorted by her father, Michael Hoffman.

 

 

Anna Holcomb, a junior biology major from Springdale, Ark., represented EEE women’s social club’s 2014 pledge class. She also is involved in Student Senate, American Chemical Society and Carl Goodson Honors Program. She serves as spirit leader for EEE and in the children’s ministry at Second Baptist Church of Arkadelphia. She was escorted by her father, Brad Holcomb.

 

 

Phoebe O'Connor, a sophomore psychology major from Memphis, Tenn., represented Tiger Nation Student Leadership. She also is involved in Chi Delta women’s social club as president of pledge class 2015 and Peake Tutoring and is an OBU basketball manager. She was escorted by her father, Mike O’Connor.

 

 

 

Madi Polk, a sophomore kinesiology and leisure studies/pre-professional studies major from Wylie, Texas, represented Tri Chi women’s social club’s 2015 pledge class. She also is a member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and is a Veritas Worship Leader. She was escorted by her father, Steven Polk.

 

 

 

Treslyn Shipley, a senior studio art major from Arlington, Texas, represented the senior class. She also is involved in the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, Big Brother/Big Sister program and Campus Ministries Tiger Tunes Leadership. She was escorted by her father, Stephen Shipley.

 

 

 

Shelby Sutton, a senior worship arts major from Little Elm, Texas, represented Sigma Alpha Sigma men’s social club. She also is involved in Chi Delta women’s social club, International Justice Mission and Ouachita Singers. She was escorted by her father, Brad Sutton.

 

 

 

Haley Jo Wesson, a sophomore communication sciences and disorders major from Hot Springs, Ark., represented EEE women’s social club’s 2015 pledge class, where she serves as president. She also is involved in the Big Brother/Big Sister Program and Ouachita Student Foundation. She was escorted by her father, Clark Wesson.

 

 

 

Rachel Wicker, a senior mass communications and Christian studies/Christian missions double major from Benton, Ark., represented Campus Ministries. She also is involved in the Elrod Center, Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, International Club and Campus Ministries Tiger Tunes. She was escorted by her father, Tim Wicker.

 

 

 

Jordan Williams, a junior elementary education major from Conway, Ark., represented the junior class. She also is involved the Awana program at Third Street Baptist Church of Arkadelphia. She was escorted by her father, Brad Williams.

 

 

 

 

By Anna Hurst // Top photo by Grace Finley // Headshots by Wesley Kluck