Ouachita Stories

The Ouachita Baptist University Ben M. Elrod Center for Family and Community held its annual community service awards banquet on Tuesday, April 17. Phil Hardin, assistant to the president for administration emeritus at Ouachita, was honored with the Elrod Center’s Community Service Excellence Award. Several students, faculty and staff were also recognized for their service during the academic year.

“We have a huge volunteer base at Ouachita, and each spring, we like to take the time to express our gratitude for all the wonderful work that is accomplished by them,” said Judy Duvall, associate director of the Elrod Center. “They serve willingly and humbly in so many capacities, and it is inspiring to bring them together and celebrate all the ways they have made an impact on others through their service.”

Phil Hardin is an alumnus of Ouachita and has worked at the university for almost 26 years alongside the past five presidents. In addition to his work at Ouachita, he has provided worship music both for the residents of Twin Rivers Nursing Home and The Plaza at Twin Rivers on Sunday mornings before joining the choir at his own church. Hardin has involved several students in the nursing home ministry and, with donor support, established a student internship. He has served as a deacon, trustee and member of key committees at First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia. He and his wife, Shirley, join three other couples on Sunday night to provide a home-cooked meal and devotion to about 45 college students throughout the academic year.

“It is a true honor to award Phil the Elrod Community Service Excellence Award this year for what I think is a true example of being a servant leader,” said Ian Cosh, Ouachita’s vice president for community and international engagement. “I have always been a great admirer of his because I get to see a lot of what he does, and he never seeks any recognition. He is a powerful member of this community, and Ouachita should be proud of him.”

The Elrod Center for Family and Community was established in 1977 by Ouachita to promote community service as a way of life for the students, faculty and staff. For more information about the center or the awards banquet, visit www.obu.edu/elrod or call (870) 245-5320.

 

By Sarah Davis // Photo: Ouachita President Ben Sells, right, congratulates Phil Hardin on receiving the Elrod Center's Community Service Excellence Award. Photo by Danielle Sourber. Download full image.

April 23, 2017

 



Other students, faculty and staff honored at the banquet include:

America Counts Tutors: Britney Bost, Emory Brock, Brittany Burr, Mallory Gatson, Sarah Neumann, Brittany Ratliff, Catherine Shirley, Kailee Stinnett, and Chloe Workman.

America Reads Tutors: Delaney Bono, Haley Campbell, Erin McNully, Hannah Minton, Micah Overstreet, Kallie Polk, Sabrina Russell, Madeline Smith, Jessica Shell, and Haileigh West.

America Counts Senior Awards: Richard Resnick, Kaylie Roberts, Paige Smith, Kailee Stinnett,

America Reads Senior Awards: Briley Baird, Chandler Franklin, Shelby McCollett, Lynde Moore, Lauren Terry and Taylor Wade.

Peake Partnership Volunteer Tutors: Bailey Alexander, Spencer Briley, Savannah Edwards, Rylee Elmore, Jordan Ford, Neeshia Harvell, Logan Huneycutt, Jazmine Johnson, Brandon Matros, Madison McGee, Megan Mosely, Beth Naylor, Kord Offenbacker, Megan Osborne, Hannah Primm, Reagan Pyle, Hannah Rogers, Jasper Sanford, Michael Shepherd, Dominique Smith, and Madison Smith.

Peake Partnership Volunteer Senior Awards: Chandler Blake, Maddie Brodell, Emily Cooper, Rachel Dilatush, McKenzie Gosser, J.F. Matros, Jessica McCauley, Kaysi Roussel and Matt Savage.

Home School and After School Volunteer Tutors: Rebekah Biles, Spencer Briley, Lindsey De Soto, Tucker Douglas, Jordan Gills, Katie Harmon, Jenny Johnson, Cailey Maples, Rachel Patterson, Ashlynn Price, Hannah Primm, Rio Quilao, Stephany Quintero, Grace Roark, Hannah Rogers, Kailee Stinnett, Mandy Tebbetts, and Estelle Zhang.

Home School and After School Volunteer Senior Awards: Michael Carter, Taylor Wade, Aaron Woodall.

Kluck Service Enrichment Grants – Fall 2017: Grace Howell and Campus Ministries to provide resources for the Veritas ministry. Anna Claire Goodroe and Campus Ministries to support international outreach. Allyson Edwards and Chi Mu to purchase devotional books for spiritual growth. Cyntanna Hawkins and Alpha Chi National Honor Society to purchase clay for students at Perritt Primary School. Tori Lackey and Backyard Bible Club to help pay for Camp Wamp. Madison Provell, Jessica McCauley and Enactus to purchase materials for the ACT prep session, scholarship workshop and FAFSA night. Dylan Bester and International Club to help support club activities.

Kluck Service Enrichment Grants – Spring 2018: Sydney Allen and Monticello Children’s Home to improve the home. Natalie Gill and Alpha Psi Omega to provide publicity and snacks for the All Night Theatre Festival. Mary Daniels and Healthy Relationships Week to buy supplies for the week. Paige Smith and ElderServe to organize a Valentine Ball. Nonsikeleo Nxumalo and MORE to finance events and activities. Cooper Sutton and Outdoor Skills and Techniques to host New Life Church students for a weekend. Haley Jo Wesson and the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association to provide special events for Group Living clients. Alex Holder and the International Food Festival to offset the cost of food.

TaxServe OBU Volunteers: John Cloud, Christian Hickingbotham and Kimberly Reid.

Thanksgiving Baskets Ministry: Lauren Archer.

Healthy Relationships Week: Mary Daniels.

International Student Service Award: Dylan Bester.

Missionary-in-Residence Service Award: Lydia Stebbins.

Cargill Leadership Fund Award: Madi Polk.

ElderServe Volunteers: Caitlyn Abreu, Bailey Alexander, Mattie Alexander, Sabreena Alfaro, Olivia Allbright, Josh Altenbaumer, Lauren Archer, McKenna Arnold, Elijah Begin, Samantha Boyd, Spencer Briley, Madison Brittain, Kesley Brown, Olivia Brown, Lila Buchanan, Medora Childlow, Kayla Churchwell, Andrew Cooper, Carli Copell, Callie Covey, Jacob Crumpler, Alyssa Delker, Maggie Donnell, Allyson Edwards, Rylee Elmore, Kourtney Endicott, Mallory Gatson, Garrett Hamilton, Torrey Harrison, Drew Holland, Katlin Jacobs, Jenny Johnson, Tallie Kriegel, Moriah Manchack, Morgan Massengale, Heather McLarry, Jacklynn Minton, Layten Moseley, Sarah O’Neall, Grace Oliver, Claire Phillips, Melody Pruitt, David Rainwater, Rachel Russom, Abby Saunders, Claudie Sifford, Dominique Smith, Paige Smith, Alexa Spinks, Grace Steiner, Shannong Stribling, Ashlynne Turner, Carter Wade, Katie Young and Maddie Young.

ElderServe Senior Awards: Catie Baker, Kesley Brown, Hannah Bunch, Meredith Bolin, Alyssa Delker, Julie Feimster, Natalie Hampel, Paige Morphew, Ashley Sharpe, Katie Stanage and Logan Turner.

Campus Ministry Leaders: Josh Altenbaumer, Harrison Ballard, Sean Carney, Ruthie Gaffner, Anna Claire Goodroe, Grace Howell, David Lundstrum, Elise Nelson, Seigen Nichols, Robert Pilcher, Brooke Sanderford, Paige Smith, Christie Snow, Austin Sowerbutts, Mercedes Svercauski, Mallorie Svercauski, Megan Taylor and Teresa Workman.

Campus Ministry Leaders Seniors: Sydney Allen, Rachel Bacon, Noah Bowman, Ben Cockrell, Weston Cronan, Emily Flowers, Katie Jo Henley, Kyle Jackson, Lindsey Johnson, Tori Lackey, Madi Polk, Kinzie Schmidt, Ashley Sharpe, Sarah Shepard, Kristopher Torres and Logan Turner.

Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team: Zeb Barrett, Molly Boone, Fallon Carder, Jacob Cottrell, Noah Day, Sam Eddington, Jordan Godwin, Addy Goodman, Hannah James, Sidney Kelley, Jackson Oulch, Chanelle Pieterse, Jonathan Rankin, Luke Roberson, Sara Rothwell, Daniel Thomas, Davis Wadley and Brooke Woessner.

Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team Senior Awards: Tristan Benzon, Meredith Bolin, Sarah Davis, Hannah Dixon, Jamie Flowers, Adam Graves, Madi Polk, Sean Ray, Chad Satchell and Katie Smith.

Transerve Award for more than 75 hours of service for Fall 2017 and Spring 2018: Sydney Allen, Rachel Bacon, Brooke Bearden, Meredith Bolin, Emery Brock, Sarah Cowell, Sarah Davis, Hannah Dixon, Maggie Donnell, Jordan Ford, Nolan Games, Christian Hickingbotham, Nick Kowalkowski, Tori Lackey, Taylor Lockhart, Justin McGee, Seigen Nichols, Phoebe O’Connor, Grace Oliver, Hannah Primm, Kallie Polk, Rachel Russom, Catie Shirley and Lindsey Swafford.