Ouachita Stories

Thirty-eight students from Ouachita Baptist University will be included in the latest edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.  

The students were chosen by OBU’s faculty, staff and the 2018 senior class based on their academic performance, leadership in extracurricular activities, community service and potential for success.

The following Ouachita students will be included in Who’s Who:

 

Amanda Abbud, 22, is a finance and business administration major from Searcy, Ark. A graduate of Harding Academy, she received the Betty Oliver Grant Endowed Award and was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by the senior class. Abbud has served as Panhellenic president, communications director for the Ary Investment Fund and captain of the OBU cheerleading squad. She is a member of EEE women’s social club, the Hickingbotham student advisory board, the Carl Goodson Honors Program and Beta Gamma Sigma international honor society for business. Abbud has been involved in Tiger Serve Day and New Life Church in Hot Springs. She plans to move to Dallas, Texas, to start her new job at a financial advising firm.

 

Mattie Alexander, 22, is a theatre arts and mass communications double major from Midwest City, Okla. A graduate of Choctaw High School, she has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s lists and received the Outstanding Freshman Theatre Student Award. She is a member of Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor society, the Carl Goodson Honors Program, film club, concert choir and Chi Mu women’s social club. Alexander participated in the Chicago Semester study abroad program.

 

Sydney Allen, 22, is a psychology major from Pine Bluff, Ark. A graduate of White Hall High School, she has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s lists. She is a member of Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology and Psi Chi national honor society for psychology. She is also a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation where she has served as Student Recruitment Chair and is a ministry leader for Campus Ministries’ Monticello Children’s Home program. Allen is a charter member for Chi Mu women’s social club where she has served as recording secretary, vice president and president. She has volunteered through Tiger Serve Day, Lighthouse Ministries, Autism Speaks/Awareness and TranServe. Allen is a member of First Baptist Church of White Hall, Ark., where she serves as the children’s intern. She will be getting married in July and plans to attend New Orleans Theological Baptist Seminary and become a children’s minister.

 

Esther Atkinson, 22, is a musical theater major from Rogers, Ark. A graduate of Rogers High School, she was awarded the Charles Wright Endowment Scholarship and has been a semi-finalist in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Arkansas auditions. Atkinson served as president of the Ouachita Singers and historian for Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor society. She also was a member of the Ouachita Sounds, the wind ensemble and was a vocalist with the Ouachita Jazz Band. Atkinson plans to pursue a career in opera performance and will be attending the University of Maryland to earn a Master of Music degree in voice.

 

Rachel Bacon, 22, is a biology and Spanish double major from Bryant, Ark. A graduate of Bryant High School, she has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s lists and was awarded the El Tigre Spanish Award. Bacon was a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation, serving as the chair of fundraising and finance, Welcome to Ouachita’s World steering committee, the Carl Goodson Honors Program and has served as the president of Alpha Chi national college honor society. She has served as a ministry leader for Campus Ministries’ Big Brother/Big Sister program and has volunteered as a K-Group leader at Fellowship Church in Arkadelphia. She plans to attend the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ College of Medicine in the fall to further her education.

 

Stephanie Bell, 22, is a communications and media major from Stuttgart, Ark. A graduate of Stuttgart High School, she has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s lists. She is a member of Tri Chi women’s social club where she has served as spring president, T-shirt chair and social media coordinator and has served as secretary for the Ouachita Student Foundation. She is a member of the Women in Business Leadership Team and is involved in Veritas Women’s Discipleship. She also has volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She attends Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia and worked for the Ouachita News Bureau as the digital content assistant. She plans to pursue a career in social media or public relations.

 

Tristan Benzon, 23, is a psychology and history double major from Harare, Zimbabwe. A graduate of Gateway High School, he received the Outstanding International Student Award 2018. Benzon has served as International Club president, History Club president and member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team. He also is a member of Phi Alpha Theta national history honor society and has served as a resident assistant and assistant resident director. He works for Sodexo and attends Fellowship Church in Arkadelphia where he is involved in a K-Group. Benzon plans to pursue a career as a counselor.

 

Candee Jo Bloxom, 22, is a sociology major from Benton, Ark. A graduate of Benton High School, she has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s lists. She is a member of the Welcome to Ouachita’s World Steering Committee and the Campus Activities Board where she served as Tiger Tunes co-director. Bloxom has volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and attends Park Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia where she works in the nursery. She plans to pursue a career in sociology in the Little Rock area.

 

Kori Bullard, 22, is a biology major from Pearcy, Ark. A graduate of Lake Hamilton High School, she is a member of Tri Beta biological honor society, Alpha Chi national college honor society and the Carl Goodson Honors Program. Bullard has also served as captain of the Ouachita women’s basketball and volleyball teams. She has earned several recognitions as a student athlete including: OBU Female Scholar Athlete of the Year and Great American Conference (GAC) Female Scholar Athlete of the Year for 2016-17 and 2017-18. Bullard was selected as a member of the USA Division II National Volleyball team – Brazil Tour 2017, the All-Ouachita Athletic Team and the All-Ouachita Academic Team. She has volunteered through the Humane Society of Clark County and Peake Partnership Elementary School Tutoring Program. She plans to attend medical school and become a doctor.

 

Hannah Bunch, 22, is a history and political science double major from Paragould, Ark. A graduate of Paragould High School, she was awarded Ouachita’s Outstanding Senior Woman Award as well as Female Resident Assistant of the Year for 2016-17 and the Arkadelphia Rotary Club Rays of Light Award. Bunch is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha national honor society for political science, Phi Alpha Theta national history honor society, Veritas Women’s Discipleship and Gridiron Girls. She is a member of Student Senate and served as sophomore class president, internal vice president and student body president. Bunch is also a member of Ouachita’s College Republicans, a Kappa Chi Men’s social club little sister and Ouachita’s 2017 Homecoming Queen. Bunch attends Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia, Ark. where she volunteers as a preschool teacher and Sunday School teacher. Bunch has worked as a tutor for the Academic Success Center, an intern at First Baptist Church nursing home ministry, a resident assistant and as an assistant resident director. She has accepted a position with Americans for Prosperity as field director in Jonesboro and plans to pursue a career in the political arena.

 

Shelby Burchfield, 22, is a biology major from Benton, Ark. A graduate of Bryant High School, she has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s lists and received the Excellence in Research Award for her biology research conducted through the J.D. Patterson Summer Research Program. Burchfield is a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation and the American Chemical Society where she served as secretary. She also is a member of Tri Chi women’s social club, serving as fall president, intramural director and photography chair. She has volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and attends Holland Chapel Baptist Church where she is a kids’ volunteer. Burchfield worked as a pharmacy technician at AllCare Pharmacy in Arkadelphia. She plans to attend UAMS College of Pharmacy in the fall.

 

Chris Clark, 22, is a finance and entrepreneurship major from Arkadelphia, Ark. A graduate of Arkadelphia High School, he was awarded the Johnny Heflin Excellence in Leadership and Academics Award and was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by the senior class. He received first place in the OBU Business Plan Competition, first place in the OBU/HSU Business Plan competition and second place in the 2018 Arkansas Governor’s Cup Business Plan Competition. Clark is a member of the Hickingbotham School of Business Student Advisory Board, the Ary Student Investment Fund and is the general manager for Dr. Jack’s Coffee. He is a member of Beta Beta men’s social club where he has served as vice president and president and has held numerous positions through Student Senate. Clark has volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and has worked as an accounting intern at Coulson Oil Company and a risk solutions intern at Aon. He plans to pursue a career in portfolio management at Sowell Management Services in North Little Rock, Ark.

 

Callie Clement, 22, is a biology major from Little Rock, Ark. A graduate of eStem High Public Charter School, she has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s lists. Clement is a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation, the American Chemical Society and Tri Chi women’s social club where she has served as intramural director and head induction chair. She also has served as a member of Student Senate and has volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and TranServe. She has worked as a pharmacy technician at St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock and plans to attend UAMS College of Pharmacy in the fall.

 

Ben Cockrell, 22, is a political science and social justice double major from Camp Hill, Pa. A graduate of Cumberland Valley High School, he has been named to Ouachita’s President’s List and received the Curtis Echols Lions Club Scholarship. Cockrell was awarded Outstanding Graduate in political science and Overall Academic Achiever for social sciences. He is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha national honor society for political science and Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology. Cockrell has volunteered through Backyard Bible Club, Tiger Serve Day and TranServe. He worked as a resident assistant and apartment manager and participated in Refuge as a speaker. He studied abroad through LLC International University in Klaipėda, Lithuania. He plans to work with AmeriCorps in Cape Cod, Mass., serving through disaster relief, environmental conservation and local education programs.

 

Alyson Cole, 22, is a biology and chemistry double major from El Dorado, Ark. A graduate of El Dorado High School, she is a member of Alpha Chi national college honor society, Tri Beta biological honor society, the Carl Goodson Honors Program and the Ouachita Student Foundation. She also served as president of the American Chemical Society. Cole is a member of EEE women’s social club where she served as secretary, rush chair and Tiger Tunes co-director. She also volunteered through Tiger Serve Day. She plans to work at a dermatology office in Little Rock as she prepares to pursue a career as a physician assistant.

 

Seth Daniell, 22, is a music composition major from Arkadelphia, Ark. A graduate of Arkadelphia High School, he has been named to Ouachita’s President’s and Dean’s lists. He is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, the Ouachita Marching Band, the Tiger Steel Drum Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club and the Ouachita Student Foundation. He also serves as academic chair for Alpha Tau honor society.

 

 

Hannah Dixon, 22, is a biology major from Arkadelphia, Ark. A graduate of Merrillville High School, she is a member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, Campus Ministries’ Big Brother/Big Sister Program and co-directed a Tiger Tunes show for Campus Ministries. Dixon participated in Ouachita’s Study Abroad Program, studying in Perth, Australia, for one semester.

 

 

Kacy Earnest-Spears, 21, is a mass communications major from El Dorado, Ark. A graduate of El Dorado High School, she received the Denton Endowed Scholarship, the Theatre Arts Scholarship and the Dennis James Memorial Scholarship. Earnest-Spears is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota international music fraternity for women; Sigma Tau Delta international English honor society, where she was editor of The Scope; the Carl Goodson Honors Program; and Alpha Psi Omega, where she has served as president. She is a founder of Chi Mu women’s social club where she has served as treasurer and Panhellenic chair. She is a staff writer for The Signal and Ouachita’s News Bureau. She attends First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia where she is a member of the communications team and serves as a media intern. She also has volunteered through Tiger Serve Day, Ebola 100 Project and Goza Middle School. She plans to continue working at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church i as the assistant to the director of communications.

 

Julie Feimster, 22, is a biology major from Benton, Ark. A graduate of Benton High School, she is a member of EEE women’s social club, serving as president and Tiger Tunes co-director. Feimster is a member of Tri Beta biological honor society and the American Chemical Society where she has served as secretary, treasurer and social media coordinator. She has volunteered through her social club’s philanthropy week, Tiger Serve Day and ElderServe. Feimster worked at First Baptist Church of Benton as the middle school ministry intern as well as a dance instructor at DancePraize in Arkadelphia. She plans to attend the UAMS College of Pharmacy in the fall.

 

Jamie Flowers, 21, is a Biblical studies and Christian ministry major from Helena, Ala. A graduate of Hoover High School, Flowers received the Shelby Seabaugh “Communicating the Gospel” Teacher’s Choice Award and Female Servant Leader Award. She served as the chaplain for EEE women’s social club, freshmen ministry leader for Campus Ministries and president of Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology. Flowers is a member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and Welcome to Ouachita’s World Steering Committee. She has worked as a summer intern at churches and plans to attend seminary before serving as a minister at a local church.

 

Margaret Geoffrion, 22, is a worship arts major from Hot Springs, Ark. A graduate of Hot Springs High School, she was a member of the Welcome to Ouachita’s World Steering Committee, Women’s Chorus, EEE women’s social club and sweetheart for Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club. Geoffrion served as the worship intern at Lake Valley Community Church in Hot Springs while in college and is now on staff at the church.

 

 

Adam Graves, 22, is a Christian studies major and mass communications minor from Texarkana, Texas. A graduate of Texas High School, Graves was a member of the Beta Beta men’s social club, an EEE women’s social club beau and the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team. He was a work study student in OBU’s admissions office. He interned at First Baptist Church of Wake Village, Texas, and First Baptist Church of Texarkana, Texas and serves as a children’s ministry intern at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas.

 

Andy Henderson, 22, is a mass communications major from Heath, Texas. A graduate of Greenville Christian School, Henderson worked as OBU’s photo editor for two years. He also is the owner of Andy Henderson Photography. He was named the Arkansas College Media Association Photographer of the Year in 2017 and 2018. He served through Special Olympics and Tiger Serve Day. Henderson plans to continue working as a freelance photographer.

 

 

Hannah Hines, 22, is a musical theatre and mass communications double major from Russellville, Ark. A graduate of Russellville High School, she is a member of Alpha Chi national college honor society, Carl Goodson Honors Program, Alpha Psi Omega national honor society and Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club sweetheart. She served as the vice president for Ouachita Singers and as Tiger Tunes director for Tri Chi women’s social club. She was a 2015 Tiger Tunes hostess and received the most musically talented Ouachi-Tony award. Hines has been named on the President’s and Dean’s lists and was named Ouachita’s Overall Academic Achiever and Academic Achiever for the School of Fine Arts. She also was awarded the William D. Downs Jr. Outstanding Mass Communications Graduate Award. Hines plans to attend the University of Arkansas School of Law and become an attorney.

 

Kyle Jackson, 21, is a Christian studies major from Hot Springs, Ark. A graduate of Lake Hamilton High School, Jackson was a member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and the Refuge worship team. He interned at First Baptist Church in Benton, Ark., and Hot Springs Baptist Church. Jackson is a worship leader at Fellowship Bible Church in northwest Arkansas.

 

 

Jake Knight, 21, is a finance and business administration major from Arkadelphia, Ark. A graduate of Arkadelphia High School, Knight was a member of the OBU baseball team, OBU fishing team, an EEE women’s social club beau, Hickingbotham School of Business Student Advisory Board, Student Senate and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. He served through Tiger Serve Day, elementary school reading program and as a middle school tutor. He was named to the Great American Conference All-Academic Team on the baseball team and graduated magna cum laude. He worked as an intern at Farm Bureau Insurance and Farmers Insurance. He plans to work for Farm Bureau as an insurance agent in Little Rock, Ark.

 

Gail Lange-Smith, 23, is a nutrition and dietetics major from Harare, Zimbabwe. A graduate of Chisipite Senior School, she served as the co-president of the Student Dietetic Association. Lange-Smith volunteered at First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia, Ark., as a GA leader and Trinity Temple Church with children’s church. She worked as a student manager for Sodexo, laboratory assistant for Dr. Tim Knight and a student worker for OBU’s International Office. She plans to help people live healthy lifestyles.

 

John Franklin Matros, 22, is an accounting and finance major from Arkadelphia, Ark. A graduate of Arkadelphia High School, Matros was a member of the Beta Beta men’s social club and the OBU baseball team. He is a member of First Baptist Church in Arkadelphia, and he tutored at Goza Middle School and Peake Elementary School. He received the Outstanding Student Athlete Business School Award. Matros plans to work as an auditor at Hogan Taylor, LLC.

 

 

Nonsi Nxumalo, 22, is a finance and business administration major from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A graduate of Petra High School, she was a member of the International Food Festival Committee, Women in Business and Enactus. She served as the president of the Multicultural Organization Reaching Equality and treasurer for the International Club. She received the International Student Award. Nxumalo worked as the student supervisor for Sodexo and volunteered through Young Life and Tiger Serve Day.

 

Madi Polk, 22, is an elementary education major from Wylie, Texas. A graduate of Wylie High School, she received the Daniel and Betty Grant Scholarship, Cargill Student Leadership Award and has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists. Polk is a member of Tri Chi women’s social club where she served as Tiger Tunes director and on the Panhellenic Council. She is a member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, Refuge worship team, Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education and Veritas discipleship. She volunteered with the youth ministry at Lake Valley Community Church in Hot Springs, Ark. and the worship ministry at Crossgate Church in Hot Springs. She worked as a Camp Living Stones counselor, Pine Cove camp counselor, office assistant at The Vested Group and as the worship ministry intern at the Church at Rock Creek in Little Rock, Ark. She plans to be an elementary teacher.

 

Emily Schleiff, 21, is a business management major from Arkadelphia, Ark. A graduate of Hope International School in Beijing, China, Schleiff is a member of Tri Chi women’s social club where she served as the vice president. She served through Tiger Serve Day, Enactus and as a children’s K-group teacher. Schleiff works as an admission counselor at Ouachita with plans to eventually open her own business.

 

 

Ashley Sharpe, 22, is a Christian studies major from Houston, Texas. A graduate of Langham Creek High School, Sharpe was a Student Life Tiger Tunes director, Veritas Ministry leader and chair for Pruet Sisterhood. She volunteered through ElderServe and Tiger Serve Day. Sharpe graduated summa cum laude and was named the Ben Elrod Scholar. She received the Christian Studies Academic Achiever Award for 2018 and was the recipient of senior awards for theology, missions and philosophy. She is a member of OBU’s Carl Goodson Honors Program and Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology. She worked as an assistant and senior assistant counselor at Sky Ranch and as a work study student for Dr. Barbara Pemberton. Sharpe plans to pursue a Master of Theology degree at Dallas Theological Seminary while working at Parental Care Ministries in Tyler, Texas, and then may pursue a doctoral degree. Her goal is to work with a church, ministry or as a professor of theology.

 

Alexa Spinks, 21, is an elementary education major from Arkadelphia, Ark. A graduate of Arkadelphia High School, Spinks is a member of EEE women’s social club, Carl Goodson Honors Program and Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education. She volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and ElderServe, and had a part-time job with the weekday preschool at Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. Spinks has been named to the President’s and Dean’slLists, and received the Honors Blue Ribbon Finisher. She plans to work as an occupational therapist.

 

AJ Stambolie, 23, is a psychology and mass communications major from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A graduate of Petra High School, Stambolie worked as a student assistant for the Grant Center for International Studies and a baker for Sodexo. He has been named to the President’s List and received the 2016 International Student Award. Stambolie volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and was a member of the International Food Festival Committee. He plans to earn his master’s degree in organizational psychology and international management before working in diversity and change management for a human resources sector.

 

Will Stotts, 22, is a musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark. A graduate of Valley View High School, Stotts played Shrek in Shrek the Musical, Horton in Seussical the Musical, Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof, Chuck Cranston in Footloose, Dr. Neville Craven in The Secret Garden, Asher in The Giver and Young Bill Clinton in Billy Blythe. He received first place in the Mary Shambarger Competition for Singers and second place in Regional NATS Competition. He worked as an actor at Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre and at Red Barn Summer Theatre and as a carpentry intern at The Foundation of Arts in Jonesboro, Ark. He plans to return to Arkansas Shakespeare to pursue a career as a professional actor and singer.

 

Haley Jo Wesson, 22, is a communication sciences and disorders major from Hot Springs, Ark. A graduate of Lakeside High School, Wesson worked with Veritas discipleship, Tiger Serve Day, Tiger Tunes and the Big Brother/Big Sister program. She was the class 2015 president for EEE women’s social club, president of the Ouachita Student Foundation and president of National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. She received the Tiger Network Scholarship and has been named to the Dean’s List. Wesson volunteered through international mission trips and as a summer camp counselor at Sky Ranch. She plans to attend Louisiana Tech University in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in speech pathology.

 

Ben Worley, 22, is an accounting and finance major from Camden, Ark. A graduate of Harmony Grove High School, Worley was a member of the Hickingbotham School of Business Student Advisory Board and served as the equity analyst on the 2017-2018 Ary Fund Management Team. He has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists, and he graduated magna cum laude. Worley works as an auditor at BKD in Little Rock.

 

 

Montray Wyatt, 22, is a business management major from Stuttgart, Ark. A graduate of Stuttgart High School, Wyatt is a member of Kappa Chi men’s social club, Multicultural Organization Reaching Equality, Enactus, Campus Activities Board and Chi Mu women’s social club beau. He has interned at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, OBU’s campus store and Park Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia, Ark. He is working at Enterprise Rent-A-Car while attending New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and plans to be involved in bivocational ministry.

 

 

By Stephanie Bell and Sarah Davis // Photos by Andy Henderson 

July 30, 2018