Ouachita Stories

“Being chosen Homecoming Queen has been a dream of mine since freshman year. Ouachita has played a huge role in shaping me into who I am today,” Pierce said. “It encourages me to know that I’m not just another face here but I’m loved by so many.” 

Pierce was crowned by Erica Dixon, Ouachita’s 2021 Homecoming Queen. Dixon is a 2021 graphic design graduate from Arkadelphia, Ark.

First runner-up was Karigan Beckwith, a senior communication sciences and disorders and art/graphic design double major from Bismark, Ark. Beckwith represented EEE women’s social club, which she serves as president. She also is a member of the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association. 

Second runner-up was Pietra Gois Camargo, a senior psychology and Spanish double major from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Gois Camargo represented the International Club. A member of Tri Chi’s women social club, she also is an Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club sweetheart and a resident assistant. 

Third runner-up was Caroline Derby, a senior communications & media/multimedia journalism and political science double major from Arkadelphia, Ark. Derby represented the Ouachita Student Foundation, which she serves as president. She is a member of EEE women’s social club and is Student Senate external vice president. 

Fourth runner-up was a tie between Reyna Rogers and Vanessa Vives. 

Rogers, a sophomore psychology and criminal justice double major from Arkadelphia, Ark., represented Student Development. Rogers is a resident assistant and a member of EEE women’s social club, Ouachita cheer and the women’s track & field team. 

Vives, a senior elementary education major from Bogota, Columbia, represented Campus Ministries. She is involved in the International Club, Tri Chi women’s social club, and Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education and is an Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club sweetheart. 

The following students were also among the top 20 Homecoming Court nominees:

Izzy Baughn, a senior communications & media/strategic communications and political science double major from Jonesboro, Ark., represented College Republicans. Baughn is a member of EEE women’s social club, serves as the Ouachita Student Foundation special events director and is the Student Senate internal vice president.

Malea Borland, a sophomore community & family services major from Arkadelphia, Ark., represented the sophomore class. Borland is a member of Tri Chi women’s social club, Student Senate, the Pruet Sisterhood and the Carl Goodson Honors Program. 

 

Valeria Gomez, a senior communications & media/multimedia journalism major from Alajuela, Costa Rica, represented the Signal Online student newspaper, which she serves as editor. Gomez is a member of Tri Chi women’s social club, the International Club and the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team.

Allie Graves, a junior community & family services major from Texarkana, Texas, represented the Ben M. Elrod Center for Family & Community. Graves is a member of Tri Chi women’s social club, serves on the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and was a 2022 Tiger Tunes hostess. 

Kaylie Green, a senior Christian studies/Christian missions and Spanish double major from Haslet, Texas, represented the Pruet Sisterhood, which she serves as president. Green also serves as a ministry leader and a Tiger Tunes director for Campus Ministries.

 

Katelyn Hartsell, a sophomore elementary education major from Hot Springs, Ark., represented Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club. Hartsell is a member of Tri Chi women’s social club, is involved in Campus Ministries and is an Eta sweetheart.  

 

Emmy Hipps, a senior biology major from Russellville, Ark., represented the Ouachita cheer team. Hipps is secretary of EEE women’s social club, is involved in the Ouachita Student Foundation and is captain of the Ouachita cheer team.

 

Julia Letcher, a senior musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, represented Ouachita’s chapter of Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor society, which she serves as president. Letcher is a Tiger Tunes director for Tri Chi women’s social club and is a member of Ouachita Singers.

 

Georgia Richards, a sophomore communications & media/strategic communications major from Farmington, Ark., represented the Ouachita News Show, which she serves as assistant producer. She is communications chair for the Ouachita Student Foundation and is a Campus Ministries leader.

 

Eryn Riley, a senior choral music education major from Fort Smith, Ark., represented the Ouachita Singers, which she serves as president. Riley is a Tiger Tunes director for Tri Chi women’s social club and is a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation and Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education. 

 

Ainsley Rottinghaus, a junior psychology major from Hot Springs, Ark., represented the junior class. Rottinghaus is a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation and the Carl Goodson Honors Program and serves as EEE women’s social club social chair. 

 

Julia Shands, a senior communications & media/strategic communications and art/graphic design double major from Searcy, Ark., represented the Signal student newspaper, which she serves as editor-in-chief. Shands is EEE women’s social club vice president and is the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team publicity leader. 

 

Claire Sorg, a senior communications sciences and disorders major from Springdale, Ark., represented Ouachita’s chapter of the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association, which she serves as treasurer. Sorg  is also treasurer for EEE women’s social club. 

 

Kathryn Totty, a senior communications & media/strategic communications and political science double major from Camden, Ark., represented Student Senate, which she serves as president. She is EEE women’s social club historian and is a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation.  

 

Rebekah Van Namen, a senior elementary education major from Little Rock, Ark., represented Ouachita’s chapter of Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education, which she serves as president. Namen is the sisterhood chair for EEE women’s social club.

 

Lead photo: Students elected to Ouachita's 2022 Homecoming Court are (from left) third runner-up Caroline Derby, a senior communications & media/multimedia journalism and political science double major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; second runner-up Pietra Gois Camargo, a senior psychology and Spanish double major from Sao Paulo, Brazil; first runner-up Karigan Beckwith, a senior communication sciences and disorders and art/graphic design double major from Bismark, Ark.; Homecoming Queen Savannah Pierce, a senior Christian studies major from Dover, Ark.; and fourth-place runners up Reyna Rogers, a sophomore psychology and criminal justice double major from Arkadelphia, Ark., and Vanessa Vives, a senior elementary education major from Bogota, Columbia. Photos by Levi Dade

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