Ouachita Stories

Forty students at Ouachita Baptist University have been named to the latest edition of Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities.

The students were chosen by Ouachita’s faculty, staff and 2023 senior class based on their academic performance, leadership in extracurricular activities, community service and potential for success.

The following Ouachita students are included in Who’s Who:

Izzy Baughn, 22, is a communications & media/strategic communications and political science double major from Jonesboro, Ark., where she graduated from the Academies at Jonesboro High. Named to the President’s List at Ouachita, she is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, the President’s Leadership Council, Alpha Chi national honor society and Pi Sigma Alpha national political science honor society. Baughn has served as special events chair of the Ouachita Student Foundation, internal vice president of Student Senate, social chair of the EEE women’s social club, president and communications director of College Republicans and treasurer of the Pre-Law Society. She was named to the Homecoming Court twice, competed on the Ouachita Tiger cross country/track & field team and participated in Midwest Model United Nations, where she won best position paper. Baughn volunteered through the Children’s Miracle Network, United Way, TranServe and St. Jude Children’s Hospital while also working as a state-federal policy analyst in the Office of Gov. Asa Hutchinson. She is a licensed contractor and will own and run a deep foundation drilling business while attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law.

Karigan Beckwith, 22, is a communication sciences & disorders and graphic design double major from Donaldson, Ark., and a graduate of Bismarck High School. At Ouachita, she has been named to the President’s List and has served as a discipleship group leader and as president and T-shirt chair for the EEE women’s social club. Beckwith is a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, was first runner-up on the 2022 Homecoming Court and works in the Ouachita Campus Store. She has volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and Caney Missionary Baptist Church, where she is a choir member and has helped lead worship. Beckwith plans to become a speech-language pathologist.

Kelsey Bester, 23, is a biology and communications & media/strategic communications double major from Johannesburg, South Africa, where she graduated from Trinityhouse school. Her photography has been published in South Africa’s “Scope” magazine. Named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, Bester is a member of the President’s Leadership Circle, Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology, the leadership teams for Tiger Serve Day and the International Food Festival and the International Club, where she has served as vice president and as a conversation partner. She’s volunteered through international orientation, Welcome to Ouachita’s World new student orientation and the Elrod Center for Family & Community’s Thanksgiving baskets and ElderServe programs. As a student, Bester has worked at the Elrod Center, as a Residence Life resident assistant and as a telecounselor and tour guide for the Office of Admissions Counseling. She plans to earn a doctorate in audiology.

Connor Bjerke, 22, is an accounting and finance double major from Oak Leaf, Texas, and a graduate of Ovilla Christian School. Named to the President’s List at Ouachita, Bjerke has been a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, served as equity analyst for the Eddie & Phyllis Ary Student Investment Fund, earned the Eddie Ary Outstanding Senior in Finance Award, served as treasurer and chaplain for the Beta Beta men’s social club and volunteered through Tiger Serve Day. He has worked as a youth worship leader for Caney Missionary Baptist Church, camp counselor at Kanakuk K7, finance intern for the Methodist Health System of Dallas and audit intern for Grant Thornton LLP. Bjerke will join PricewaterhouseCoopers as an audit associate upon graduation.

Emma Bynum, 22, is a biology major from Troup, Texas, and a graduate of The Brook Hill School. Bynum earned the Richard H. Brown Biology Award and the Hannah Joy Sullivan Award from the Patterson School of Natural Sciences. A member of the International Club and the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, she has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists. Bynum has served as a peer mentor and lead tutor in the Academic Success Center and as academic co-chair for the Carl Goodson Honors Program. While a student, Bynum has worked as a research assistant for the Patterson Summer Research Program and as lead mentor for the first Tiger Success Bridge Program. She also volunteered at local nursing homes and churches by playing piano. Bynum will attend the University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine upon graduation.

From left: Izzy Baughn, Karigan Beckwith, Kelsey Bester, Connor Bjerke, Emma Bynum

Mason Campbell, 23, is a Christian studies/Biblical studies & theology major from Hinton, W.Va., and a graduate of Liberty University Online Academy. At Ouachita, he has been named to the President’s List and is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program and Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology. Campbell was named the Garrett Ham Scholar and earned the Robert Stagg New Testament Greek Award and Outstanding Student in Biblical Studies Award from the Pruet School of Christian Studies. He has been a member of the Christian Focus Week leadership team, president of the Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club, beau for the Tri Chi women’s social club and a Refuge speaker for Campus Ministries. While a student, he interned at StoneBridge Church in The Woodlands, Texas, was a supply preacher for the Red River Baptist Association in Arkadelphia and volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock. Campbell plans to attend seminary while also serving in a church.

Chaney Campbell, 22, is a music industry major from Rogers, Ark., and a graduate of Life Way Christian School in Centerton, Ark. Named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, she has been a Tiger Tunes hostess and placed first and second in regional and state National Association of Teachers of Singing vocal competitions. She is a member of Tri Chi women’s social club, Ouachita Worship and various university choirs. Campbell interned as a student with the worship team at Fellowship Mosaic in Northwest Arkansas and plans to work in ministry as a worship leader.

T.J. Cole, 23, is a kinesiology/recreation & sports administration major from Tyler, Texas, where he graduated from Pleasant Grove High School. A running back on the Ouachita Tiger football team, Cole is a two-time All American Male Athlete of the Year and was named Ouachita’s overall most outstanding male athlete for the 2021-22 season. He is the first Ouachita player to earn first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association in more than one season. Cole also received the Little Rock Touchdown Club’s 2023 Darren McFadden Award, presented annually to Arkansas’ best college running back. He will pursue a career in kinesiology upon graduation.

Joy Covington, 22, is a Christian studies/biblical studies and Christian studies/Christian ministries double major from Cherokee Village, Ark., and a graduate of Abeka Academy. Covington has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, where she is a member of Campus Ministries and the Pruet Sisterhood. She has also been named Outstanding Student in Christian Ministries. Covington has been a Noonday ministry leader, chaplain for the EEE women’s social club, a member of the Refuge teaching team and a Tiger Serve Day volunteer. She has served as a student ministry intern at the Church at Rock Creek and as junior high girls’ pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock. Covington will continue her work as a junior high girls’ pastor after graduation.

Seth Curl, 21, is a biomedical sciences and psychology double major from Russellville, Ark., and a graduate of Russellville High School. Named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, he won the Outstanding Poster Presentation Award for the Arkansas Academy of Science and had essays published in “Assayers 31” and the Clark County Historical Journal. Curl is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, the Biomedical Scholars Program and the American Chemical Society. He has served as vice president and secretary for the Beta Beta men’s social club, senior vice president and junior class representative for Student Senate and was a Welcome to Ouachita’s World orientation leader. Curl has volunteered through the Dental Supply Drive in Arkadelphia, Boys and Girls Club, Tiger Serve Day and River Valley Food for Kids. He has served as an instructor for a high school polymerase chain reaction seminar, worked as a farm assistant for NAG Farms and Three C’s Farm and participated in IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Summer Research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Curl will attend the LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans and will pursue a career in pediatric dentistry.

From left: Mason Campbell, Chaney Campbell, T.J. Cole, Joy Covington, Seth Curl

Levi Dade, 22, is a Christian studies/biblical studies major from Senatobia, Miss., where he graduated from Strayhorn High School. Named to the Dean’s List at Ouachita, where he is a member of the President’s Leadership Circle, Dade has been Photo Lab editor and served as the Elrod Center’s photography intern. He has earned first place for sports action photo from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and third place for yearbook sports photo from the Arkansas College Media Association. Dade has been a member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team through the Elrod Center, where he has volunteered as a tutor. He is a member of the Campus Ministries communications team and the Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club. Dade plans to work in ministry and hopes to one day become a professor of apologetics, philosophy or theology.

Madi Darr, 22, is a communications & media/integrated communications major from Springdale, Ark., and a graduate of Shiloh Christian School. Named to the Dean’s List, she has served as Student Senate external vice president, assistant editor of the Ouachitonian yearbook, Rho Sigma men’s social club sweetheart, Ouachita Tiger football manager and vice president and fundraising chair of Gridiron Girls. Darr is a member of EEE women’s social club and has been a Tiger Tunes hostess, performed on the Miss OBU Court of Honor, volunteered through the Elrod Center and worked in the Office of Admissions Counseling. She has worked as an intern at The Church at Rock Creek and as social media and events intern at WedbyMeg. Darr has been named office manager of student financial services at Ouachita.

Caroline Derby, 21, is a communications & media/multimedia journalism, communications & media/strategic communications and political science triple major from Arkadelphia, Ark., where she graduated from Arkadelphia High School. Named to the President’s List at Ouachita, Derby is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program and Pi Sigma Alpha national political science honor society. She has been published in Ouachita’s “Assayers” journal and named the Bill and Vera Downs Outstanding Sophomore Communications Student, Matt Turner Outstanding Junior Communications Student and William D. Downs Outstanding Communications Graduate. Voted Ouachita’s Senior Outstanding Woman, Derby has served as vice president and president of the Ouachita Student Foundation and as a senator, secretary and external vice president for Student Senate. She is a producer, anchor and reporter on the Ouachita News Show, where she is a founding member; a member of the Ouachita Digital Sports Network; co-host of the “This Week at Ouachita” podcast; and advertising coordinator for The Signal. Derby has been named Television Producer/Director of the Year and Television Anchor of the Year by the Arkansas College Media Association. She held the title of Miss OBU for two years, won third runner-up to Homecoming Queen and has been rush chair for the EEE women’s social club, a Model United Nations delegate, a Tiger football Gridiron Girl and a Welcome to Ouachita’s World orientation leader. Derby volunteered through the Elrod Center and has worked as an instructor at DancePraize, communications assistant at Group Living, Inc., and summer intern at WZTV Fox 17 News in Nashville, Tenn. She will pursue a career in broadcast journalism.

Jade Dorman, 21, is a biology and Spanish double major from Benton, Ark., and a graduate of Benton High School. Named to the President’s List at Ouachita, she is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, Tri Beta biological honor society, American Chemical Society and Sigma Delta Pi national collegiate Hispanic honor society. Dorman earned the Freshman Chemistry Award, won third place in the 2022 Ouachita Business Plan Competition and has been named Outstanding Senior in Biology and Academic Achiever for the Patterson School of Natural Sciences. She was recognized with an Honorable Mention in Biology Oral Presentation at the Arkansas INBRE Undergraduate Research Conference. Dorman is a member of the EEE women’s social club and has been philanthropy chair of the Ouachita Student Foundation, a Welcome to Ouachita’s World Steering Committee member and a Campus Ministries life group leader. She has volunteered through New Beginnings Pregnancy Center in Benton and ElderServe, Backyard Bible Clubs and Tiger Serve Day, and she attends Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. Dorman has worked in the Patterson Summer Research Program and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Summer Science Program. She will attend the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and plans to become a pediatrician.

Aidan Doss, 22, is a biology major from Van Buren, Ark., and a graduate of Van Buren High School. He has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, where he is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, the American Chemical Society and Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology. Doss has served as president of Tri Beta biological honor society and as a Campus Ministries leader. He performed summer research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and plans to attend medical school.

From left: Levi Dade, Madi Darr, Caroline Derby, Jade Dorman, Aidan Doss

Sabaoot Esho, 21, is a graphic design and psychology double major from Erbil, Iraq, where she graduated from the Classical School of the Medes. At Ouachita, she has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists and is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, the Pruet Sisterhood and Alpha Chi national college honor society. She is a Friend of Fine Arts Scholar who was named the Raybon-Berry Outstanding Freshman in the Departments of Art & Design and has earned the Francie Phelan Outstanding Senior Award in the School of Fine Arts. Esho earned third place for her writing published in Ouachita’s “Assayers” journal and third place for her art in the 2023 Student Juried Art Show. She has served as vice president, treasurer and juried art show chair for the Art Club and as International Food Festival coordinator for the International Club. Esho has volunteered through ElderServe, as an Elrod Center intern and in the youth ministry at Third Street Baptist Church. Upon graduation, she will serve as graphic design and print production specialist in Ouachita’s Office of Communications & Marketing.

Karli Ferguson, 22, is an elementary education major from Conway, Ark., and a graduate of Conway High School. Named to the Dean’s List at Ouachita, she is captain of the Ouachita Tiger women’s volleyball team and has hosted the team’s Bible study. Ferguson has volunteered through ElderServe and the Elrod Center’s tutoring program and also by giving volleyball lessons. She attends Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia and plans to pursue a career in education.

Katelyn Franzke, 21, is a community & family services major from Springdale, Ark., where she graduated from Shiloh Christian School. At Ouachita, she has been named to the Dean’s List and is a member of Pruet Sisterhood, the EEE women’s social club and Ouachita Worship. In 2020, Franzke was commissioned by the university to paint a watercolor of Cone-Bottoms Hall as a gift to campus guest lecturer and alumna Sarah Huckabee Sanders, now Arkansas’ governor. While a student, Franzke was an intern for Children & Family Services in the Arkansas Department of Human Services, a student ministry intern at Cross Church in Springdale and a family camp counselor at Sky Ranch. She volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and the Elrod Center’s Thanksgiving baskets program. Franzke will pursue a master’s degree in counseling at John Brown University in Siloam Springs.

Pietra Gois Camargo, 21, is a psychology and Spanish double major from Cordova, Tenn., and a graduate of Macon Road Baptist School. She has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, where she has earned the El Tigre Spanish Award and Zeitgeist Psychology Award. Gois is a member of the President’s Leadership Circle, Tri Chi women’s social club, International Club, Sigma Delta Pi national collegiate Hispanic honor society and Psi Chi national honor society for psychology, and she is a sweetheart for the Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club. She has volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and International Food Festival and served as a teacher’s assistant, children’s ministry volunteer and ESL ministry volunteer at Fellowship Bible Church in Benton. Gois has been a barista for Dr. Jack’s Coffeehouse and a resident assistant and apartment manager for Residence Life. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in behavioral psychology while working with children as a medical translator or ESL teacher.

Valeria Gomez, 22, is a communications & media/multimedia journalism major from Alajuela, Costa Rica, where she graduated from La Palabra de Vida High School. Named to the Ouachita President’s and Dean’s lists, she has been a staff writer for the Ouachitonian and is editor-in-chief for The Signal Online; she has been named the 2023 Website Editor of the Year by the Arkansas College Media Association. Gomez is an Academic Success Center tutor and has been publicity leader on the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, outreach leader and communications leader for Campus Ministries, social media chair for the International Club, social media and T-shirt chair for the Tri Chi women’s social club and a Homecoming Queen nominee. She has volunteered through the Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center and worked as digital content assistant for Ouachita’s Office of Communications & Marketing. Gomez plans to pursue a career in digital content creation.

From left: Sabaoot Esho, Karli Ferguson, Katelyn Franzke, Pietra Gois Camargo, Valeria Gomez

Wes Guerra, 22, is an accounting and finance double major from Benton, Ark., and a graduate of Benton High School. Named to the President’s List at Ouachita, he is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program and was named top Academic Achiever in the Hickingbotham School of Business, where he has served as portfolio manager for the Ary Student Investment Fund. Guerra spent six semesters on the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team as logistics chair, has been president of the Beta Beta men’s social club and is a beau for the EEE women’s social club. While a student, he has served as a leader for Reality Weekend at First Baptist Church, Benton, and completed service projects for senior adults in Arkadelphia. He worked as a tax intern at HoganTaylor in Little Rock where he will become a staff tax accountant after graduation.

Caroline Johnson, 22, is a political science and communications & media/communications studies double major from Springdale, Ark., and a graduate of Ozark High School. A member of the President’s Leadership Circle, Pi Sigma Alpha national political science honor society and the Welcome to Ouachita’s World Steering Committee, Johnson has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists and has been president, treasurer and communications chair of College Republicans; finance director on the executive board of the Arkansas Federation of College Republicans; treasurer of Student Senate; fundraising and finance chair for the Ouachita Student Foundation; vice president of the Pre-Law Society; and induction chair and historian for the EEE women’s social club. She earned the William D. Downs Outstanding Communications Graduate Award and the Roy Buckelew Outstanding Communications Studies Award. As editor-in-chief of the Ouachitonian, she received an honorable mention Gold Circle Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Johnson was an intern for the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Office of Gov. Asa Hutchinson and plans to attend the Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Julia Letcher, 22, is a musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, and a graduate of Prestonwood Christian Academy. She has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, where she has been president of Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor society and earned the Alpha Psi Omega Senior Award and the School of Fine Arts’ Friend of the Arts Award. Letcher is a member of Ouachita Singers and the Campus Ministries leadership team, has served as Tiger Tunes director for the Tri Chi women’s social club and has been elected to the Homecoming Court. She served as a worship leader at Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Arkadelphia and worked at Pine Cove City summer day camp in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. After graduation, Letcher plans to work for Pine Cove summer camps.

Emily Pease, 21, is an English major from Richardson, Texas, and a graduate of the American International School of Kurdistan. She has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, where she is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program. Pease has been vice president of Ouachita’s chapter of Alpha Chi national college honor society, editor and treasurer of Ouachita’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta international English honor society, philanthropist and president of the International Club, a committee leader for the International Food Festival and a member of the Campus Ministries outreach team. She worked for Ouachita’s Office of Student Development and volunteered through ElderServe and as a worship band member at Third Street Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. Pease plans to become a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Savannah Pierce, 22, is a Christian studies/Christian ministries and Christian studies/biblical studies & theology double major from Dover, Ark., where she graduated from Dover High School. At Ouachita, she is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, Pruet Sisterhood, Ouachita Color Guard and the Symphonic Band. Elected 2022 Homecoming Queen, Pierce has served on the Campus Ministries Refuge speaking team and as sisterhood chair, chaplain and keeper of the beaus for the Tri Chi women’s social club. She is a little sis for the Kappa Chi men’s social club and is involved in Residence Life. While a student, Pierce was a kids’ ministry intern and junior high/senior high intern at First Baptist Church of Benton. She plans to pursue a career in vocational ministry.

From left: Wes Guerra, Caroline Johnson, Julia Letcher, Emily Pease, Savannah Pierce

Eryn Riley, 22, is a choral music education major from Fort Smith, Ark., and a graduate of Southside High School. She has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, where she is a member of the Concert Choir, the Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education and the Ouachita Student Foundation. Riley earned the 2023 Phi Delta Kappa Teachers in Training Award for K-12 education, has been a Homecoming Queen nominee and has served as president of the Ouachita Singers and as Tiger Tunes director and alumni correspondent for the Tri Chi women’s social club. She has volunteered with the Ouachita Youth Chorus as an accompanist and worked for CentriKid Camps as Bible study staff, worship leader and camp director; taught piano lessons; and worked at her family’s peanut brittle company, Fulmer Candy Company. Riley plans to start her career as a choir teacher upon graduation.

Kinley Ritter, 21, is a mathematics major from Benton, Ark., and a graduate of Benton High School. She has received the Rowland Memorial Mathematics Ambassador Award at Ouachita, where she also has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists and is a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, Pruet Sisterhood and the Ouachita Student Foundation. Ritter was a student representative on the Vice President of Academic Affairs search committee and has been spirit chair, secretary and chaplain of the Tri Chi women’s social club and a Campus Ministries missions leader. She has volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and New Life Church in Hot Springs and worked as an Arkadelphia Kids Club teacher, as an intern for First Baptist Church of Benton and as a secretary for Fowler’s Marina and manager of Pier Fifty-Three, both in Wolcott, N.Y. Ritter plans to pursue a career in ministry or education.

Noah Sanders, 22, is a Christian studies/biblical studies & theology and political science double major from Little Rock, Ark., where he graduated from The Baptist Preparatory School. At Ouachita, he has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists and has been a Tiger Ambassador in the Office of Admissions Counseling, a tutor in the Academic Success Center and a member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, Campus Ministries ministry leaders team and the Welcome to Ouachita’s World Steering Committee. Sanders attended the Arkansas Student Leadership Forum, served as chaplain of the Carl Goodson Honors Program executive team and College Republicans, Tiger Tunes director and social chair for the Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club, president of Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology, vice president of the Pre-Law Society and vice president of the freshman class for Student Senate. While at Ouachita, he attended Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. Sanders plans to work in politics and attend graduate school for law or public policy.

Kallen Smith, 22, is a biomedical sciences major from Jonesboro, Ark. where he graduated from Brookland High School. Named to the President’s and Dean’s lists, he was a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program and the President’s Leadership Circle. Smith served as Student Senate class president for his class for four years, directed Campus Ministries Tiger Tunes twice and was a member of the Tri-Beta biological honor society. While a student, he served on the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, was a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation and worked as a senior counselor at Brookhill Ranch Summer Camp in Hot Springs. Smith will attend the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry.

Kathryn Totty, 21, is a communications & media/strategic communications and political science double major and a native of Camden, Ark., where she graduated from Harmony Grove High School and is a member of Cullendale First Baptist Church. At Ouachita, she was named the top Academic Achiever for the W.H. Sutton School of Social Sciences, elected to the Homecoming Court and named to the President’s List. Totty served as president, special events chair and junior class senator for Student Senate; historian and discipleship group leader for the EEE women’s social club; staff writer and section editor for the Ouachitonian; social media intern for the Elrod Center for Family & Community; secretary for College Republicans; and delegate to the Midwest Model United Nations. A member of the Ouachita Student Foundation, Pre-Law Society and Pi Sigma Alpha national political science honor society, she volunteered through Tiger Serve Day, Guard the Tiger and the Miss OBU Scholarship Competition. Totty worked in El Dorado, Ark., as an intern for U.S. Sen. John Boozman and as a legal assistant intern for Shepherd & Shepherd, P.A. She plans to attend law school and practice in Arkansas.

From left: Eryn Riley, Kinley Ritter, Noah Sanders, Kallen Smith, Kathryn Totty

Morris Tsuma, 22, is a business administration/marketing and business administration/management double major from Nairobi, Kenya, where was a youth usher and on the VBS planning team at Ridgeways Baptist Church and graduated from Rosslyn Academy. Named to the Ouachita Dean’s List, he was a member of the Tiger men’s soccer team, Residence Life resident assistant, member of the International Club and beau for the Tri Chi women’s social club. Tsuma was a Disciple Now counselor at Benton First Baptist Church and led Bible study at Hulen Street Church in Fort Worth, Texas. While a student, he worked at Chick-Fil-A, coached at a soccer camp in Kenya and interned with inside sales for United Rental. Tsuma plans to work in technology marketing while pursuing a professional soccer contract.

Maria Urbina, 21, is a nutrition and dietetics major from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where she graduated from Academia Los Pinares. At Ouachita, she earned the Outstanding Dietetics and Nutrition Award and served as fundraising chair, photography chair and social chair for the Tri Chi women’s social club; president and treasurer of the International Club; and social media chair for the Student Dietetic Association. Urbina worked in Residence Life as a resident assistant and assistant resident director and part time with Sodexo while volunteering through Feed Arkadelphia and on the youth group worship team at Park Hill Baptist Church of Arkadelphia. She will attend graduate school to complete her internship and pursue a master’s degree to become a clinical dietician.

Rebekah Van Namen, 22, is an elementary education major from Little Rock, Ark., and a graduate of The Baptist Preparatory School. Elected to the Homecoming Court at Ouachita, she was president of Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education, sisterhood chair for the EEE women’s social club and a member of Campus Ministries’ freshman orientation team. While a student, Van Namen volunteered through ElderServe, worked as a counselor at Brookhill Ranch Summer Camp and interned at The Summit Church in Little Rock. She will teach kindergarten at Little Rock Christian Academy after graduation.

Anna Kate Velasquez, 21, is a Christian studies/biblical studies & theology major from Pearland, Texas, and a home school graduate. A member of the Tiger women’s swimming & diving team, she held the position of team captain while also working in Residence Life, earning Resident Assistant of the Year for Gosser Hall. A recipient of the Mrs. J. R. Grant Endowed Award for an outstanding freshman, Velasquez worked as a social media marketing assistant and ran an Etsy sticker business. She volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and the Clark County Humane Society while interning at First Baptist Church Benton and serving as a guest teacher at Cedar Grove Baptist Church. Velasquez plans to pursue a Master of Divinity degree and wants to write Sunday school curriculum.

Vanessa Vives, 22, is an elementary education major from Bogota, Colombia, where she graduated from El Camino Academy. Named to the Ouachita President’s List, she was a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education and Alpha Chi national college honor society. Vives received the Mrs. J. R. Grant Endowed Award for an outstanding freshman and the Phi Delta Kappa Teachers in Training Award for elementary education. She was prayer and Noonday leader for Campus Ministries, panhellenic chair for the Tri Chi women’s social club, induction chair for Kappa Delta Pi, sweetheart for the Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club, a Welcome to Ouachita’s World orientation leader and a tutor for the Academic Success Center and Elrod Center for Family & Community. She also volunteered through the children’s ministry at Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. Vives plans to teach and become an international missionary after graduating.

From left: Morris Tsuma, Maria Urbina, Rebekah Van Namen, Anna Kate Velasquez, Vanessa Vives

Josh Wallace, 22, an engineering physics major from Arkadelphia, Ark., is a graduate of Arkadelphia High School, where he was a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. At Ouachita, Wallace was named to the Dean’s List and played for the Tiger football team for four years. He was named to the All-Academic All-Conference Team, was a seven-time Tiger Scholar, was an engineering intern at Siplast, served on the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and was pledge master for the Beta Beta men’s social club. Wallace is a member of First Baptist Church, Arkadelphia, where he volunteered in the nursery. He plans to pursue a graduate degree in civil engineering.

Jack Webb, 22, is a Spanish major from Arlington, Tenn., where he graduated from Macon Road Baptist School. Named to the Ouachita Dean’s List, he was a resident assistant, was named junior Spanish Student of the Year, was a member of Sigma Delta Pi honor society for Spanish and the Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club and was a beau for the Tri Chi women’s social club. He volunteered through Tiger Serve Day, the International Food Festival, highway clean up with Eta Alpha Omega and the ESL ministry at his church. Webb plans to work with students from different countries after graduation.

Wade Wilson, 22, is a Christian studies/biblical studies & theology major from Springdale, Ark., and a graduate of Har-Ber High School. Named to the President’s List at Ouachita, Wilson was a member of the Carl Goodson Honors Program, Alpha Chi national college honor society and Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology. He received the Outstanding Student in Biblical Studies Award, served on the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and was a Refuge music leader and speaker, Tiger Tunes host, Welcome to Ouachita’s World orientation leader, Christian Focus Week leadership team member, Campus Ministries life group leader and beau for the Tri Chi women’s social club. While a student, he served as a ministry intern for Cedar Grove Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Rogers and Valley Life Church of Fraser, Colo.; was an intern at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention; and worked on the summer activities crew at Winter Park Resort in Winter Park, Colo. Wilson plans to attend seminary and pastor a church after graduation.

Clark Yarbrough, 21, died Sept. 4, 2022, after a sudden collapse. He was a business administration/sport management major from Rowlett, Texas, and a graduate of Sachse High School. Given the Outstanding Resident Assistant Award at Ouachita, he served through Residence Life for three years while also being involved with Multicultural Student Programs and Tiger Serve Day. Yarbrough was a starting defensive lineman for the Tiger football team, for which he was named an All-Great American Conference Honorable Mention and a GAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. He enjoyed serving at church as an usher, choir member, youth leader and Bible study leader and planned to pursue a career as an athletic director. Yarbrough is remembered on campus for the example he set as a leader, scholar-athlete, friend and man of faith.

Josh York, 21, is a Christian studies/biblical studies & theology and Christian studies/Christian ministry double major from Texarkana, Texas, and a graduate of Redwater High School. He was a Campus Ministries life group ministry leader and a member of Ouachita Worship, the Ouachita Worship travel team, Refuge worship team, Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble and Tiger Marching Band. York also volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and was a beau for the Tri Chi women’s social club. As a student, he was an  intern at First Baptist Church of Wake Village and youth pastor at Cross View Baptist Church in Texarkana. Upon graduation, York plans to continue his work as a youth pastor while also pursuing a seminary degree.

From left: Josh Wallace, Jack Webb, Wade Wilson, Clark Yarbrough, Josh York

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• Awards/Honors
• Student Life