Ouachita Stories

news

Ouachita honors students with academic awards

May 09, 2025 - Chase Hartsell

Ouachita Baptist University recognized students’ achievements in the classroom and beyond during its annual Academic Awards Ceremony at Jones Performing Arts Center on Friday, May 2.

Mallorie Carozza, a Christian studies/biblical studies & theology major from Arkadelphia, Ark., received Ouachita’s highest academic honor as this year’s Overall Academic Achiever. She was also named the top academic achiever in the Pruet School of Christian Studies.

Sierra Douglas, a Christian studies/missions and history double major from Sachse, Texas, was selected as the university’s Outstanding Senior Woman. She was also recognized as a Blue Ribbon Finisher in the Carl Goodson Honors Program. Brandon Holloway, a music performance/voice major from Little Rock, Ark., was the Outstanding Senior Man. Ouachita’s Outstanding Senior Woman and Outstanding Senior Man are chosen by the university’s faculty and staff.

The top academic achievers in other schools included:

Hickingbotham School of Business – Lily Anderson, an accounting and finance double major from Texarkana, Ark.
Huckabee School of Education – Abby Moseley, a secondary education and mathematics double major from Centerton, Ark.
School of Humanities – Ashlyn Holt, a graphic design and communications & media/multimedia journalism double major from Rogers, Ark.
Patterson School of Natural Sciences – Abby Moseley, a secondary education and mathematics double major from Centerton, Ark.
School of Performing Arts – Lane Dunman, a music education major from Cash, Ark.
Sutton School of Social Sciences – Erin Key, a political science, communications & media and philosophy triple major from Benton, Ark.

The J.R. Grant Endowed Awards for freshman and senior female students were awarded to Lilly Moseley and Mackenzie Amaya, respectively. Moseley is a communications & media/integrated communications major from Centerton, Ark. Amaya is a Spanish major from Dallas, Texas.

The Mrs. Betty Oliver Grant Endowed Awards for sophomore and junior female students went to Avery Lewis and Olivia Beene, respectively. Lewis is a computer science major from Trophy Club, Texas. Beene is a communication sciences & disorders major from Enola, Ark.

Kivion Seals and Addrienna Gray were announced as Annie Abrams Scholars. Seals is a sophomore history and secondary education double major from Springdale, Ark. Gray is a sophomore criminal justice and psychology double major from El Dorado, Ark.

The Most Inspirational Professor Award was presented to Dr. Byron Eubanks, professor of philosophy and director of the university’s Sutton Center for Integrity.

Individuals honored by the Carl Goodson Honors Program and Ouachita’s seven academic schools included:

Carl Goodson Honors Program

Ben Elrod Scholar: Mikayla Cook
Garrett Ham Scholar: Lillian Felton
Carl Goodson Scholar: Nathan Clark
Blue Ribbon Finishers: Zayne Ashley, Delaney Beehn, Malea Borland, Izzi Breaux, Alex Browning, Shelby Cheek, Didi Christenson, John Hunter Crum, Sierra Douglas, Julianne Fletcher, Ruthie Fox, Reece Gray, Katelyn Hartsell, Wyatt House, Qara Johnson, Erin Key, Kalel Langford, Emily Lawrence, Whit Lawrence, Luke Lawson, Michael Lee, Jackson Lipscomb, Emma Mackey, Jenna Malone, Hannah Matthews, Tuesday Melton, James McIntyre, Parker Nelson, Olivia Nethercutt, Rachel New, Carly Orr, Mary O’ Sullivan, Cody Pallen, Andrew Pierce, Maryann Rettig, Georgia Richards, Will Ross, Kassidy Stone, Camryn Stroupe, Cade Swindle, Allie Jane Wilson and Kendall Wilson
Most Valuable Professors: Dr. Nathan Reyna and Dr. Matt Douglass

Hickingbotham School of Business

Johnny Heflin Excellence in Leadership & Academics Award: Anna Breeding
Outstanding Business Scholar Athlete: Phil Exner

Department of Accounting & Finance

Margaret Wright Outstanding Senior in Accounting Award: Seth Poindexter
Eddie Ary Outstanding Senior in Finance Award: Elise Henderson

Department of Business Administration

Dr. Lera Kelly Outstanding Senior in Business Administration Award: Reagann Harper

Pruet School of Christian Studies

Department of Biblical Studies & Theology

Outstanding Student in Biblical Studies: Meghann Bledsoe and Tanner Roberts
Preben Vang Award for Christian Theological Studies: Ben Combs
Biblical Hebrew Award: Matt Murray
Robert Stagg New Testament Greek Award: Ben Combs

Department of Christian Ministries

Outstanding Student in Christian Ministries: Troi Kacsir and Ali Grisham

Department of Christian Missions

Outstanding Student in Christian Missions: Angela Coriaty

Department of Philosophy

Don Harbuck Award for Excellence in Philosophy: Cade Swindle

Community & Family Services

Community & Family Services Award: Malea Borland and Brooke Wright

Huckabee School of Education

Department of Education

Alice Searcy Award: Eden Van Orman
Outstanding Current Education Sophomores: Mallory Jo Bennett (elementary), Mark Kennedy (secondary) and Jacob Woodfield (K-12)
Sylvia Gates Webb Award: Allyson Rodgers
Maude Wright Memorial Award: Aaron Osmond
Phi Delta Kappa Teachers in Training: Brianna Cantrell (elementary), Joseph Webb (middle), Lacey Lewellen (middle) and Kasey Dumas (K-12)
Charles Chambliss Distinguished Educator Award: Nathan Costner
Kathy Collins “Spirit of Teaching” Award: Jessalyn Ahrens

Department of Kinesiology

Bob Gravett Outstanding Kinesiology Teaching Award: Kate McCown
Tona Wright Outstanding Exercise Science Award: Josh Tibbs
Outstanding Kinesiology Pre-Professional Studies Award: Abbey Moore
Outstanding Kinesiology Recreation and Sports Administration Award: MJ Leslie

School of Humanities

Rosemary Adams Department of Art & Design

Francie Phelan Outstanding Senior: Hannah Schulze
Raybon-Berry Outstanding Freshman: Parker Raines
Russell Shad Memorial Award for Outstanding Art & Design Junior: Bryce Benson
Friends of Fine Arts Scholar: Madeline King

Department of Language & Literature

Outstanding Senior English Major: Bailey Bearden
Betty Raspberry McCommas Outstanding Junior in English Scholarship Award: Reese Hargrove
Herman Sandford Outstanding Sophomore in English Scholarship Award: Jake Ayotte
Betty Raspberry McCommas Outstanding Freshman in English Scholarship Award: Avery Walker
The Sharpest Speer Award: Alex Browning and Reese Hargrove
Susan and Johnny Wink Scholarship: Nate Hollis
Bugtruck Award for Outstanding Departmental Service: Cameron Self
Outstanding Junior Spanish Major: Emma McClurkin
Outstanding Senior Spanish Book Award: Jacie Sellars
El Tigre Award: Taylor Ragsdale
Outstanding Student in Latin: Kate Cheshier

William Fenna & Emily Rogers Department of Communications

Melissa Denver Peacock Outstanding Sophomore Communications Student Award: Gavin Wallace
Matt Turner Outstanding Junior Communications Major Award: Jacie Sellars
William D. Downs Outstanding Communications Graduate Award: Kate Ellis
Roy Buckelew Outstanding Communications Studies Award: Sydni Worley
Publication Recognitions: Erin Key (Ouachitonian); Kate Ellis (Signal); Sydni Worley (Online Signal); Meghann Bledsoe and Josh Rhine (Photo Lab); Priscilla Leverett, Chloe Veuleman, Isaac Bourne and Gavin Wallace (Ouachita Sports Digital Network); Josh Engle, Haley Shourd and Alli Hylkema (Ouachita News)

Patterson School of Natural Sciences

Department of Biological Sciences

Outstanding Freshman Biology Award: Sam Grose
Richard H. Brown Biology Award: Zander May
Outstanding Senior in Biology Award: Jackson Lipscomb and Eli Livingston

Department of Chemistry

Freshman Chemistry Award: Shamuel Gill
Ethel & Nell Mondy and E.A. Provine Scholar: Elise Knight and Tatum Smith
Outstanding Graduate in Chemistry: Alex Browning and Whit Lawrence
Harvey Research Award: Maryann Rettig
American Chemical Society Outstanding Student in Organic Chemistry: Alex Browning

Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders

Compassionate Scientist Award: Camryn Stroupe

Department of Nursing

Academic Excellence – Nursing: Adam Lott
Florence Nightingale’s Spirit of Human Kindness: Riley Kratz
Most Likely to Exceed: Mary O’Sullivan

Department of Nutrition & Dietetics

Outstanding Dietetics & Nutrition Award: Reece Gray

Department of Physics & Engineering / Department of Mathematics & Computer Sciences: Rowland Memorial Awards

Outstanding Senior – Mathematics: Rachel New
Outstanding Senior – Math Education: Abby Moseley
Outstanding Senior – Physics: Whit Addington
Outstanding Senior – Computer Science: Rafael Bustillo
Academic Excellence – Mathematics: Tatum Smith
Academic Excellence – Computer Science: Kodee Batchelor
Academic Excellence – Physics: Tanner Nelson
Mathematics Ambassador Award: Cade Martin

School of Performing Arts

Division of Applied Arts

Theatre Arts Outstanding Student Award – Freshman: Danielle Rivera and Hadley Gilmore
Theatre Arts Outstanding Student Award – Junior: Kenzie Tatum and Nathan Price
Alpha Psi Omega Senior Award: Halle Jones and Mac Ricks
Alpha Psi Omega Outstanding Service: Kailey May and Thomas Lilley

Division of Music

The Presser Scholar: Lane Dunman
Rachel Fuller Scholarship: Dani Schager
James Harrison Scholarship: Sophie McFarland
Friends of Performing Arts Scholars: Micah West (instrumental), Erika Johnson (theatre) and Kate Kelley (voice)

Sutton School of Social Sciences

Outstanding Graduate in Sociology and Political Science: Addie Robertson

Department of History

Everett Slavens Award to Outstanding Sophomore: Hannah Hickman
Fran Coulter Award to Outstanding Junior: Bri Fehr
R.C. Daily Award to Outstanding Senior: Olivia Nethercutt
History Faculty Award: Isaac Lawson
Phi Alpha Theta Award for Outstanding Research Paper: Nathan Clark
Outstanding Future Teacher Award: Alexis Hawkins

Department of Political Science

Bob Riley Outstanding Graduate in Political Science Award: Erin Key

Department of Psychology

Psychology Faculty Award: Shelby Cheek, Kendall Wilson and Arcrél Lee
Weldon Vogt Outstanding Psychology Senior Award: Cody Pallen

Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice

Outstanding Junior in Sociology and Criminal Justice Award: Sydney Babb
Outstanding Graduating Senior in Sociology and Criminal Justice Award: Tamia Haney

Lead photo: Top award winners at the 2025 Ouachita Academic Awards Ceremony included Outstanding Senior Man Brandon Holloway (left), Outstanding Senior Woman Sierra Douglas (middle) and Overall Academic Achiever Mallorie Carozza (right).

Lead photo by Lily Roddy