Ouachita hosts Special Olympics Arkansas Spring Games
April 02, 2026
- Chase HartsellOuachita Baptist University welcomed athletes from across Clark, Garland, Hot Spring and Saline counties on April 1 for the 2026 Special Olympics Arkansas Area 10 Spring Games. It was the first Special Olympics event hosted on campus since 2019 and the inaugural one held at Ouachita’s new Hickingbotham Family Track & Field.
Special Olympics Arkansas seeks to provide athletic and recreational opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout the year. Athletes participating in the organization’s events adhere to the Special Olympics oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” This year’s Area 10 Spring Games featured a variety of walking, running and throwing events, along with other related activities for all age groups and abilities.
Dr. Hallie Wallace, assistant professor of kinesiology, played a critical role in bringing the games back to Ouachita.
“I had a previously established relationship with Special Olympics, and it was the first year since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that we’d been able to host the event,” Wallace said. “I reached back out to see if Ouachita could host the Area 10 Special Olympics, and they were thrilled.”
During this year’s opening ceremony, Wallace accepted a certificate of gratitude from Rene’ Prewett, Area 10 director of Arkansas Special Olympics, on Ouachita’s behalf. Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita’s president, started the ceremony by issuing a brief welcome and introducing the 14 competing schools and organizations. They included:
- Abilities Unlimited – Hot Springs
- Spa City Marlins
- Arkadelphia HDC
- Bauxite Schools
- Benton Schools
- Bryant Schools
- Civitan Services
- Hot Springs Schools
- Lake Hamilton Schools
- Lakeside Schools
- Mountain Pine Schools
- Naugle’s Warriors
- Pathfinders
- St. Francis
Ava Weeks, a senior English and secondary education double major from Conway, Arkansas, performed the national anthem, while Andre Lane, a senior communications & media/sports media major from Benton, Arkansas, delivered the invocation. Dalton Reid, a freshman communications & media/sports media major from Rockport, Arkansas, was the event’s public address announcer. Scott Clark, chief of Ouachita Police, ran with four different athletes as they completed the ceremonial torch run to officially open the games. Other Ouachita students, faculty and staff served as volunteers in various capacities throughout the day.
“Being a part of the Special Olympics is about being involved in something bigger than yourself,” Reid said. “It was truly a blessing to see the smiles on the athletes’ faces.”
Ouachita’s Department of Kinesiology works closely with the local community to make a positive difference in individuals’ lives. To learn more about studying kinesiology at Ouachita, visit obu.edu/kinesiology or contact the Office of Admissions Counseling at 870-245-5110.
For more information about Special Olympics Arkansas events and service opportunities, visit specialolympicsarkansas.org.
Lead photo courtesy of Special Olympics Arkasnas Area 10
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