Ouachita Stories

On April 11, over 655 Ouachita students and volunteers joined together to complete 88 projects for Tiger Serve Day. While anticipated by students and community members each semester, this one was special for Judy Duvall, director of the Ben M. Elrod Center for Family & Community.  

For 25 years, Duvall has been committed to building relationships through service by providing opportunities for students to use their gifts to bless others and glorify the Lord. Over her time in leadership, she has expanded the Elrod Center programs by leaps and bounds, meeting more specific needs for Arkadelphia residents. This spring’s Tiger Serve Day was her last as she prepares for retirement in May.

While the list of projects completed during her time as director is extensive, what Duvall is most thankful for is how service has become an outlet for building relationships to share the love of Jesus.  

“One of my favorite parts about Tiger Serve Day each semester is watching people get to serve on teams,” Duvall said. “Sometimes they know each other, but there’s something special about helping and serving together that bonds you in a really unique way.”  

Duvall’s legacy in service leadership has equipped students as they step into what’s next after college. Through the creation of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team and the hard work of Elrod Center staff, ministry does not stop at Tiger Serve Day.   

The TSD Leadership Team is a coalition of students from various major programs who work together throughout the year to prepare for each semester's event. The team meets regularly, visits every project site beforehand, and follows up afterward to ensure each person being helped feels valued and cared for.  

“Mrs. Judy has been one of the most impactful women to me during my three years of college,” Margaret Guerra, a TSD Leadership Team member and junior communications and community & family services/human services double major from Benton, Arkansas, said. “She pours into our leadership team intentionally, so that we may go and pour into the community and that has been such a blessing to be a part of.”  

William White, a senior biomedical science major from Little Rock, Arkansas shared how being a member of TSD leadership has cultivated meaningful relationships with those in the community — Mrs. Pat French — over many semesters.

“My favorite part of working with Mrs. Pat is our conversations when I visit to evaluate how we can serve,” White said. “We share about our personal lives and the ways the Lord has been teaching us, and I am blessed to know her. I now possess a deeper appreciation for the truth that God loves me and the people in our community because of weekly TSD leadership reflections, books Mrs. Judy gives us and visits to the homes of those we serve.” 

With the partnership between faithful leadership and committed students and staff, Ouachita has been able to not only do physical work for community members like Mrs. French but establish long lasting friendship and support. 

Growing up watching her mom’s example of loving others through service, Duvall was inspired to pursue a career in helping people. After graduating from Ouachita in 1982 with a degree in sociology, she later returned to work for the Elrod Center, becoming director in 2021. Overwhelmed at first by how big the needs of the community felt, it reminded her that more than anything, people crave community. With this mission in mind, events like Tiger Serve Day were dreamed to life through hard work and partnership.

Duvall shared that more than any project she’s completed, one of the most meaningful things she has learned is the power of presence. By creating margin to be with people, she has seen how compassion for people's situations and loving them wholeheartedly is more powerful than words. Most importantly, she encourages students to pursue service because it follows the model of Christ, and by doing so, strengthens one’s own relationship with Him. 

“Solitude, community, ministry,” Duvall said. “Instead of jumping into service first, make your time with God the most important thing. Then develop a community around you to support and guide you, and then finally move into ministry and service. You will find immense joy and fulfillment in using your God-given gifts to serve others and build up the kingdom.” 

For more information about Tiger Serve Day and other Elrod Center programs and services, please visit obu.edu/elrod or contact the center at [email protected] or 870-245-5320.

Lead photo by Joshua Rhine

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• Community Service
• Elrod Center
• Featured
• Tiger Serve Day