Ouachita’s Elrod Center honors more than 150 volunteers
May 28, 2026
- Chase HartsellOuachita Baptist University’s Ben M. Elrod Center for Family & Community recognized more than 150 volunteers at its annual University Community Service Awards banquet in Walker Conference Center on Thursday, April 23.
“This banquet is one of my favorite nights of the year,” Leigh Anne McKinney, associate director of the Elrod Center, said. “There is something special about seeing so many of our volunteers from various programs in one place at one time. It is a visual reminder that what we all do on an individual level is important, but that what we contribute personally is also part of a much larger combined effort to reach our community.”
Olivia Beene, a senior communication sciences & disorders major from Enola, Arkansas, and Mika Celicourt, a senior nursing major from Roland, Arkansas, received the Cargill Leadership Award. Established by Dr. Ben Elrod’s longtime friend, Dr. Bob Cargill, the award goes to a student whose servant leadership honors the life and legacy of Elrod. Beene recorded more than 100 TranServe hours during the 2025-2026 academic year, volunteering through the Arkadelphia Human Development Center, After School Tutoring and Celebrate Gratitude. Celicourt served on the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team.
Isabella Knight, a senior community & family services and communications & media major from Camden, Arkansas, was honored with the Cindy Stroud Service Award. Named in honor of Elrod Center board member Cindy Elrod Stroud, the award recognizes a student exhibiting the qualities of a strong servant leader. Knight served as a student leader for multiple initiatives, including America Reads/America Counts Tutoring, After School Tutoring, Feed Arkadelphia and ElderServe.
Seniors from the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team pose for a photo at this year’s University Community Service Awards banquet. The TSD Leadership Team was one of a dozen volunteer groups recognized at the event.
Photo by Matthew Correll
Nathan Clark, a senior history education and education double major, and John David Ross, a senior engineering/civil major from Camden, Arkansas, were awarded this year’s Michael Allison Service Scholarships. The scholarships, created by Ouachita graduate and friend of the Elrod Center, Michael Allison, honor seniors who demonstrate outstanding leadership and service to Ouachita’s campus and local community. Clark and Ross were both on the Campus Ministries Leadership Team. Clark also worked with ElderServe, while Ross served through Feed Arkadelphia and the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team.
Ramon Strassmann, a senior finance and business administration/management double major from Meuselbach, Germany, took home the Outstanding International Student Award. Chosen by the Grant Center for International Education’s staff, the award is given to a student who displays excellence in both academics and character while representing the university’s international program. Strassmann tied with James Savarese as this year’s Outstanding Business Scholar Athlete in the Hickingbotham School of Business. Last month, Strassmann also became the first men’s tennis athlete in MIAA/GAC history to claim the conference’s highest academic honor, the “A Game” Scholar-Athlete Award, in back-to-back seasons. On the court, the senior led the Tigers to their 22nd all-time appearance in the NCAA Division II national tournament, earning Second Team All-MIAA/GAC honors in both singles and doubles as well as the league’s Sportsmanship Award.
The Elrod Center celebrated its outgoing director, Judy Duvall, for 25 years of service, including the last five spent as the center’s leader. She was presented the Outstanding Community Service Award and retires this month as director emerita of the Elrod Center.
The following groups of Ouachita students, faculty and staff were also honored during the annual dinner:
After School Tutoring: Kristian Baker, Blaise Batson, Olivia Beene, Riley Branch, Noah Canon, Silvi Cardona, Kinley Couch, Payton Crum, Reagan Dennie, David Dixon, Payton Dumas, Jackson Edds, Hope Faddis, Jansen Garner, Hannah Goodrum, Reese Hargrove, Kate Kelley, Haley Jackson, Isabella Knight, Audrey Lapp, Cara Malin, Abby Matthews, Mason McKinney, Eliza Parker, Jillian Rachuy, Tatum Smith, Mary Kathryn Staley, Sydney Taylor, Addison Williams, Charlotte Wood, Gracie Wright and Bailey Yarberry
America Reads/America Counts Tutoring: Kayla Brown, Chloe Caffey, Shayla Conley, Payton Dumas, Kaitlyn Dutton, Ally Fugate, Reese Hargrove, Brinklee Heath, Kate Kelley, Isabella Knight, Emma Langford, Jadie Langston, Hope Pennington, Courtney Scogin, Taryn South, Mary Kathryn Staley, Odelia Vogel and Grace Wright
Arkadelphia Human Development Center: Olivia Beene, Bailey Boyles, Addison Chapman, Jadie Langston, Courtney Scogin and Mary Kathryn Staley
Campus Ministries Leadership Team: Gracie Campbell, Noah Canon, Silvi Cardona, Nathan Clark, Alysha Colburn, Addison Davis, Joshua Engle, Ashleigh Estes, Cable Glenn, Hannah Goodrum, Tate Goodrum, Mia Graham, Zoë Graham, Ethan Grant, Trevor Greene, Clara Griggs, Will Johnson, Hank Lay, Jonathan McEndree, Gwen Michaels, Zach Moore, Lilly Moseley, Aidan Perry, Ashley Perry, Kidron Romoser, John David Ross, Addison Skelton, Carter Smith, Kaylee Smith, Mary Kathryn Staley, Angela Terry, Noah Terry, Nic Thompson, Chaya Vogel, Anna Kate Wagley, Braden Wagley, William White and Gracie Wright
Celebrate Gratitude: Olivia Beene and Jillian Rachuy
ElderServe: Millie Babb, Kristian Baker, Kate Barrera, Allie Bell, Ella Blakely, Kayla Brown, Bailey Boyles, Claire Burris, Reyna Cabrera, Chloe Caffey, Addison Chapman, Nathan Clark, Caroline Craig, Emma Dill, Abigail Drennan, Joshua Engle, Sara Faddis, Rylee Freeman, Julia Greenwich, Kinsey Gregory, Brinklee Heath, Hope Ingold, Isabella Knight, Cara Malin, Autumn McDaniel, Mckinley Melcher, Eliza Parker, Kylie Peters, Kimber Rogers, Addison Russell, Makaylen Swint and Caley Vinson
Elrod Center Enrichment Grants: Reagan Hardage, Shine Therapy, Inc.; Dr. Myra Houser, Atrocity and Aftermath course/Buckner’s Shoes for Orphan Souls; and April Morgan, Department of Nursing/Celebrate Recovery
Feed Arkadelphia: Reyna Cabrera, Karol Camargo, Silvi Cardona, Andrew Dawson, Kaitlyn Dutton, Jansen Garner, Isabella Knight, Eli Meyer, Zach Moore, Jarrett Rogers and John David Ross
Kluck Service Enrichment Grants: Noah Embrey, Pre-Dental Committee of the Pre-Health Student Association; Reese Hargrove, Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society; Addison Huddler, the Women of Tri Chi; Tatum Smith, Women in STEM; and Gabriel Troup, Operation Christmas Child
TaxServe: Dr. Dana Dixon, Grant Greenway, Colson McKinney and Mason McKinney
Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team: Anna Cabaness, Jenna Case, Mika Celicourt, Sam Gregg, Margaret Guerra, Ashlynn Hecht, Hope Ingold, Ashley Koeth, Emma McClurkin, Colson McKinney, Mason McKinney, Zach Moore, Landon Morris, John David Ross, Dani Schager, Mary Kathryn Staley, Cole Sullivan, Makaylen Swint, Emerson Thompson, Gabriel Troup, Lane Von Dresky, Margaret Catherine White, William White, Ella Wooten, Josiah Wooten and Gracie Wright
TranServe Students with 100 or more hours: Blaise Batson, Olivia Beene, Silvi Cardona, Karol Camargo, Emma Dill, Payton Dumas, Joshua Engle, Zoë Graham, Brinklee Heath, Hope Ingold, Jadie Langston, Colson McKinney, Mason McKinney, Zach Moore, Matt Murray, Joshua Rhine, Kaylee Smith, Mary Kathryn Staley, William White and Gracie Wright
Lead photo by Joshua Rhine
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