Ouachita Stories

Silvi Cardona, a senior psychology and Christian foundations double major from Bogotá, Colombia, was crowned Ouachita Baptist University’s 2026 Homecoming Queen during a pregame ceremony at Cliff Harris Stadium on Oct. 10, 2026. Later in the day, the Women of EEE took home first place in the 48th annual Tiger Tunes.

Cardona represented the International Club and is a member of the Women of Tri Chi. She was escorted by Nelson Ortiz.

“I love International Club because there are a lot of international students that some people just don’t know,” Cardona said. “What this club does is let students meet other people from other countries. It is the same experience that brings us together because we are all far from home, but we also have a community that understands what each student is going through.”

Cardona was crowned by 2025 Homecoming Queen Hannah Goodrum and Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita’s president.

First runner-up was Dezra Estrada Corona, a junior computer science major from Mexico City, Mexico, who represented the Cyber Club. Corona is also involved with the International Club and is groundskeeper for the Women of Tri Chi and president of the Church Care Initiative.

Second runner-up was Blaise Batson, a senior political science and Spanish double major from Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She represented the Ouachita Student Foundation, where she is the special events chair and student director of Tiger Tunes. She is involved in many organizations on campus, including the Women of EEE social club.

Third runner-up was Mia Lockwood, a senior biomedical sciences major from Fort Worth, Texas, representing the Men of Eta Alpha Omega, and fourth runner-up was Kinsey Gregory, a senior community & family services/clinical major from Pottsville, Arkansas, representing the Women of Tri Chi.

The following students were also part of the ceremony as top 20 Homecoming Court nominees: 

• Lexi Aikman, a senior political science and history double major from Conway, Arkansas, representing Student Senate 

• Elle Bolding, a sophomore Christian studies/Christian missions major from Benton, Arkansas, representing the sophomore class 

• Bailey Boyles, a senior kinesiology/pre-professional studies major from Arkadelphia, Arkansas, representing the Kinesiology Club 

• Zuly Camarillo, a sophomore kinesiology/pre-professional studies major from Gurdon, Arkansas, representing La Fuerza 

• Georgie Crain, a senior nutrition & dietetics major from Prescott, Arkansas, representing Student Dietetic Association 

• Anna Derby, a senior kinesiology/pre-professional studies major from Arkadelphia, Arkansas, representing the Gridiron Girls 

• Elly Edmondson, a senior communication sciences & disorders and psychology double major from Benton, Arkansas, representing National Student Speech Language Hearing Association 

• Sara Faddis, a senior psychology and Christian foundations double major from Centerton, Arkansas, representing Campus Ministries 

• Layten Goudy, a senior communications & media/communication studies major from Benton, Arkansas, representing The Ouachitonian 

• Audrey Kendrick, a senior biomedical sciences major from Conway, Arkansas, representing the Men of Beta Beta 

• Caroline Meadows, a senior biology major from El Dorado, Arkansas, representing the Tiger cheer team 

• Avery Smith, a senior finance major from Conway, Arkansas, representing Alpha Chi 

• Madelyn Tullos, a senior communications & media major from Paris, Texas, representing the senior class 

• Anna Weeks, a senior elementary education major from Conway, Arkansas, representing the Tiger dance team 

• Charlotte Wood, a senior communications & media/multimedia journalism major from Fort Smith, Arkansas, representing The Women of EEE 

 

The Ouachita football team went on to win its homecoming game versus Southern Nazarene by a score of 49-14. A game recap is available on the Ouachita Athletics website.

Homecoming & Family Weekend included five performances of Tiger Tunes, an annual variety show that raises more than $200,000 for scholarships each year. At the end of the final performance of Tiger Tunes 2026, the Ouachita Student Foundation presented first place to the Women of EEE for “Chickens.” The show was directed by Anna Weeks and Audrey Kendrick.

“Directing Tiger Tunes was truly an amazing experience,” Weeks said. “It made me realize just how much this club means to me and how special our sisterhood is. All the girls were so supportive and invested in creating the show, and it was so rewarding to see everyone come together and work toward the same goal.”

“All week, we felt like we had already won in our hearts because of how much hard work we had put into the show and how we continued to accomplish our goals each night,” Weeks continued. “I know I will miss Tiger Tunes so much when I graduate because it is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that helps make Ouachita so special!”

Second place was awarded to the Men of Eta Alpha Omega for their show “Piñatas.” Eta Alpha Omega director Levi Shaffer, a community & family services/clinical major from El Dorado, Arkansas, won the Shelby Seabaugh Spirit of Tunes Award.

The Women of Tri Chi received the Audience Choice Award and third place for “Perfect Picnic.” The Men of Beta Beta claimed fourth place for “Cavemen.” The Men and Women of Campus Ministries earned the OSF Award and fifth place for “Exodus.”

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Lead photo by Joshua Rhine: Silvi Cardona (center) was named Ouachita’s 2026 Homecoming Queen. Other Homecoming Court members included (from left to right) third runner-up Mia Lockwood, first runner-up Dezra Estrada Corona, second runner-up Blaise Batson and fourth runner-up Kinsey Gregory.

Tiger Tunes photos by Evie Stake, Joshua Rhine and Matthew Correll

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