ouachita
SUMMER 2010
CREATIVITY
Miss Arkansas 2010
Tale of the Tiger
Creativity is valuable asset
Creativity: Just the mention of the word evokes images of exquisite art, beautiful music, captivating theatre performances and other forms of imaginative, inspirational expression. Here at Ouachita, we are privileged to experience each of those creative outlets on a regular basis through campus art exhibits, vocal and instrumental concerts and recitals, drama and musical productions and much more. Tiger Tunes, Festival of Christmas and other longstanding traditions showcase student talent, creativity and ingenuity every year. Of course, creativity isn’t limited to the arts. Students consistently express their creativity through academic assignments, ministry efforts, social club projects, recreational activities and in countless other ways. As Dr. Scott Holsclaw points out in his page 2 article exploring the creative process, “Creativity is embedded in the mission of Ouachita.” And that is as it should be. To be an effective, engaged institution of higher learning requires a commitment among faculty, staff and students to pursue creative solutions to a variety of complex challenges– whether academic, spiritual or personal. Our university mission statement affirms that Ouachita “prepares individuals for ongoing intellectual and spiritual growth, lives of meaningful work, and reasoned engagement with the world.” Among Ouachita’s core values is a commitment to “advance excellence in teaching, learning, research and creative expression.” Diverse examples of creativity among our students, faculty and alumni are highlighted throughout this issue of The Ouachita Circle – from the Ouachita Singers’ memorable Italian concert tour to the elaborate and entertaining spring musical production of Seussical. Even the recent dedication of Heflin Plaza featured on page 9 represents the creative vision of university officials and the Heflin family to partner on this significant project that symbolically and functionally links both sides of campus. Other creative pursuits include 2001 alumnus Josh Shaw’s leading role in the U.S. premiere of the Wagner opera, “Die Feen,”and 2010 graduate Daniel Graham’s compassionate Mr. Graham’s Bread ministry to the underprivileged. Alyse Eady, also a 2010 OBU grad, used her talent, creativity and poise this summer to earn the title of Miss Arkansas 2010. She was one of six Miss Arkansas contestants with Ouachita ties, including three who finished in the Top 10. Congratulations to Alyse and each of the young women who were outstanding representatives of our university. Along with the incredible range of creativity evident on campus each day, creative expression also is a valuable asset among our alumni and friends who are investing their lives throughout Arkansas, the nation and the world. As you reflect on the creative ventures chronicled in this issue of The Circle, may God grant you a renewed commitment to the creative process in your own life journey.
Trennis Henderson Vice President for Communications
“Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous.” Bill Moyers
“Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity.” Charles Mingus
“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.” Frank Capra
“Sometimes creativity just means the daily work of helping others to see a problem in a different way.” Joseph L. Badaracco
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalms 51:10
President Rex M. Horne, Jr. Vice President for Communications Editor Trennis Henderson Assistant Director of Communications Associate Editor Brooke Showalter Zimny Vice President for Institutional Advancement Wesley Kluck External Director of Alumni Chris Babb Internal Director of Alumni Lauren Land
5 2 4
5
7 Creativity sparks discovery
Dr. Scott Holsclaw, dean of the School of Fine Arts, explores how the creative process promotes lifelong discovery and innovation which can “uncover our unique giftedness.”
Singers make music in Italy
Twenty-four members of the Ouachita Singers experienced a musical and spiritual pilgrimage during a tour of Italy that featured three concerts as well as singing at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Seussical the Musical
The Ouachita Division of Music and Department of Theatre Arts partnered this spring to bring the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss to life on the stage of Jones Performing Arts Center.
7
Miss Arkansas 2010
9
Heflin Plaza celebration
9
Alyse Eady, a member of the OBU Class of 2010, was crowned Miss Arkansas 2010 this summer. Her platform is “Developing Leaders: Boys and Girls Clubs of America.” Ouachita’s spacious Heflin Plaza, which links both sides of campus, was dedicated this summer in memory of former Board of Trustees chairman Johnny Heflin and in honor of his family.
The Ouachita Circle is a publication of Ouachita Baptist University’s alumni and communications offices. Send address changes and class notes to: Ouachita Alumni Office 410 Ouachita St., OBU Box 3762 Arkadelphia, AR 71998-0001 E-mail: alumni@obu.edu Phone: 870-245-5506 Contact the Communications Office: E-mail: newsbureau@obu.edu Phone: 870-245-5208 Printed by TCPrint Solutions in North Little Rock, Ark. Cover photo of Ouachita visual arts studio by Details Communications. Board of Trustees Curtis Arnold Phil Baldwin Clay Conly Julie Dodge Lewis Eady Jay Heflin Frank Hickingbotham Craig Jenkins Taylor King Larry Kircher Richard Lusby Joe Bill Meador
Mollie Morgan Betty F. Oliver J.D. Patterson Faron Rogers Phillip W. Smith Rita Spillyards William H. Sutton Jeff Teague Ray Turnage Susan Wamble John Ward Gene Whisenhunt
National Directors Mike Buster
James V. Kelley
Chancellor Ben M. Elrod President Emeritus Daniel R. Grant
11 12 20 22 23 24
Sports Update: OBU athletes and coaches named to GSC all-decade teams Campus Update: Latest tale of the Tiger? Ouachita Tiger gets a new tail Class Notes: University trustees approve new faculty and staff members Faculty Profile: David Bieloh pursues creativity both in and out of the classroom Staff Profile: Control central at Ouachita? That would be Charolette Allison’s office Closing Thoughts: President Horne reflects on God’s creative work at Ouachita
Ouachita Alumni Advisory Board President Suzanne Duke Franklin First Vice President Rick Briscoe Arkansas Advisors Kelly Patterson Baldwin, Janet Ehren Gathright, Euodias Goza, Rebecca Meggs Harris, Nathan Hurst, Kale Magness, Tom Murphree, Scott Snider, Heather Brandon Spruill, Terri Bell Swedenburg, Sheri McMullan Swindler and Mel Thrash Out-of-State Advisors Gray Allison, Sarah Atkinson Bennett, Angela Harris Kilgore, Scott Meador, Christine Roberson Street, Eric Torrence and Jan Mitchell Williams
Creative process promotes discovery and innovation
By Scott Holsclaw
C
reativity is the heart of effective education, whether we are beginning or continuing our educational journey. The creative process sparks within us a desire to make a difference as we discover God’s unique calling on our lives. Creativity flourishes on Ouachita’s campus. From student research projects in the Patterson School of Natural Sciences and the Sutton School of Social Sciences to the entrepreneurial spirit in the Hickingbotham School of Business, from the myriad ministry and service ventures in the Pruet School of Christian Studies and the Huckabee School of Education to the variety of student creative projects, performances and exhibits in the School of Fine Arts and the School of Humanities, creativity is embedded in the mission of Ouachita. Jean Piaget, renowned writer and scholar in education, stated, “The principle goal of education is to create men (and women) who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done – men (and women) who are creative, inventive and discoverers.” Creativity exists in each of us. As we educate new generations of students, we are called to awaken their imaginative minds, their inventive nature and their discoverer’s spirit. In the beginning God created. In His own image He created man; male and female created He them (Gen. 1:1, 27). Our Godgiven DNA generates in us a desire
2 • the ouachita circle
to create. So then is creativity automatic or is there a process we must discover so that we can tap into our creative nature? The School of Fine Arts’ mission statement declares, “We are dedicated to facilitating critical thinking, the creative process and personal expression by developing and maintaining curricular and performance programming which emphasizes the creative process.” As an educator in the arts, I have questioned whether creativity can be taught, but I have come to realize that if we can help students identify their creative spirit, they can unlock their unique giftedness. The creative process is what separates the educated from the indoctrinated. Individual creativity calls for an initiative to explore, to make discoveries, to take risks and to seek innovation not for the sake of innovation but to uncover our unique giftedness as creative beings. In a few weeks students will arrive on campus to begin their educational journey as thousands have done before them. Most of them will not recognize this journey as a creative process but will see it as a series of hoops to jump through to achieve what they believe is the ultimate goal, a college degree. Yet every element of campus life, every educational encounter and every ministry opportunity will produce a bank of experiences and understandings that will intensify their creative potential. Our students are encouraged to become explorers searching for the answers to the world’s most simple
and most complicated problems. This exploration starts with an exposure to and an examination of the great artists, scientists, Biblical scholars and philosophers throughout human history. This first phase of the creative process has been described as the incubation period. The individual begins to explore and accumulate experiences by mining the depths of various ideas and philosophical concepts that enrich the individual’s unique passions. Sometimes this happens within the first year of college and other times it takes years for a student to make this discovery. As lifelong learners, many of us recognize this phase; yet some never venture beyond this stage. They seek the safety of what they know and supplement their limited viewpoints with writers and commentators who only advocate their point of view. It is much like coloring within the lines for the young artist. Yes, emergent artists need to understand the concepts of color, the elements of design and the historical perspectives of imagery, but if they continue only to imitate others they will never discover their own uniqueness or venture beyond the confines of the lines. This first phase of the creative process, the perception or exploration phase, is typically motivated by such external factors as grades and assignments generated by a teacher or boss. But as one begins to make connections and discover a personal passion for learning, the attentive student enters the next phase of the creative
process, the conceptualization or discovery phase. The challenge of this phase is in facilitating the shift of the student’s motivation from outside requirements to an internal motivation, tapping into the individual’s excitement of discovery. We can all recall that “aha” moment when we discovered a new truth for ourselves as we read and explored ideas of the great masters. These moments of discovery are the seeds of inventive thinking. These seeds germinate into unique business ventures, exceptional ministry concepts, successful research investigations, meaningful poetry and remarkable artists. However, these fertile seeds will not germinate if they are not nurtured. Ouachita continues to provide that nurturing atmosphere by encouraging students to investigate new ideas, explore new forms of artistic expression and conduct original research. Students enter the classroom to learn from the experts, but it is in the collaborative process of learning that true creativity takes place. Through professors and students challenging each other, the seeds of discovery become rooted and begin to bear fruit. By urging students to step out and examine these seeds of discovery, they enter the next phase of the creative process, risk-taking. We all fear failure or rejection, but fear of failure can also impede success. It can stifle risk-taking which can in turn stifle innovative ideas. Fear of differences among
be oth ar er, fru it.”
ou hr “ T t he
g se h p h ed rof ac s o esso e g o rs a fd gin in t nd stud n e is c l l a e nt s c h ove eg ry bec db ome rooted an
people and cultures, fear of change, fear of new or different ideas, fear of self-reliance or a lack of spiritual maturity and fear of another’s judgment can all stifle creativity and keep us from moving from discovery to innovation. Ouachita offers educational experiences beyond the classroom that push students outside the safety of the academy. Through performance opportunities, study abroad programs, internships, mission trips, etc., students begin to confront many of the fears that keep them from taking risks in their creative endeavors. Each year, in the School of Fine Arts, students showcase their creative journey by producing numerous performances and exhibits. From individual recitals and art exhibits to successful collaborative projects between professors and students like this past spring’s musical, Seussical, and the concert choir’s production of Carmina Burana, students do not just observe the creative process but become an integral part of the process. Professors and staff continue to guide and mentor students, praying for their ability to step from the classroom into the world with a sense of confidence in their calling and creative giftedness. As students walk across the stage during commencement, they are not just receiving their degrees but are continuing their creative journey. Motivated by what they have already discovered and the anticipation of what lies ahead, they step from the platform into
CREATIVITY
the world ready to embrace new challenges and opportunities. Creativity indeed flourishes on Ouachita’s campus, but it also flourishes among our alumni. This creative process is the foundation for the large number of successful businesses, dynamic ministries and professional accomplishments of our alumni. Over the past several years, President Horne has challenged the Ouachita community to recognize and produce difference makers who place Christ at the center of each creative endeavor. According to the Apostle Paul, each follower of Christ is a new creation “transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). This truth should serve as the foundation of our creative endeavors as we seek what is good and acceptable under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ouachita has always built on this foundation and continues to develop creative, interactive classroom environments and dynamic, collaborative relationships so that confident Ouachita graduates can step out and become the next generation of Christ-like difference makers. Dr. Scott Holsclaw, dean of Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts, also serves as a professor of theatre arts. He holds a PhD in theatre education from New York University.
spring 2010
•3
CREATIVITY
Ouachita Singers’ Italian tour makes musical, spiritual impact D
escribing a series of summer concerts in Italy as “both musical and spiritual experiences,” director Gary Gerber said the Ouachita Singers tour was designed to “broaden the horizons of each student as it pertains to music and to world cultures.” Twenty-four Ouachita students participated in the 10-day tour of Venice, Florence, Assisi and Rome. The choir presented three full concerts and sang for Mass at St Peter’s Basilica. “The trip went beyond my expectations,” noted Alyssa Reynolds, a freshman voice performance major from Sanger, Texas. “Singing in the churches was probably my favorite experience. The look and warmth on people’s faces after we sang was awesome. “The fact that we shared the word of Christ through song with people from all over the world is amazing,” Reynolds added. “Music is so universal.” “The trip truly holds a very special place in my heart,” said Elisabeth Hipp, a senior voice performance major from Memphis, Tenn. Affirming the experience as “the trip of a lifetime,” she said highlights included “the combination of seeing incredible sights that, up until that point, I had only seen in books; singing in some of the most beautiful churches; eating delicious food; and all of this with 24 of the most incredible people.” “The most spiritual and musical moments for me are the same – the last concert we performed in Rome at the Church of St. Agnes,” Hipp reflected. “To have people come to me after the concert, crying and sharing how much our music meant to them and moved them, was so humbling and touching. Musically, it was as if we recreated the music, causing it to deeply awaken our hearts. We were so intensely unified, not only in our musical blend, but in our spirits as well.” Gerber, director of choral activities and associate professor of music, said the Ouachita Singers travel internationally every three to four years to provide students the opportunity to experience an overseas tour. The Singers’
4 • the ouachita circle
most recent international tour was in 2006 to Germany and Hungary. “The concerts were in some of the most beautiful areas of each city,” Gerber said. “The inside of each church was ornate with marble statues, paintings and rare tapestries. The acoustics in the churches were amazing.” With the concerts attracting crowds of people standing three to four rows deep in the back of each church, Gerber explained, “There are two types of music that audiences and choirs seem to enjoy – a cappella Renaissance music and African-American spirituals. “Our program began with a classical approach, singing Renaissance motets by composers Palestrina and Victoria,” he said. “These very songs were likely sung in these churches for hundreds of years. “The choir would always end each concert with the African-American spirituals. After each spiritual, the audience would stand and clap, wanting more and more. It was a joy to behold.” Sarah Beth Hill, a senior church music major from El Dorado, Ark., agreed that “the trip was so much more than I expected. … Every place and everything we did was so uniquely different and spectacular it its own way.” Citing the opportunity to visit the Roman Forum and other historic sites, Hill said, “I will always remember this trip as a once-in-alifetime experience. It was truly phenomenal.” As the Ouachita Singers shared their talent and creativity with the people of Italy, Gerber said he expects the experience to impact the students’ lives for years to come. “Like all tours, our students returned very changed,” he emphasized. “I think their appreciation for different cultures and lifestyles will help them as they continue to grow and develop. “I know that they grew both in musicianship and spiritually,” he concluded. “It is hard to sing the music of the scriptures in an ornate and beautiful church beneath a marble crucifix and not be changed.”
TM
hen it comes to creativity, the whimsical works of Dr. Seuss are unparalleled. Ouachita’s Division of Music and Department of Theatre Art partnered this spring to bring the musical world of Seussical to life on stage at Jones Performing Arts Center. The cast of more than 30 students depicted scenes from some of Seuss’ most memorable tales such as Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who and the Grinch. Lead members of the cast included several musical theatre majors: Michael Krikorian as the Cat in the Hat; Jacob Watson as Horton; Rachel Street as Gertrude; and Krysteena Koiner and Lauren Casteel, double cast as JoJo. Dr. Jon Secrest, OBU professor of music, served as the show’s musical director and Daniel Inouye, assistant professor of theatre arts, served as the stage director. photos by Callie Stephens
spring 2010
•5
OBU alum among youngest officers in SBC history Shaw makes history in leading role of Wagner opera
A
s Los Angeles approached the culmination of Ring Festival LA, Ouachita alumnus Josh Shaw made history in the leading role in the U.S. premiere of Richard Wagner’s earliest complete opera, “Die Feen.” Ring Festival LA was conceived around L.A.’s first-ever full-length production of Wagner’s four-part epic opera “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” Los Angeles Opera joined forces with more than 115 cultural groups for the festival, featuring a variety of “Ring”-related productions, exhibitions and programs in the months leading up to the final “Ring” performance June 26. The festival was “the largest, most significant cultural festival in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival,” said Plácido Domingo, the Eli and Edythe Broad General Director of the LA Opera. Shaw, a 2001 Ouachita graduate, starred as Arindal in Lyric Opera of Los Angeles’ production of “Die Feen” at the Pasadena Playhouse. Wagner completed the opera at age 20, and it had never been staged in the U.S. until it was taken on by LOLA, which specializes in little-known operas. “Being a premiere of an obscure work by Wagner – that’s a pretty big deal,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, co-director of OBU Opera Theatre, chair of OBU’s Applied Music Department and coordinator of vocal studies. “I’m excited for him,” Secrest added. “This is a great opportunity. It could be what bridges the gap for Josh from a regional to a national or even international career.” “It’s been more challenging than anything I’ve ever done in my life,” Shaw said. “This is definitely the show I’ve worked the hardest on.” Shaw transferred to Ouachita in 1998 and first caught the opera bug performing in OBU’s production of “The Ballad of Baby Doe” in 1999. “I got cast in the lead, and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing,” Shaw said. “But that was kind of it; I was hooked.” Secrest, who directed Shaw in “Baby Doe” and subsequent performances, said, “He was extremely well prepared. He was good on stage – had a good feel for the stage.” Shaw studied at Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point prior to his senior year at Ouachita. He was named Best Young Male Artist for his work there as a student. After graduating from Ouachita, he earned a master of music degree in opera/music theatre performance from Southern Illinois University. He worked in musical theatre shortly before returning to opera and has performed in leading roles with companies from Southern California and Nevada to Fairbanks, Alaska. Reflecting on his time at Ouachita, Shaw said, “I had a good time, and I learned a lot about singing. You’ve got to start there. “I’d love to come back and sit down with students there to give them an idea of what this career is all about,” he added. Secrest agreed that Shaw’s success in opera “speaks well of the training we provide.” He said that while many Ouachita music graduates go on to various careers, Shaw is the first he can remember who has focused solely on opera. “I hope he is the first of many,” he said. 6 • the ouachita circle
Eric Moffett (right), pastor of First Baptist Church of Sparkman, and his wife, Sherrill, along with church members Don and Martha White, receive the M.E. Dodd Award from Morris Chapman, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, during the recent SBC annual meeting. Baptist Press photo by Van Payne
T
his summer’s Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., was quite an experience for Eric Moffett. In addition to his 100-member church being honored with the SBC’s prestigious M.E. Dodd Award for outstanding support of the Cooperative Program funding plan, Moffett was elected SBC second vice president. That’s not something the 26-year-old pastor would ever have anticipated or even dared to dream. Moffett, a 2006 Ouachita graduate with a major in Christian studies, has served for four years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Sparkman, Ark. The congregation has faithfully supported the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, SBC and international missions with a 30-year CP giving average of more than 32 percent of undesignated offering receipts. “Since the start of the Cooperative Program (in 1925), the church has given sacrificially because of a deep desire to tell the good news of Jesus Christ all over the world,” said Morris Chapman, president of the SBC Executive Committee. “It has been the drive that has kept the church focused on the task of the Great Commission.” “We believe that even though we’re a small church from a tiny community, with every dollar that we give we’re able to partner with missionaries and denominational servants all over the world,” Moffett responded. “To us, that’s a joy and an investment.” While the national recognition was a tremendous honor for Moffett and his congregation, his election the next day as second vice president was more of a shock. Brent Powell, associational missionary for Black River Baptist Association, asked Moffett for permission to nominate him. Moffett won a runoff election to become one of the youngest SBC officers in denominational history. Admitting that “my palms started sweating” while awaiting the election results, Moffett said, “I felt that I was a grasshopper among giants of our faith. It was a mixture of honestly feeling extremely overwhelmed but also grateful.” While the second VP post “is not a decision-making position,” Moffett added, “It does give a small church a place at the table. I feel that churches like Sparkman are the heartbeat of the convention.” Moffett, who also serves as vice chair of the Pruet School’s advisory board, said, “My education from Ouachita prepared me for this. Some of the professors who taught me, I count as our closest friends. I always found authenticity at Ouachita – that what I saw in the classrooms was also happening out in the churches.” Terry Carter, professor and chair of the department of Christian studies, noted that Moffett “has a real heart for small, rural churches where he can really go in and make a difference. He will make a great representative in the convention for small church ministry.”
photo by Wesley Kluck
E
ven as a 5-year-old attending the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club, Alyse Eady recognized the importance of the organization’s motto hanging over the door, “Enter ye leaders of tomorrow.” It was an organization that played an instrumental role in developing her leadership skills and self-confidence that would one day lead her to the title of Miss Arkansas 2010. Eady, a 2010 graduate of Ouachita with a double major in mass communications and speech communication, was crowned Miss Arkansas July 17 at Summit Arena in Hot Springs. She is the daughter of Lewis and Lady Eady of Fort Smith; her father is a member of the Ouachita Board of Trustees. It’s not a surprise that Eady has chosen “Developing Leaders: Boys and Girls Clubs of America” for her pageant platform. “My platform, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, is something that I have lived my entire life, as has everyone in my whole family,” Eady said. She started attending the club’s activities at age 5, and through the years was an employee, a volunteer and an ambassador. Through the club she has worked on a Turkish and American Air Force base, met President Bush and spoken before Congress. “The Boys and Girls Clubs of America gave me the confidence to do what I’m doing now,” she said. “It has enabled me to sit here with the Miss Arkansas crown on my head.” Reflecting on her four years at Ouachita, Eady said, “My Ouachita experience prepared me for life because this Christian-based organization
Alyse Eady, Miss Arkansas 2010, models leadership, service
by Deborah Root
and Christ-centered school really gave me the chance to devote myself to my studies, and also helped me grow in my Christian faith. That’s going to help me not just in the pageant world but in life and to just be a light and be a witness for people.” Eady, 22, competed as Miss South Central Arkansas. She was awarded a $20,000 Miss Arkansas scholarship as well as $50,000 in additional awards, wardrobe, transportation and gifts. She also won the Coleman Dairy Overall Talent Award with her musical ventriloquist act, “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.” Eady was one of six contestants with Ouachita ties who competed in this year’s Miss Arkansas pageant, and she found that common experience provided a strong support system throughout the pageant. “When things got tough and rehearsals got long and girls got stressed and all the crazy things that go along with pageants, we knew that we had each other and we relied on each other that whole week,” she said. “I remember just being so proud of every girl from OBU and being able to stand up there in the Top 10 with Kristin Glover and Bethany Briscoe and be so excited for them. For us to be such a small school, the caliber of ladies who go on to compete in Miss Arkansas from here, it’s pretty impressive.” In addition to Bethany Briscoe, a 2010 Ouachita graduate with a double major in graphic design and mass communications from Plano, Texas, and Kristen Glover, a senior
chemistry major from Stuttgart, other contestants with Ouachita ties included Molly Johnson, a senior biology major from Gillett; Abby Turner, a senior business administration major from Sherwood; and Bethany Whitfield, a senior history major from Bryant. Glover, who was named 3rd runner-up, also was named the Miss Arkansas Pageant Executive Directors Crowd Favorite. Briscoe, who competed as Miss Ouachita Baptist University, was a Top 10 finalist. Whitfield, a former Miss OBU, was awarded the Miss America Community Service Award and the Brad Hudgens/Morgan Stanley Finance and Investment in Leadership Award. Johnson received the Shannon Albright Miss Congeniality Award. Eady, who also reigned as the 2004 Miss Teen Arkansas, will compete in the 2011 Miss America pageant in January. Her future plans include using her scholarship money to obtain an MBA and work for a non-profit organization. Before she won the title of Miss Arkansas, Eady was working for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Now her job is fulfilling her role as Miss Arkansas, also a non-profit organization. “I’m just a non-profit girl,” she said. It’s easy to see that service to others will continue to be her passion in life. Dr. Deborah Root, OBU Class of 1981, is professor and chair of the Rogers Department of Communications. spring 2010
•7
Major demolition, construction and general campus renovation projects continued this summer at Ouachita. Following the June dedication of Heflin Plaza, workers toppled the footbridge that had spanned the Ravine for more than three decades. The new plaza, which connects the Student Village and SPEC to the main campus between McClellan Hall and Walker Conference Center, will open this fall for pedestrian traffic. Making way for new parking lots next to the Student Village, demolition crews razed Conger Hall, built in 1952 as West Hall, and Ernest Bailey Hall, which opened in 1964. Daniel Hall was leveled last summer. Commemorative bricks are available from each of three former dorms. For information, visit www.obualumni.org.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE Replacing the former dorms, Westside One and Two will open this fall. Located in a new cul-de-sac between Maddox Hall and Flippen-Perrin Hall, the Westside residence halls will house a total of 136 students. Combined with the Student Village that opened a year ago, the university’s new residence halls will accommodate approximately 500 students. Photos by Trennis Henderson, Wesley Kluck, Callie Stephens and Brooke Zimny.
8 • the ouachita circle
photos by Callie Stephens
Heflin Plaza reflects Ouachita’s vision & growth D
ramatically symbolizing Ouachita Baptist University’s vision and growth, Heflin Plaza was dedicated June 10 in memory of Johnny Heflin, former chairman of Ouachita’s Board of Trustees. The $2 million plaza project, which features a 300-foot-long pedestrian bridge, also is named in honor of Heflin’s wife, Sharon, and their family, Jay and Andrea Heflin and Marc and Billie Heflin. All six family members are Ouachita alumni. “There are many aspects of Ouachita that we could point to as important in our lives,” Sharon Heflin told the dedication service crowd. “However, with us it comes down to the simple statement, ‘Ouachita means the world to our family.’ “Ouachita has helped to provide a world of opportunities for our family and many others,” she added. “We are thankful to be able to support Ouachita as she continues to support so many. “We felt like the bridge and plaza symbolized the things about Ouachita that we love the most. The plaza areas will provide great opportunities for students to gather in small and large groups to support each other and the university,” Mrs. Heflin emphasized. “The bridge is more than just a walkway from the academic side of campus to the Student Village. The bridge symbolizes the way that Ouachita
by Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications
provides a pathway to life after Ouachita.” Heflin Plaza is a key element in Ouachita’s campus redevelopment plan approved in 2007 by the Ouachita Board of Trustees. The project is designed to link Ouachita’s North campus and main campus both symbolically and functionally. Johnny Heflin, a 1967 Ouachita alumnus and prominent Little Rock businessman, was the longtime president of Terminix, Inc., as well as chairman of the board of Bird and Bear Enterprises, Inc. Among his numerous honors, Heflin received Ouachita’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2000, was inducted into the Arkansas Tennis Hall of Fame in 2001 and was named American Heart Association Volunteer of the Year in 2003. Sharon Heflin, also a 1967 Ouachita alumna, serves as president of the Baptist Health Foundation Board. She also has served on the OBU Development Council. Jay Heflin, a 1993 OBU graduate, is chairman of the Ouachita Board of Trustees finance committee and a principal in Bird and Bear Management, Inc. He and his wife, Andrea, a 1994 Ouachita graduate, are the parents of two children, Ben and Anna. Marc Heflin, a 1995 OBU graduate, has served since 1995 as a principal in Bird and Bear Companies and is a member of the Young Business Advisory Council for Ouachita’s Hickingbotham School of Business. He and his 11
wife, Billie, a 1994 Ouachita graduate, are the parents of two daughters, Grace and Sarah. According to Ouachita President Rex Horne, “We are delighted to have this opportunity to make this very special dedication for what is becoming a central part of campus. It will be a place where people will gather that we will look upon as a signature place on campus for many, many years and generations to come. “The Heflin name and the Heflin family are such an integral part of everything good and noble that Ouachita Baptist University is all about,” Dr. Horne said. “This is a day of celebration and we’re so thankful for this family. They are advocates for Ouachita. They are encouragers to those of us who serve here. They are enablers to the students who attend here. “I think about Johnny often as I walk here. We shared the same idea that Ouachita should be a place of excellence; that whatever we do, we do in a great way,” President Horne noted. “He wanted to see something across this ravine and today we celebrate that. … We are looking forward to the future with fresh momentum and insight into what God will do here in this place.” In addition to funding for Heflin Plaza, other major projects underwritten by the Heflin family include the Heflin Tennis Center, the Jay and Lynn Heflin Chair of Business and the Heflin Family Scholarship as well as numerous other gifts. spring 2010
•9
photo by William Wood
photo by Callie Stephens
Class of 2010 grads honored as “difference makers”
D
eclaring that the members of Ouachita Baptist University’s graduating class of 2010 “are indeed difference makers,” President Rex M. Horne, Jr., presided over the university’s 123rd spring commencement exercises May 8. University officials conferred a total of 291 degrees on 288 graduates, including 250 Bachelor of Arts degrees, 29 Bachelor of Science degrees, seven Bachelor of Music degrees and five Bachelor of Music Education degrees. The Saturday morning service, held on the front lawn of Ouachita’s historic Cone-Bottoms Hall, attracted thousands of family members and friends. Ouachita’s 2010 graduating class featured more than 120 honor graduates, including 24 who graduated summa cum laude with a grade point average of 3.95 or higher. University officials also recognized 11 graduates who completed Ouachita’s Carl Goodson Honors Program and 32 members of the Alpha Chi national honor society. The Ouachita Board of Trustees voted unanimously to confer an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree on Dr. David Uth, a member of OBU’s class of 1979, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of Christian ministry. Introducing Dr. Uth, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla., President Horne told the commencement crowd, “There 10 • the ouachita circle
are certain things that happen in the churches where David Uth serves – they grow, they minister, they have a vision for the world, they make an impact for the cause of Christ and they are certainly world changers.” Affirming that Dr. Uth’s “vision is for the nations,” Dr. Horne added, “His heart is grounded in a passion for the Lord Jesus Christ and his roots are deep in Arkansas and at Ouachita Baptist University.” Dr. Uth, who holds Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, is a former member of the Ouachita Board of Trustees and currently is a trustee of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. He previously was pastor of churches in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, including First Baptist Church of Camden, Ark., and Immanuel Baptist Church of El Dorado, Ark. “Standing here and receiving this incredible honor is a testimony of God’s grace,” Dr. Uth said. Addressing the graduating seniors, he noted, “It’s a great honor to graduate. It’s a great thing to be able to sit here and to receive a degree. But I’ve got a question: Where are you going? That matters far more than where you are today. It’s my prayer that you will set your sights high. “In order to end where you want to end, you’ve got to start today,” Dr. Uth emphasized.
“It’s not as much about where you are as where you’re going. It’s my prayer that where you are going is to finish what God has given you to do. … May the Lord bless you as you finish, but even more importantly, may He bless you today as you start a new part of that journey.” Dr. Horne, who has served since 2006 as Ouachita’s 15th president, also addressed the graduating class. “We started this journey together, most of us, four years ago,” he reflected. “Because of that, I will always look upon you as a very special class. … What a privilege it has been as we embarked on this wonderful journey together at Ouachita Baptist University. “You are men and women of character, of passion, of devotion, of great ability,” President Horne said. “You are indeed difference makers and we will look forward to seeing what is going to take place in the years ahead. You will serve mankind in numerous ways in hundreds of places and we’re very proud. We congratulate you.” Three graduates of the Pruet School of Christian Studies who earned 4.0 GPAs read Scripture during the commencement ceremony: Nicholas Dawson of Collierville, Tenn.; Darlene Seal of Bryant, Ark.; and Philip Williamson of Batesville, Ark. Dr. Horne also recognized three graduates of the Reserve Officer Training Corps: John Atkins of Arkadelphia; Jonathan Malcolm of Huntsville, Ala.; and Leonard Goodnight of White Hall, Ark.
OBU athletes, coaches named to GSC all-decade teams M ore than 20 Ouachita student-athletes and coaches have been named to Gulf South Conference all-decade teams in their respective sports. Heading the list for Ouachita were the men’s tennis and baseball teams with six honorees each and women’s tennis with five honorees. Among the top honors, Coach Craig Ward was named GSC West Division Coach of the Decade in men’s tennis and Coach Betsy Danner was named GSC West Division Coach of the Decade in women’s tennis. The men’s tennis team also was ranked No. 3 among the GSC’s Top Five Teams of the Decade. Ward, who has coached 20 seasons at Ouachita, has guided the men’s tennis program to be among the most dominant in NCAA Division II. The 2010 team finished the season ranked No. 4 nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Danner, who has coached the Lady Tigers since 1993, led the team to Ouachita’s first-ever GSC championship in 2003. She also was named the 2003 ITA National Coach of the Year. Ondrej Vana was named GSC West Division Player of the Decade in men’s tennis and Brenda Magnetti was named GSC West Division Player of the Decade in women’s tennis. Vana, who played for OBU in 2005-2008, earned All-America honors three seasons and was named GSC Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008. Magnetti, who played in 2001-2004, earned AllAmerica honors three times as a doubles player and once in singles. She won the National Small College Doubles Championships in 2002 and 2003 while earning All-GSC First Team honors four straight years. Other men’s tennis players on the AllDecade First Team are Andre Edwall, a three-
Coach Craig Ward
Coach Betsy Danner
time All-GSC First Team selection; Gilles Lagardere, 2002 GSC Player of the Year; and Jan Plewinski, 2009 GSC Player of the Year. Daniel Vejman, who played one season for OBU, received Honorable Mention recognition. Women’s tennis players named to the AllDecade First Team were Helena Besovic and Victoria Domina. Besovic was named 2003 GSC Freshman of the Year and was a two-time All-GSC First Team member. Domina earned GSC Player of the Year honors and was a twotime winner of the Small College Doubles Championships. Sabrina Benitez, named to the All-Decade Second Team, won All-America honors in doubles. In baseball, Ouachita finished the 2008 season as national runners-up in the NCAA D-II National Championships. Tiger players named to the GSC All-Decade First Team were pitcher Steve Smith, the 2008 D-II World Series MVP, as well as outfielders Will Gowdy and Justin Pennell. Named to the All-Decade Second Team were outfielder Chance Beasley, third baseman Jeremy Haworth and first baseman Destan Makonnen. Former Head Coach Scott Norwood received Honorable Mention recognition. Among individual highlights, Smith earned American Baseball Coaches Association and
National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America Second Team honors and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2008. Gowdy was named GSC Player of the Year in 2009. Pennell was named a 2008 ABCS National Gold Glove winner. Haworth earned ABCA, NCBWA and Daktronics All-South Central First Team honors. Makonnen earned GSC Player of the Year honors in 2008. Beasley earned Daktronics and NCBWA All-America First Team honors in 2007. Norwood was named the Natural State Baseball Coach of the Year in 2008. Two Ouachita softball players were named to the GSC West Division All-Decade First Team: Haley Chambers and current Lady Tiger Kristen Rigsbee. Chambers was the first AllAmerica player in OBU softball history, being named to the 2010 Daktronics All-America First Team. Rigsbee earned 2010 Daktronics All-South Region Second Team honors as well as All-GSC First Team honors. Three other student-athletes honored include T.J. Bingham, football; Breanne Garrett, volleyball; and Rizvan Ceka, men’s soccer. Bingham and Garrett each received All-Decade Second Team honors and Ceka received AllDecade Honorable Mention. Bingham, a defensive end, earned AllAmerica honors in 2001 from Daktronics, Associated Press, D2 Football.com and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. He made his pro football debut during the NFL Europe season with the Scottish Claymores. Garrett, a middle hitter, was a four-time All-GSC West Division First Team selection and 2004 GSC West Freshman of the Year. Ceka was named 2009 GSC Freshman of the Year and earned GSC First Team honors.
Tigers make plans to compete in new D-II athletic conference
O
uachita Baptist University officials announced plans this summer to join with eight other universities in Arkansas and Oklahoma to apply to the National Collegiate Athletic Association for permission to create a new NCAA Division II conference. Joining Ouachita in the announcement were five other Arkansas schools – the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Arkansas Tech University, Harding University, Henderson State University and Southern Arkansas University – as well as three Oklahoma universities – East Central University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University. The six Arkansas schools currently are
members of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference and the three Oklahoma schools compete in the Lone Star Conference. Plans to establish the new conference will not affect athletic schedules for the 2010-11 season. “It is has been a pleasure to compete in the Gulf South Conference,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “The friendships formed and the competition engaged have been good for Ouachita. We wish the member schools only the best. “Now we have the wonderful opportunity of joining with five other Arkansas schools and three from Oklahoma to form a new conference,” Dr. Horne added. “The schools are much closer geographically. The size and philosophy of the
schools related to student athletes, budgets, travel and days away from class are highly consistent. I also believe the keen competition of our athletic teams will introduce greater excitement and participation from our constituents.” Ouachita, which has been a member of the Gulf South Conference since 2000, previously competed for three years in the Lone Star Conference. Prior to that, the Tigers were longtime members of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference. The nine member institutions of the proposed conference plan to submit a strategic plan, constitution and bylaws to the NCAA by Dec. 1. No decision has been made about a conference name. spring 2010
• 11
photos by Chris Babb, Phil Hardin & Wesley Kluck
Latest tale of the Tiger? Tiger gets a new tail
The tale of the Tiger at Ouachita dates back to 1935 when student B.F. Worley presented the statue to Ouachita in lieu of tuition during the Great Depression. The Tiger’s latest chapter involves a major renovation, including a new tail. The historic restoration of the 75-year-old Tiger began in May with the removal of layers of gold paint applied over the years to protect the Tiger from the elements and from occasional attacks with red paint. In June, craftsmen began sealing numerous cracks and refinishing the surface of the statue, originally carved from Batesville, Ark., white marble. The restoration process included repairing damage, constructing a new tail, and applying coats of white sealer over the marble. After work on the statue is completed, landscaping and other improvements around the Tiger will be made to enhance the site, commemorate the restoration project and provide for security. The Class of 1935 raised money to assist with the original project. The restoration is being funding entirely by donations. Sponsors at or above the $1,000 level will be recognized on a plaque to be displayed near the Tiger. Individuals, clubs or classes may be sponsors. Donations will be received through Nov. 15 at OBU Box 3754, Arkadelphia, AR 71998 or online at www.obu.edu/give. Call 870-245-5405 for more information.
OBU publications earn state, national honors
Ouachita’s Signal and Ouachitonian staff members received 24 awards at the 2010 Arkansas College Media Association Conference. The Ouachitonian, OBU’s yearbook, earned 17 awards, including third place for general excellence. The awards were based on the 2009 edition of the book, which was the 100th anniversary edition. The yearbook also was recognized for excellence as a Gold Medalist by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and is featured in Jostens’ 2010 Gotcha Covered Look Book.
12 • the ouachita circle
2009 Editor Audra Hinson, a 2009 mass communications and Spanish graduate, won first place for her “People” feature layout, “People” theme page and “Academics” divider theme page, as well as for endsheets, intro theme page and closing theme page. She also earned second place honors for special feaures writing and third place for art/illustration photo. Staff members also were honored for sports writing, feature writing and layout design. The Signal, Ouachita’s student campus newspaper, earned seven awards at the ACMA conference, including recognition for feature writing, front page layout, meeting and speech coverage, general column writing, news photography and feature photography. Holland Powell, a 2010 mass communications graduate, served as editor.
Ouachita SIFE team named regional champs
After putting in more than 5,000 hours of work throughout the year, Ouachita’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team was named one of the Dallas regional champions this spring. As regional champs, they also competed in the SIFE USA National Exposition in Minneapolis. “At the regional convention, the SIFE teams from Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma compete to advance to nationals,” said SIFE member Britta Stamps, a junior business administration/management and political science double major. “The teams make a presentation of their activities and how they impacted and changed the world.” SIFE President David Hollis, a senior accounting, business administration/ management and business administration/finance triple major, said the presentation team spent more than 200 hours preparing for their 24-minute presentation at the regional competition. Team members presented information about projects Ouachita’s SIFE group had completed, from hosting workshops both on and off campus to increasing recycling and the use of alternative fuels throughout the campus and community.
Ministry volunteers serve in Africa and Canada
Ouachita student ministry teams served from Canada to South Africa this summer, with a 12-member team serving in Quebec and a 15-member team serving in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal region. The Quebec team assisted in Christian sports camps while sharing the gospel with area children and youth. They also carried furniture, loaded trailers and helped residents move as part of Quebec’s national “Moving Day.” “I loved spending time with the girls we met in Sherbrooke (Quebec),” noted Taylor Tarlton. “We got to share our stories and encouraged each other so much. I would go back in a heartbeat.” The South African team worked with Reach 4 Life, a ministry committed to sharing the gospel and stopping the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Ouachita team traveled to six schools in the region, distributing approximately 1,500 New Testaments while teaching classes about the gospel and a biblical view of sex and marriage. The trip to South Africa “was such a blessing,” said Carrie Lieblong. “I’ve completely fallen in love with the people of Africa, and I now understand that my purpose is to teach others about Christ whether it’s in Arkadelphia or Africa.”
Tiger Serve Day: 65 teams tackle 101 projects
A total of 673 volunteers, 65 teams and 101 projects made this spring’s Tiger Serve Day a success. Students, faculty and staff assembled to serve the city of Arkadelphia for the semi-annual Tiger Serve Day, a program of OBU’s Ben M. Elrod Center for Family & Community. “This was an exceptionally strong turnout for a spring Tiger Serve Day,” said Ian Cosh, director of the Elrod Center. “Given that the numbers were strong, it would be fair to say that this was a high-impact day.” Most of the projects were done at the homes of senior adults and others in the community who were not able to do the work themselves. “They were
most grateful for the help given,” said Judy Duvall, assistant director of the Elrod Center. “We increased the amount of projects, so there was an even greater impact felt in this community.” Projects ranged from raking leaves and weeding gardens to washing cars and windows. Since its inception in 1997, Tiger Serve Day volunteers have logged more than 40,000 hours of community service. In addition to the Arkadelphia area projects, Ouachita’s Alumni Office worked with the Elrod Center to coordinate alumni Tiger Serve Day teams in Little Rock, Texarkana and Denver.
Knight named 2010 Support Staffer of the Year
Tracey Knight, administrative assistant to the dean of the Pruet School of Christian Studies, was honored as Ouachita’s 2010 Support Staff Member of the Year. “We were very pleased to recognize Tracey Knight with this annual award,” President Rex Horne said. “She was chosen because of her outstanding work at Ouachita: faithfully serving students, faculty, staff and the general public through her responsibilities in the Pruet School.” Knight said she was sincerely shocked when she heard her name announced as the recipient. “Every year when it is announced, I think it could be anyone in this room because these women are all amazing at their jobs,” she said. “What’s fun is that we are all genuinely happy for the one who is chosen. “The award is a pat on the back but it’s also a challenge to continue striving for excellence in my job each day,” Knight added. “That God has allowed me to work in such a great place is a show of His grace to me and I’m grateful.” This is Knight’s 10th year working at OBU. She lives in Arkadelphia with her husband, Tim, Ouachita’s J.D. Patterson Professor of Biology, and two children, Ashley and Caleb, both current Ouachita students. spring 2010
• 13
c on n ec t i n g t h e c i rc l e
1940s
Frances (Overton) Royston (’42*) and her husband, Arthur, celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on May 8. She is retired from Winthrop Rockefeller Public Relations in Little Rock. The couple has two children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Marion (McKee) Anderson (’47) and her husband, Thomas (’43), live in Greeley, Colo., in the home they purchased in the early 1950s. He is a retired watch repairman and jeweler; she earned a master’s degree in psychology and guidance counseling from Colorado State University in 1964. They have two children, Guy and Martha Kay, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Laurel, Miss. He is retired from First Baptist Church of Laurel, where he served for 19 years. They have four children and 15 grandchildren. Bobby Sanders (’62) has practiced law in his hometown of Arkadelphia since 1970 and has served as pastor of St. Andrew United Methodist Church since 2004. His legal career includes stints as county municipal judge and prosecuting attorney. He was recently featured in the “Front and Center” section of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Tri Lakes edition. Melba (Calhoun) Hall (’67) was inducted into the Arkansas High School Coaches Hall of Fame on July 16. She coached basketball at Prescott and Hope high schools.
Bernadine (Glover) Brown (’48) and her husband, James, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family trip to Branson. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Mary Ann (Izard) Hopson (’57) and her husband, Don, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 8. The couple has four children and five grandchildren. Dr. John Crawford (’59), a poet and scholar in Shakespearean studies, was selected to have his biography published in the 2010 issue of the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England. He is a professor emeritus of Henderson State University.
1960s
Billy Vaughan (’61) and his wife, Mary Helen, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on June 5 with family and friends at their home in 14 • the ouachita circle
Bill Vining, Jr., (’75) was recently featured in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Tri Lakes edition for his work as administrator of Hot Springs Christian School, which fosters a oneroom schoolhouse setting for first through sixth graders. Anne (Crump) Butcher (’76) has been selected as the new Centerpoint School District superintendent in Amity, Ark. She formerly served as the director of secondary education for Fort Smith public schools. Lisa (Clay) Grigg (’77) is a medical transcriptionist in Pine Bluff, Ark. Her husband, Capt. Don Grigg, passed away on May 6.
1950s
Joan (Gore) Allen (’55) and her husband, James, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 9 in Allen, Texas. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Rex Babcock (’72) was inducted into the Kansas Teacher Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Jennifer ( Jordan ’71*), live in Chanute, where he is the head of the math department at Chanute High School. The Babcocks have both served as teachers for 31 years.
Dr. Raouf Halaby (’68), professor of visual arts and English, and his wife, Rachel (Lollar ’79), visit with a group of Ouachita alumni in Greece, including Teddy and Ruth Ellen Davis Harrison (’61), John Harrison (’87) and Paul and Jennifer Easter Harrison (’90) and other members of the Harrison family.
1970s
Leslie Frensley (’70) recently retired from Entergy after nearly 30 years with the company. He is also a retired captain with the U.S. Navy. He and his wife, Mary Beth, plan to remain in Batesville, Ark., and spend time with their grandchildren. Elwin Ollar (’70) is serving as pastor of Forrest Park Church of Pine Bluff, coming there from Vimy Ridge Immanuel Church of Alexander.
Lisa Thomas (’77) received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of North Texas on May 14. She has recently performed at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and the Kennedy Center in New York. She is currently working with the Toccata Classics label in London to record two CDs composed by Arthur Farwell. Stephen Quattlebaum (’79*) was selected as a member of the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America for the third year in a row.
1980s
Lyn (Peeples) Pruitt (’80) was named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America. She is a senior litigation partner for Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, PLLC, in Little Rock. Cathy Berryman (’88) was honored as of the best female attorneys in Dallas by D Magazine.
She is a shareholder with Winstead Attorneys, where she focuses her legal work on intellectual property.
1990s
Dr. Miranda Childs-Bebee (’90), a dentist in Arkadelphia, was appointed by the governor of Arkansas to the State Board of Health. She was also honored by the Arkansas State Dental Association and, as the current vice president, is on track to become the first female president of the ASDA in its 123-year history. John Mark Wheeler (’91) was promoted to the position of Administrator for Religious Services for the Arkansas Department of Corrections. He was commissioned as a chaplain in the Arkansas National Guard in April 2009. Clark Colbert (’92) is serving as the youth minister of First Baptist Church of Beebe. He and his wife, Melissa (Greenlee ’91*), have four children: Carah (13), Trey (8), Timothy (5) and Thomas (1).
The Womack clan is ready for some Tiger football! Twins Maria and Bella, whose adoption was finalized in December, pose with Rachael and Reid. Richard (’97) and Brandi (Byrd) Womack (’95) live in Arkadelphia and are also parents to Richard, Rhett and Ross. Brandi was honored by the Arkansas Baptist News as the “Mother of the Year.” Four of the Womacks’ seven children are adopted.
Randy Biggs (’92) has been named principal of Frederick High School in Frederick, Okla. Longtime friend and Tiger football teammate Charles Roady (’92) has accepted the position as district athletic director for Frederick Public Schools.
Christa Finney (’94) is the athletic trainer for the Bryant School District. She is employed by OrthoArkansas.
Thirty-eight students named to Who’s Who
T
hirty-eight Ouachita students were selected for inclusion in the 2009 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. The students, listed below, were chosen by OBU’s faculty, staff and senior class based on their academic achievement, service to the community, extracurricular leadership and potential for continued success. Richard Atkinson, a mass communications and political science double major from Arkadelphia, Ark. Heather Baker, a musical theatre major from Cleburne, Texas. Brooke Belcher, a math and secondary education double major from Alma, Ark. Phillip Bridges, a business administration major with emphases in finance and marketing from Clarksville, Ark. Mark Cain, a kinesiology and secondary education double major from Pine Bluff, Ark. Katelyn Cash, a speech communication and Christian studies double major with a Biblical studies emphasis from Southlake, Texas. Nancy Christner, a dietetics/nutrition major from Denton, Texas. Rance Collins, a mass communications major from Hillsboro, Texas. Eli Cranor, an English and political science double major from Russellville, Ark. Katie Crow, a speech pathology major from Arkadelphia, Ark. Lauren English, a mass communications major from Hot Springs, Ark. Samantha Frank, a business administration major with an emphasis in management from Sunnyvale, Texas. Samantha Jo George, a communication sciences and disorders major from Fayetteville, Ark. Jeff Harmon, a mass communications and Christian studies double major with a Biblical studies emphasis from El Dorado, Ark. Audreyanna Harrell, a communication sciences and disorders major from Russellville, Ark. Sky Howard, a church music major from Nacogdoches, Texas. Emily Jackson, an English major from Mesquite, Texas.
Stephen Johnson, an accounting and business administration double major with an emphasis in finance from Bowling Green, Ky. Cami Jones, an early childhood education and Spanish double major from Mansfield, Texas. Laura Grace Kirby, a speech communication major from Mesquite, Texas. Megan Lindsey, a mass communications major from Camden, Ark. Molly Magee, a mass communications and Spanish double major from Conway, Ark. Barry McCaskill, a physics major from Arkadelphia, Ark. Lauren Nelson, a biology major from Russellville, Ark. Trinka Newman, a Christian studies major with a Biblical studies emphasis from Monticello, Ark. Hayley Nolan, a Spanish and psychology major from Sherwood, Ark. Ashley O’Sullivan, a sociology and Christian studies double major with a missions emphasis from Longview, Texas. Neal Ozmun, a mass communications major from Arkadelphia, Ark. Blair Phelps, an athletic training and biology double major from Arkadelphia, Ark. Austin Phillips, a mathematics major from Arkadelphia, Ark. Gabrielle Sanders, a psychology major from Broken Arrow, Okla. Greg Schwartz, a theatre arts and mass communications double major from Texarkana, Texas. Jake Sligh, a business administration major with a marketing emphasis from Camden, Ark. Jarod Townsend, a speech communication major from Broken Arrow, Okla. Megan Tucker, an accounting major from Benton, Ark. J.L. West, a mass communications major from Bolivar, Mo. Adam Wheat, a mass communications major from Ruston, La. Philip Williamson, a philosophy, political science and Christian studies triple major with a theology emphasis from Batesville, Ark. spring 2010
• 15
Santos defies odds to earn Ouachita degree A
college graduate: Luiz dos Santos should not be one. Born in the slums of Sao Paulo, Brazil, abandoned by his mother and later given up by one American adoptive family and abused by another, Santos’ future looked bleak. But this past December, the 23-year-old completed his degree from Ouachita Baptist University, thanks in part to personal determination and help from Arkansas Baptists. Santos defied staggering odds and found a way. One of 13 children who lived in a tiny shack, Santos’ biological mother abandoned him on the streets when he was a small child. His father, whom his mother never married, was an alcoholic. Discovered by a Brazilian neighbor, Santos spent nine months in a hospital due to malnutrition and was then transferred to a Sao Paulo orphanage. He came to the United States at about age 9 when a New York family adopted him. Not able to deal with Santos’ background issues, the family eventually gave him up. Later, Santos was adopted by a family who he said abused him and several other adoptive children. Noting that the so-called Christian family often quoted Scripture during the mistreatment, Santos said he still has nightmares of the abuse. In 2003, Santos came to the Arkansas Baptist Home for Children in Monticello, a ministry of Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries. After graduating from high school in 2005, he decided to give Ouachita a try. Ouachita offers work-study scholarships for Children’s Homes residents who qualify. Books,
16 • the ouachita circle
a monthly spending allowance, clothing, birthday and Christmas gifts and other specific needs are provided by ABCHomes. Santos was the recipient of the Shirley Moore Memorial Endowment Fund. Santos admits that he initially faced difficulties adjusting to college life. “I was very frustrated at times,” he noted. “I was from a different social and educational background. … At times I felt the world was against me.” It was during his first year at Ouachita that Santos met Daniel Messina, a fellow Brazilian student who helped him adjust to college life. Messina also was instrumental in Santos making a personal profession of faith in Christ. “He helped me push myself,” Santos reflected. “He was a good friend.” Messina also helped Santos locate his biological family. He traveled to Sao Paulo in 2008 to reunite with them. His father still lives in a dirt shack. His mother has yet to admit to abandoning him. Several of his siblings, Santos suspects, have succumbed to a lifestyle of drugs and crime. Only one brother has become a strong Christian. After returning to Ouachita, Santos said he was overcome with the need to help save his family from poverty. He is not sure that will ever happen. This realization initially hurt his schoolwork and briefly weakened his faith in Christ. “When I came back, I lost motivation,” he said. “I guess I wanted to really help them, … but I know that you can’t help those who won’t help themselves. I know that I was still a Christian, but I couldn’t help having questions.” While at Ouachita, Santos served as a
by Stella Prather
residential assistant and later resident director. He was an active member of the Beta Beta social club and OBU campus ministries. He completed his degree in December with a double major in history and sociology. In February, he accepted a position with Ouachita’s TRIO Program, a federally funded educational program designed to motivate and support first-generation students from disadvantaged backgrounds. “I want to help those … in poverty-stricken areas,” he said. “After all, I was at one time in that same situation.” Looking back, Santos credits many people for his success, including several ABCHomes staff members, as well as his college advisor, friends and professors. Randy Luper, Monticello campus director, described Santos as “an impressive young man. He has suffered hardships that no child should be forced to endure; and yet, he has come to understand that God has walked with him through life’s pain to a place of redemption and healing. He has allowed God to position him in life where he can now redemptively use a painful past to help others.” “The Home was a real blessing,” Santos said, adding that he likely would not have ended up in the same situation had he not gone there to live. “People really do care,” he shared. “When you feel alone, there are people out there reaching out to care for you.” Stella Prater is director of communications for Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries. Reprinted with permission of the ABCHomes’ Outlook magazine.
Jason Mueller (’95) was honored as one of the “Texas Rising Stars” by Texas Monthly magazine. He practices with Locke, Lord, Bissell & Liddell, LLP in Dallas and attended law school at Southern Methodist University. Ben Blackwell (’97) received his Ph.D. in New Testament at the University of Durham (England) in March. He is now working fulltime as N.T. Wright’s research assistant while his wife, Heather (Mills ’98), works in children’s and youth outreach at their church. They have two sons. Brad Bettis (’98) is a State Farm insurance agent and lives in Frisco, Texas, with his wife, Beth.
2000s
daughter Hillary Ashton (6) and the adoption of daughters Sophie Le (4) from Vietnam and Julianne (2) from Ethiopia.
For even more ways to connect with your Ouachita Circle, visit Ouachita’s Alumni Online Community at www.obualumni.org Yukiko (Iijima) Taylor (’00) was featured in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Tri Lakes edition Mother’s Day issue in a cover story focusing on her daily efforts to raise daughter Emma to understand and appreciate both Japanese and American cultures. Yukiko was recognized in January 2010 as one of the Tri-Lakes region’s “20 to Watch in 2010.” The Taylors live in Arkadelphia where Yukiko works as the director of residential services for Group Living, Inc. Daryl White (’00) is serving as pastor of Monte Vista Baptist Church in Hurt, Va. He and his wife, Emily, have one daughter, Aubrey Jade (2). Jon McClure (’01) began his Pediatric Dentistry residency at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas, in June. He plans to move back to Texarkana to practice after completing his twoyear residency.
A group of Ouachita grads from the early 2000s continued their annual tradition of getting together for fellowship. Left: Casey (’03) and Sally (Allred ’02) Lockett. Left center (from top): Daniel Bramlett (’03) with son Riley; Jack Day; Laura (Witherspoon ‘03) Day with son Charlie; Charla Blakelock (’03); and Kimberly (Sanders ’05) Copeland with son Caleb. Right center (from top): Adam Copeland (’03) with son Adam Ray; Ryan Bush (’03) with daughter Sophia. Amanda (Aldridge ’04) Bush with son Samuel; Mark Day (’03) with infant son Andrew; and Angie (Kirksey ’03) Neufer. Right: Daniel Morton (’03). Amy Arnold (’00) and her husband, Neil, were featured in a fall issue of Arkansas Life magazine’s “Building a Family” cover article that told the story of the birth of the couple’s
leader of Crosspoint Community Church. They have two children, Micah (3) and Keenan (infant). The family’s home was impacted by the Nashville flooding this past spring. Benjamin Babcock (’04) received his doctorate in psychology from the University of Minnesota. He and his wife, Kate, live in Minneapolis where he is working in the field of psychometrics. Emily (Brumley) Arrison (’04) was featured in the University of Baltimore’s alumni magazine as an outstanding alumni. Arrison received her MA from UB in publication design in 2007. She owns the design company Timeless Paper and lives in Drexel Hill, Penn. James Holston (’04) married Mandy Holston on Oct. 24, 2009, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Sheridan, Ark. Sarah Huckabee (’04) married Bryan Sanders on June 26 at Nazareth Lutheran Church on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. She serves as the campaign manager for Rep. John Boozeman’s U.S. Senate campaign. She and her husband live in Little Rock. T.J. Nelson (’04) graduated from the12-week FastTrac First Steps seminar in Hot Springs that is focused on entrepreneurship. Nelson is the academic coordinator for the Talent Search program at Ouachita.
Joshua Mayfield (’01) recently returned to Arkansas from Washington state. He is currently serving as the chaplain at Tucker Penitentiary with the Arkansas Department of Corrections. He and his wife, Brooke, have one son, Noah (1). Jennifer Smith (’02) married Jared Shinn on May 8 at Mountain Harbor Resort in Mount Ida, Ark. She currently works for the Hot Springs Sentinel-Record. Matt Elkins (’03) is the international missions pastor at The Village Church in Highland Village, Texas. He and his wife, Katharine (Ross ’05), have two daughters, Hannah (3) and Abigail (1). Laura Lee (Dill) Morris (’03) and her husband, Jarrod (’04), live in Nashville, Tenn., where she works in clinical research and he is the worship
Chris Kear (’04) is now serving as the executive pastor for Fellowship Bible Church in Conway, Ark. He and his wife, Tara (Loyd ’03), have one son, Crosby. Laura Edwards (’06) married John Daniel Melton on June 26, at First Baptist Church of Cabot, Ark. She teaches Spanish at Lonoke High School and the couple lives in Cabot.
spring 2010
• 17
physical therapy program at the University of Central Arkansas. Eric Varner (’10) married Blair Phelps (’10) on May 22 at First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia. The couple lives in Maumelle, Ark.
1990s Christine (Syptak) Hinrichs (‘05) married Capt. Justin Hinrichs on Sept. 26, 2009. She is currently employed as a CBT specialist at the Little Rock Air Force Base and leads graphic design work for aircrew training. She also is pursuing her Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership through Gonzaga University.
Angela Grossman (’06) married Samuel Coston (’07) on June 7, 2009, in Little Rock. The Costons live in Texarkana where she is a 4th grade teacher and he works in development at Running WJ Ranch for equine therapy. Stephanie Elliott (’08) married Mason Templeton on May 22, at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church in Little Rock. Shannon Eubanks (’08) married Scott Southern on July 10, at Lifeline Baptist Church in Little Rock. Caroline Phillips (’09*) married Matt Jones on March 13. The couple lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he is a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Blair (Howell) Cohen (’06) graduated from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center School of Dentistry in May. She currently works as an associate dentist in a pediatric dental clinic and plans to pursue her license as a Pediatric Dentist. She is married to Matthew Cohen (’06) and lives in Memphis, Tenn. Emily (Frazier) Blohm (’08) graduated from Missouri State University on May 14 with a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. She is now living in Fayetteville, Ark., and works with Wendy Cassady Speech Pathology, Inc., in Springdale. 18 • the ouachita circle
Jason (’92) and Jenni (Taylor) Petty (’92) welcomed son Liam Joseph on April 17. He joins big brothers Luke (12), Logan (9) and Lawson (5). Toby Adams (’97*) and his wife, Megan, welcomed daughter Lilly Rose on Feb. 1. Clay (’98) and Cara (Compton) Conly (’98) welcomed daughter Cara Grace on April 5. She joins big brother Tripp (3).
Klayton Seyler (’09) married Megan Tucker (’10) on May 29 at the home of Rita and Charles Nickels in Arkadelphia. Trey “Herbie” Hancock (’10) married Stephanie Dew on June 5 in College Station, Texas. Kyle Huey (’10) is an associate company member for Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, Tenn., for the 2010-2011 season. He will perform in a variety of shows, including “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Peter Pan” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Dustin Howard (’10) married Chelsea Lisemby on June 12 at Trinity Temple Assembly of God in Arkadelphia. He is currently enrolled in the
Rusty (’96) and Chantal (Chaudoin) Bunn (’96) welcomed son Chandler Eli on Aug. 8, 2008. He joins big brother Carter (9).
Jason (’97) and Alicen (Laws ’98*) Bennett welcomed son Aiden Matthew on Nov. 13, 2009.
Chad (’99) and Danielle (Carey) Collins (’98) welcomed son Parker Daniel on July 28, 2009. He joins big sister Emily (3).
Joshua Mayfield (’01) and his wife, Brooke, welcomed son Noah on July 19, 2009. Jarrod (’04) and Laura Lee (Dill) Morris (’03) adopted son Keenan in March. He joins big brother Micah (3).
Laura (Gannaway) McClanahan (’01) and her husband, Steven (’94*), welcomed Hayes Wilson on Feb. 8. Amanda (Perkins) Townsend (’01) and her husband, Jeremy, welcomed daughter Addison Faith on July 18, 2009. Richard (’02) and Chrystal (Edwards) Ball (’03) welcomed son Logan Patrick on Sept. 10, 2009. He joins big brother Ethan (3). Brad (’05) and Nancy (Goodwin) Evans (’04) welcomed son Everett Noah on June 14, 2009.
Jenni ( Johnson) Haaser (’98) and her husband, Joel, welcomed daughter Emory Kate on May 14. She joins big brother Jonah (2).
2000s
Gina (Wallace) Turner (’00) and her husband, Shawn, welcomed daughter Annelise Grace on Feb. 1. She joins siblings Tyler (15) and Ashlynne (10). Tony (’03) and Dayle (Cosh) Carozza (’01) welcomed son Brock Cosh on May 6. Autumne (Brunson) Hart (’01) and her husband, Michael, welcomed daughter Claire Elise on Jan. 10. She joins big sister Paisley (3).
Cody (’02) and Jessica (Eiland ’04) Cates welcomed daughter Abigail Camille on April 29. She joins big sister Addison (3). Brittany (Williams) Brown (’05) and her husband, Tommy, welcomed daughter Leslee Crete on June 8, 2009. Jake (’06) and Robin (Dann) Chaney (’06) welcomed daughter Caroline Grace on March 23.
Karsten Zimny (’05) and his wife, Maria Ortiz de Zuniga, welcomed daughter Monica Dec. 27, 2009. He works as financial director of the European Federation of Biotechnology and she works as planning engineer at Fusion for Energy. They live in Barcelona, Spain. spring 2010
• 19
Watts, seven grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.
1930s
Mary Louise (Chambers) Hoover (’37) of Mena, Ark., passed away on March 19. Preston Cooper (’39) of Benton passed away on May 21. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Nelle (McMahan) Cooper (’40), and children Betty Wall; Deborah Gatewood; Dr. Preston Cooper, Jr.; Dr. Jim Cooper and 10 grandchildren.
1940s
Irene Branum (’45) of Hazen, Ark., passed away on Sept. 30. Glen Hammons (’47*) of Forrest City, Ark., passed away on May 11. He is survived by daughters Cathryn Slater and Lynette
Mary Sue (Phillips) Harris (’48*) of Sherwood, Ark., passed away on April 26. She is survived by sons John Harris and Fred Harris, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. H.J. “Buddy” Ligon (’49*) of Glenwood, Ark., passed away on April 19. James David Reed (’49) of Huntsville, Ala., passed away on June 30. He is survived by sons David Doss Reed and James Brown Reed and five grandchildren.
1950s
Jack Mitchell (’51) of North Little Rock passed away on July 4. He is survived by daughters Sandy Dierks, Pam Mitchell and Mandy Gibbons, four grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.
Charles “Ike” Sharp (’51) of Arkadelphia passed away on May 2. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Billie (Guerin) Sharp (’52), children Paul Sharp (’75), Dr. Jane Sharp (’77), David Sharp (’80), four grandchildren and one greatgrandchild. Dorothy Thomerson Hickey (’53) of Little Rock passed away on May 18. She is survived by her husband, Glenn Hickey (’53), son Dan Hickey (’78*) and three grandchildren. Dr. James Blackmon (’53) of Arkadelphia passed away on May 16. He is survived by stepchildren Richard Thomas, Lynn Judd and Catherine Conner. Lynda (Massey) Bynum (’56) of Fredericksburg, Va., passed away on March 16. She is survived by her husband James (’58), children Julia Dudley and James Bynum and two grandchildren.
University trustees approve new faculty and staff members
T
he Ouachita Board of Trustees approved several faculty appointments and staff recommendations during its June board meeting on campus. New faculty members include: Kathy Collins, instructor of education. Collins, who served for the past year as a visiting instructor, previously was associate director for the Center of Learning and Development in Waco, Texas, and served as a school administrator for the Byrum, Texas, Independent School District. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Baylor University and a Master of Education in administration from Tarleton State University. Tiffany Eurich, instructor of communications. Eurich is a 2005 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications and political science. She holds a master’s degree in communication studies from Stephen F. Austin State University. She has served since 2007 as a public relations specialist for a dental practice in the Dallas area. Eric Goddard, assistant professor of history. Dr. Goddard has taught since 2005 at the University of Wisconsin as a teaching assistant and lecturer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Taylor University and Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Elizabeth Kelly, assistant professor of sociology.
20 • the ouachita circle
Dr. Kelly has served as a research coordinator for the Talitha Koum Institute for at-risk children and families in Waco, Texas, as well as lecturer and adjunct instructor for Baylor University and McLennan Community College. She holds a Bachelor of General Studies degree in sociology, communication and natural sciences from the University of Texas and a Master of Arts in sociology and Ph.D. in applied sociology from Baylor University. Carrie Sharp, instructor of education. Sharp is a 1985 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. She also holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Henderson State University. She has taught for 25 years in public education in Sparkman and Arkadelphia. New staff members include: Sarah Bean, Westside Two hall director. Bean attended Ouachita before transferring to the University of Arkansas to pursue a degree in fashion merchandising. She assists her husband, Jason, with youth ministry at Park Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. Clayton Chapuis, O.C. Bailey hall director and director of outdoor recreation. Chapuis is a 2010 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian studies. He worked this summer on staff with Pine Cove Camp near Tyler, Texas. Jeff Green, Anthony hall director and director
of recreational sports. Green is a 2010 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian studies. He has spent the past few summers working on staff at Pine Cove Camp. Kevin Ward, head wrestling coach. Ward holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Oklahoma State University. A four-year starter on OSU’s NCAA Championship wrestling teams, he also served as a graduate assistant wrestling coach at OSU. René Zimny, assistant director of the Grant Center for International Education and coordinator of international recruiting. Zimny, a native of Namibia, is a 2008 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic design and mass communications. He previously worked as a graphic designer for a medical center in Searcy, Ark. Trustees also approved two endowed chair appointments: Timothy Hayes, E.A. Provine Professor of Chemistry. Dr. Hayes, who holds degrees from Southwest Texas State University and Purdue University, has taught at Ouachita since 2001. Ouida Keck, Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music. Dr. Keck, a 1971 graduate of Ouachita, also holds degrees from the University of Arkansas and the University of Iowa. She has held a full-time faculty appointment at Ouachita since 1996.
Dr. Charles Ragland (’57) of Grass Valley, Calif, passed away on June 15. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Cece (Hall) Ragland (’57*), daughters Trinka and Tamara and one granddaughter.
Elton E. Ballentine (’67) of Little Rock passed away on May 23. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Martha Ballentine, children Dr. Michele Linch and Angela Johnson and six grandchildren.
Ruby Ross (MSE ’76) of Little Rock passed away on March 23. She is survived by children Owen McMullen, Henry Warren McMullen and R. Camille Tucker and stepson Nathaniel Ross.
Rev. Wallace Scott (’57) of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away on Nov. 6, 2009. He is survived by daughter Frances Lee (Scott) Smith (’69) and three grandchildren.
Richard Allen Pearce (’68) of Charlotte, N.C., passed away on May 18. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Earlece (Humphries) Pearce (’66*), children Michele Pearce and Blair Pearce and three grandchildren.
Bernice B. Lambert (’79 MSE) of Little Rock passed away on June 14. She is survived by children Vernita Shaw and Wesley Lambert and three grandchildren.
Rev. Joe Dale Amis (’58) of Bryant, Ark., passed away on April 16. He is survived by his wife, Davona (Meeks) Amis (’61*), children John Arnold, W.C. Hardaway, Becky Roark, Kathy Flowers, Jane Loftin and Rowena Hardaway and six grandchildren. Ken Hilton (’58) of Houston, Texas, passed away on July 2. He is survived by his wife, Rogna (Peterson ’59), and children Robert, Kerry and Kenneth Paul and six grandchildren.
Jeanne (McCown) Dellrie (’69) of Phoenix, Ariz., passed away on May 25. She is survived by children Betty Gaiser, George Anderson, Frank Dellrie and Eric Hartman. James Mayton (’69) of De Queen, Ark., passed away on March 8.
1970s
Katherine “Kay” (Rodgers) Bentley (’59) of Boulder City, Nev., passed away on May 29.
Charles Wilkins, III (’71) passed away on July 2, 2009.
Rev. Robert Graham (’59) of Cleburne, Texas, passed away on March 12. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jo Ann (Blancett ’59), children Bobby Graham, Kathryn Frederick and Karen Hartgraves and six grandchildren.
Jim F. Thomason (’72) of Texarkana, Texas, passed away on May 18. He is survived by daughters Krystal Dickens and Katelyn Thomason.
Benjamin Hathaway (’59) of North Little Rock passed away on May 19. He is survived by his wife, Marr Jean (McDonald) Hathaway (’59), sons Randy Hathaway and Bradley Hathaway and two grandchildren.
1960s
Wanda (Skaggs) Louden (’62) passed away on Oct. 31, 2009. Marilyn Childers Kauffman (’65) of Hot Springs, Ark., passed away on June 20. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Larry Kauffman, children Stacy Kandibinder and Chad Kauffman, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Joseph Ray (’65) of Athens, Ala., passed away on July 15, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Dian (Frizzell ’65), children Joseph Ray, Jr.; James Ray; and Deborah Jones and seven grandchildren.
Susan Hassin (’73) of Arkadelphia passed away on April 26. John Ware (’73) of Dallas, Texas, passed away on May 2. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Shirley Ware, sons Jawn and Brandon and one grandson. Paul Evans (MSE ’74) of Little Rock passed away on June 1. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Evans, children Lynn Reid, Darnisa Johnson and Paul Evans, Jr., and six grandchildren. Paul Payne (’74) of Little Rock passed away on June 20. Doris Mae Hanson (’75) of Benton, Ark., passed away on March 24. She is survived by children Richard Womack, Chris Hanson, Tim Hanson, Debbie Campbell, Diana Risha and numerous grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
Faculty & Staff
Lt. Col. William Jack King of Arkadelphia passed away on June 12. King served as Ouachita’s longtime professor of military science and ROTC advisor. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary King, children William King, Jr. (’67) and Pamela (King) Young (’73) and two grandchildren. Joe Kusturin of Gurdon, Ark., passed away on April 14. He served Ouachita as an electrician until his retirement. He is survived by his wife, Floy Kusterin, children Barbara Kusterin and Becky Bennett and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
What’s new? Submit your class notes,including wedding, baby and alumni reunion photos, by logging on to the Ouachita Online Community at
www.obualumni.org or by contacting Lauren Land at landl@obu.edu or (870) 245-5506.
spring 2010
• 21
David Bieloh,
D
photo by Callie Stephens
Chair, Department of Visual Arts
avid Bieloh takes creativity literally. Day in and day out, he guides students in bringing their boldest ideas to life on paper, clay and the computer screen. Those ideas are then honed for public display so that fellow classmates and others can tangibly share in each artist’s creative process. “The gallery is the face of our department,” he explains. After earning a business administration degree from Oklahoma State University, Bieloh turned his focus to graphic design. This led him to the Applied Arts Institute of Dallas, and later to earn master’s degrees from Texas Women’s University and the University of North Texas. His love for design has now taken him out of the studio and into the classroom, but he continues to work as a freelance designer to keep his hand in the field. In 2008, Bieloh left Austin Peay University to become chairman of Ouachita’s department of visual arts department. The visual arts curriculum includes graphic design, drawing, painting and ceramics as well as art history and visual fundamentals. He is currently working with his team to rewrite the curriculum for the fall of 2011 to make the coursework more cohesive. He also wants to invite more non-majors to take classes so they can develop a deeper appreciation and hands-on understanding of the visual arts. “Serving as chairman has made me stop and recognize larger goals for the whole department and think five to 10 years down the line,” he noted. Explaining how he wants to prepare Ouachita graduates for their careers, he said, “When looking through their portfolios, I want employers and graduate programs to stop and say, ‘Wow, this person is a problem solver, they are strategic and they can execute work in an appropriate, beautiful way.’” Recent graduate Emma Smith (’10) said, “David Bieloh is so enthusiastic and passionate about design that he gets the whole class really into it. His sense of design and ability to teach it is brilliant. I always knew he was an awesome teacher, but it was really confirmed when we took a senior graphic design trip to Dallas and met a lot of his peers in the design industry. Every person we met went on and on about how lucky we were to have someone as gifted as Bieloh … and these were some major figures in the world of design. I can’t say enough about how much he has influenced my style of design and my passion for the craft.” Bieloh’s team has planned a number of major events for the upcoming academic year. On Sept. 16, the visual arts team is hosting Ouachita’s esteemed Birkett Williams lecture series featuring British designer and cultural critic Rick Poyner. Additionally, three shows will be exhibited on campus this fall, including the display of hundreds of logo designs and an installation piece of “found objects” from Kentucky artist Matt Tullos. Bieloh’s wife, Christina, is serving as an adjunct professor at Ouachita, teaching composition and ESL courses. They have a 2-year-old son, Davey.
Mr. Graham’s Bread competes for Pepsi Refresh grant F or a family struggling to make financial ends meet, a fresh loaf of bread can be both a basic necessity and a blessing. That’s the idea behind Mr. Graham’s Bread. Established by Daniel Graham, a 2010 Ouachita graduate with a double major in accounting and business administration/management, Mr. Graham’s Bread operates out of his Arkadelphia apartment. For each loaf of fresh-baked bread he sells for $5, Graham donates a second loaf to a family or individual in need. Graham, who worked in community service in government housing complexes while attending Ouachita, said the idea developed after a girl attending a Backyard Bible Club told him she was hungry and there was very little food at home. Citing his “passion for doing business and helping communities,” he said Mr. Graham’s Bread allows him to pursue both interests. “Long-term, I hope to expand into other cities with a needy population, partnering with soup kitchens and other organizations to help distribute the free bread,” Graham noted. He said he would like to eventually provide other basic foods such as peanut butter and soup. Graham currently is competing online in the Pepsi Refresh Project, seeking to gain enough votes to earn a $50,000 grant to open a bakery for Mr. Graham’s Bread. Supporters can vote for his project once each day at Refresheverything.com/mrgrahamsbread.
22 • the ouachita circle
photo courtesy Daily Siftings-Herald
Charolette Allison,
I
Executive Secretary to the President
f Ouachita has a control center, it is undoubtedly located in Charolette Allison’s office. Working at a desk bordered by two walls of glass windows, Charolette is one of the first people guests see when entering the president’s suite. Since 1986, she has served as the executive secretary to four university presidents. Charolette entered Ouachita as a freshman in 1961 and planned to pursue her degree. However, Southwestern Bell was calling– literally! While in line to register for classes for the spring semester, she was contacted by the company about a much sought-after job. She quickly rose through the ranks at Southwestern Bell, serving 15 years before beginning her Ouachita career working for Dr. Daniel Grant. When she arrived, her supplies included a telephone, a transcriber, a typewriter and stacks of carbon paper. She inherited her first computer in 1991, and her job was transformed. Throughout such transitions, Charolette said, “I come in every morning ready to adapt to the day ahead. I’ve learned to be flexible.” “All four of my bosses at Ouachita have been exceptional,” she added. “Each has a very different leadership style and set of expectations which I’ve had to learn. In times of transition, I’ve eased into each relationship and made sure the president knows that he can trust me.” Chancellor Dr. Ben Elrod worked closely with Charolette during his presidential tenure. “Charolette Allison was an indispensable person in the operation and progress of Ouachita during my administration at the university,” he reflected. “Her professional competency, cheerful can-do attitude and tremendous public relations talents were invaluable. Her contribution to Ouachita then and since has been enormous.” In addition to her work with the president, Charolette prepares for all of the trustees’ meetings and keeps detailed minutes. She oversees the executive office’s work-study students and works closely with Phil Hardin, the university’s longtime assistant to the president for administration. President Rex Horne has worked alongside her since 2006. “Charolette occupies many roles and does them all in a magnificent way,” he said. “If there were only a few words allowed to describe Charolette, I would use competent, class and confidential. She has institutional knowledge and understanding like no one else. I am blessed to have Charolette as my assistant.” In her 24 years at Ouachita, Charolette has been part of extensive strategic planning and is excited about the future of the university. “I would love to see even more alumni catch Dr. Horne’s vision and help Ouachita grow and thrive,” she noted. Charolette is married to Wade Allison and has two daughters, Cindy McDill (’91) and Keri Burkman (’94). In memory of her son Andy, she and her family support the annual Andy Allison Super Kids Run, a community-wide event focusing on childhood fitness. Outside of the office, she enjoys entertaining her five grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.
photo by Callie Stephens
Wind Ensemble CD project continues musical tradition
S
ince 1998, the Ouachita Wind Ensemble has recorded six CDs with Mark Custom Recording of Clarence, N.Y. According to Dr. Craig Hamilton, who directs the Wind Ensemble, “The music on the recordings is Wind Band literature that uses a hymn tune or has a religious reference.” The Wind Ensemble’s six CD projects include: Winds of Praise (1998), Be Thou My Vision (2000), And Can It Be (2003), Zion (2005), Sanctuary (2007) and Radiant (2009). The CDs have included two compositions by OBU alumni Steven Bryant: “A Million Suns at Midnight” from the And Can It Be CD and “Radiant
Joy” from the Radiant CD. The Zion CD includes OBU alumni John Spencer’s “Solace for Wind Ensemble,” commissioned by the Theta Beta chapter of Tau Beta Sigma in memory of Tiffany Key Stanley. The Radiant CD includes “Mansions of Glory” by David Gillingham. “Mansions of Glory” was commissioned by the Lambda Epsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and the Theta Beta chapter of Tau Beta Sigma in honor of Hamilton and his years of service both to Ouachita and the Ouachita band. Hamilton said the recording project is an opportunity for Ouachita and the Wind Ensemble to gain increased visibility while providing students a
significant educational and artistic experience. The production process, which begins more than a year before the first note is recorded, culminates with a two-day recording session in Jones Performing Arts Center. Dr. Hamilton and the Mark recording engineers then edit and mix the CD to create the finished product. The ongoing project is currently funded through CD sales and the generous gifts of supporters. Individuals who would like to donate to the Ouachita Wind Ensemble CD project or purchase a CD may contact Dr. Hamilton at (870) 245-5137 or hamiltonc@obu.edu. spring 2010
• 23
Ouachita reflects God’s creativity at work M
y closing thoughts begin with a few of the opening words of the Bible, “In the beginning God created …” I have read that the Hebrew word for created can be defined as to do, select or make. God’s creative work has always seemed to be a decisive action to select something or someone and do something through them. I know this is true for Ouachita. Part of God’s creative work has been the formation of this university. He has sustained us. Ouachita is a beautiful campus filled with young men and women of character, vision and hope.
I have written about our campus construction projects, but cannot find adequate words to express their beauty, function and my personal pride. You have read of our new men’s wrestling program, but who can predict the good that will come because we will have some young men who came to be wrestlers but who also will grapple with matters of life, faith and service as Ouachita students.
“Creativity is certainly a quality of life at Ouachita. … It is visible in so many contexts.”
Creativity is certainly a quality of life at Ouachita. The creative process never stops here. It is visible in so many contexts. Whether you begin with the recruitment of students or with building a budget, plaza, buildings or a wrestling program, there is creativity. Professors prepare their minds and courses for the coming year. Programs, procedures and curriculum are evaluated. University life, at least here, is marked by creativity. We even have craftsmen restoring the historic tiger. This 75-year-old tiger is growing a new tail. That is creative! These areas, however, are not likely the first areas to which you would ascribe the word creative. One of the activities I enjoy so much is simply showing up at concerts, recitals, plays, musicals and art exhibits on campus. Our professors and students are truly incredible. Observing these resourceful, talented and imaginative individuals is inspiring. Then to realize that we are a part of God’s creative process in these lives is a blessing beyond description. Every spring on Scholars’ Day it becomes evident that innovation is a significant part of every academic school of our university.
24 • the ouachita circle
I often wish our constituents from various states and churches could avail themselves of just a part of what goes on here on a daily basis. Then I realize that these friends and many others literally around the world will be impacted by these students and the truth our professors have poured into them during their years at Ouachita. As we approach our 125th anniversary, I can assure you the creative journey is in full flight. A self-study team, led by Dr. Randall Wight and Dr. Stan Poole, is currently writing our strategic plan that will set a strong, efficient, productive course for the coming years. We are excited with the promise of a new academic year. I would ask that you remember Ouachita in prayer. Please ask Almighty God to keep us creative, committed and constructive in our pursuit of excellence. Yes, in the beginning God created and until there is no more time He will continue to express His creativity through people like you and a university like Ouachita.
2010 LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
Benefiting athletic scholarships at Ouachita 2010 Tournament Chairman: Kevin Crass (’81) of Friday, Eldredge and Clark, LLP—former Tiger basketball player
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
FORE OUACHITA
NOVEMBER 4, 2010 Chenal Country Club
Pleasant Valley Country Club
OCTOBER 18
Join us this fall and help more students experience the Ouachita difference.
stepping
up for
Ouachita
A luncheon benefiting scholarships for outstanding women students Honoree: Sharon Heflin
Sponsorships are still available for businesses or individuals. Contact Chris Babb at babbc@obu.edu or 870-245-4274.
For more information, contact Suzanne Spillyards at spillyards@obu.edu or 479-966-5229
Learn more about FORE Ouachita at www.obu.edu/fore
Learn more about Stepping Up at www.obu.edu/steppingup
Join these current sponsors who have partnered with Ouachita:
Join these current sponsors who have partnered with Ouachita:
VCC, INC.
DR. PAUL & CHERYL WILLIAMS
Capital Business Machines | Legacy Termite and Pest Control | Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Mutual of Omaha | Friday, Eldredge and Clark, LLP | USBank
Baptist Health | The Munro Foundation
Hoffman-Henry Insurance | Powers of Arkansas | BancorpSouth | Sodexo | Print Mania Burge Photography | Tropical Smoothie | Hickingbotham Investments | Pediatrics Plus | EdFinancial | TCPrint Solutions The Hatcher Agency | Southern Bancorp | Arkansas Baptist Foundation
Simmons First National Bank | Ed and Kim Harpole Amy Darcey | Shari Edwards | Kim Ferguson | Tina Harrington | Ed & Kim Harpole | Beth Haynie | Dr. Rex & Becky Horne | Taylor & Terri King | Molly Kircher | Katie Kirkpatrick | Lyndell & Bernice Lay | Karen Lord | Ginger Morgan | Sherrie Sharp | Rita Spillyards | Janice Turnage | Centennial Bank | Clements & Assoc. Architects | Dreamline Manufacturing | Jenkins Enterprises/Katherine Grant Salon | Legacy Temite & Pest Control Baldwin & Shell Construction Company | Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock | Second Baptist Church, Little Rock Firefly Studio | Jack & Pat Lowman Mary and Martha’s Florist | Katherine Grant Salon | Dillard’s
o
m
OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY ALUMNI OFFICE
410 Ouachita Street • Box 3762 Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71998-0001
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID LITTLE ROCK, AR PERMIT NO. 211
ing
O
T
C H A I homecoming 2010: october 18-23 U ouachita baptist university A
Monday, October 18 FORE Ouachita Golf Tournament
Tuesday, October 19 Clark County Alumni Dinner
Thursday, October 21 GROW (Getting Ready for Ouachita’s World) Tiger Tunes
Friday, October 22 2010 Ouachita Alumni Milestone Award Alumni Panel Battle of the Ravine Swim Meet Tiger Tunes
o
m
FIND OUT MORE! www.obualumni.org is your Homecoming headquarters! Visit the site for additional event, ticketing and registration info.
0
1
c
OcTiger Fest Class Reunion Lunches: 2000, 1990, 1980, 1970 and 1960 US Bank CubZone Soccer, Tennis & Spirit Squad Reunions/Activities Presentation of Homecoming Queen & Court Homecoming Football Game 1980s Mixer: A Totally Gnarly After-Party Tiger Tunes (for the first time, two Sat. shows) Tunes Mega-Mix Meal
0
Saturday, October 23
photo by Sarah Henley