— Ouachita Baptist University President Ben Sells is taking the heat from his faculty For the first time in the history of the nearly 140-year-old university the faculty passed a resolution of no confidence in a sitting president Many in the OBU community are saying this has been a long time coming Of the 73 faculty members present at a Wednesday meeting the Board of Trustees has reaffirmed its unanimous support for Sells endorsing his efforts to strengthen the university's commitment to Arkansas Baptists The sentiment exploding into public view after faculty members voiced their concerns about a lack of shared governance but one faculty member who wishes to remain anonymous tells me there is a "culture of fear" at the university that makes faculty members scared to publicly speak out Two former faculty members agreed to speak to Channel 7 expressing concerns about instructors facing criticism for teaching gender and sexual topics critical to the subject and about the lack of diversity in political events on campus "If we're teaching about issues related to gender and sexuality which are in our curriculum and have to be in our curriculum are we going to get in trouble for talking about the data that exists on those issues if you're teaching something that contradicts Ouachita's positions effectively saying you can't teach your field objectively And that was the last straw for a lot of people." They also allege spiritual abuse and bias against female leadership One former faculty member tells me when she tried to start a peer mentoring program for Ouachita students with autism the response was not positive and support was limited but said he's optimistic he can better collaborate with his faculty there can be disagreements over that goal and how to reach that and I want to respect what students and parents and faculty and staff and all who care deeply about Ouachita have to say We try to be very collaborative and even more that way," Sells says Sells also says he strives to make sure Ouachita has a distinctly Christian education to provide One parent speaking out on Facebook in a comment worried that members of the OBU faculty are pushing a liberal agenda I think he's done a great job," Jalon Davis says "I think when we start getting comfortable that's when sometimes it can be dangerous and so I think there's always room for improvement I don't know what that looks like exactly," Georgia Richards says Two emails on this topic were sent to faculty yesterday one from Board of Trustees Chair Scott Street says in part: The other email was sent to instructors from University Committee Chair Myra Houser saying in part: While President Sells did agree to speak with us to share a statement he was not willing to take any follow-up questions Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 5:23:55 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Posted by | May 2, 2025 | Oklahoma Baptist University’s McCabe School of Education is expanding its graduate-level offerings with two new 18-hour certificates designed to serve both new and experienced teachers seeking advanced credentials a certificate in Curriculum and Instruction The Reading Specialist certificate is currently in development and will be available soon Both certificates are fully online and tailored to fit the schedules of working professionals “These certificates are a great next step for educators who want to grow in their careers or transition into leadership roles,” said Annie Keehn assistant professor of education and co-director of OBU’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and ACCESS programs “We’re especially hoping to reach experienced teachers who are ready to move into coaching or reading intervention roles.” The Curriculum and Instruction certificate prepares educators for advanced positions such as instructional coaches The six-course sequence emphasizes educational leadership will train educators to support struggling readers through diagnostic assessments and evidence-based interventions aligned with the science of reading participants will be eligible to sit for the reading specialist certification exam earning an additional credential on their teaching certificate Both certificates can stand alone or be applied toward the MAT degree Students who complete any two certificates can earn the full MAT in just two years Other certificate options currently offered include Behavior and Trauma Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) OBU’s ACCESS program (Alternative Certification and Credentialing for Elementary and Secondary Schools) is a separate 18-hour certificate that academically prepares individuals pursuing alternative certification “We’re seeing more and more ACCESS students stay on to complete their full master’s degree,” Keehn said “But we also really want to serve the seasoned educators who are ready to lead and take on new challenges in their schools This is a flexible approach for achieving that.” Bryan Painter is marketing communications director for Oklahoma Baptist University This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply The Oklahoma Baptist University cheerleaders which features former Sallisaw cheerleaders Michaela Taylor and Autumn Henshaw came in national runners-up in mid April in Daytona Beach Sequoyah County can add another local cheerleader to the Bison’s squad Vian cheerleader Izzy Clouse signed a letter of intent with OBU in a signing ceremony Tuesday morning at B.J Clouse said that there was more than just cheerleading that led the Vian senior to want to go to the Shawnee four-year college “I’ve always wanted to go to OBU,” she said and I can further my career in trying to get a broadcast journalism major.” It also had no bearing on Clouse’s decision to go to OBU that the cheerleaders were the national runners-up in NCAA Division II but she is sure glad to get to be a part of something special like being a part of such a cheerleading program “That was not a deal-breaker for me,” the Vian senior cheerleader said They have like multiple national champions so I’m really excited to come on a team like that.” “I knew Izzy was going to do great things,” Vian cheer coach Jordan Taylor said and they’re going to benefit greatly having her on the squad.” Clouse was not sure such an opportunity would come her way but she is pumped about having such a chance “I never thought I would get to cheer at a collegiate level Taylor wishes she had Clouse for a lot more years but she knows that her senior cheerleader will do great things at OBU “If she could just stay back for a few more years © 2023 Sequoyah County Times Faculty of Ouachita Baptist University issued a vote of no-confidence this week in President Ben Sells who has led the private university in Arkadelphia since June 2016 Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans. Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism. Ryan Anderson covers higher education across the state He joined the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in August 2022 after covering education — and other topics — for a decade at four newspapers in three states Ryan attended DePaul University in Chicago and now resides in Fayetteville This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing The University of Minnesota Duluth men's basketball team out-rebounded the Oklahoma Baptist Bison 36-32 on the way to a 71-52 win at home Saturday closing out an undefeated weekend to start the 2024-25 season Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 11/9/2024 5:57:00 PM | Lukas Lorenz After jumping out to an 8-4 advantage, UMD went on a 10-0 run with 15:32 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Caleb Siwek Oklahoma Baptist went on to collect 13 minutes Though the Bulldogs still entered halftime with a 32-23 advantage, holding onto their lead with a three pointer of their own from Nick Katona UMD did most of its first half damage in the paint scoring 18 of its 32 points close to the basket UMD kept its lead intact before collecting eight unanswered points, finished off by a Charlie Katona three pointer to grow the lead to 45-31 with 12:00 to go in the contest The Bulldogs kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way out-scoring OBU 26-21 to end the game and secure the 71-52 victory The UMD defense held Oklahoma Baptist shooters to just 29.6% from the field The Bison did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end as they grabbed only nine offensive rebounds and scored four second chance points while the Bulldogs pulled down 31 defensive rebounds and forced 15 turnovers Bulldog men's basketball is back in Romano Gymnasium for a matchup against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers before they host the inaugural St Tip-off against the Rangers is currently set for Sunday Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email in the box below and click "Send" Click here to learn more: Documentation (opens in new tab) 6 May 2025 5:24:18 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Posted by | Apr 30, 2025 | The Oklahoma Baptist University spring class of 2025 will celebrate commencement at 2 p.m. will serve as this year’s commencement speaker OBU also announced that the tradition of “The Walk” of graduating seniors will be held on campus at 3 p.m following the same path as their freshman walk junior class marshals will escort the graduation class to their seats Marshals are chosen from the top-ranking junior men and women based on overall grade-point average Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences include Grace Anna Adcock Minor in Exercise Science; Cooper Brittain Minor in Business Administration and Athletic Coaching; Isabella Cangelosi Minor in Philosophy; Katherine Dawn DeBock Minor in Criminal Justice; Samantha Greene Minor in Family Science; Jaden Alexander Hansen Minor in Criminal Justice; Verenice Sandoval Minor in Natural Science; Maxamillian Lucky Jean Wheeler Minor in Psychology; and Kulson Rowdy Yates Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the Paul Dickinson School of Business include Rachel Antony International Business and Marketing; Hannah Carpenter Minor in Christian Ministry; Jared Isaiah Cheatwood Minor in Exercise Science; Jenna Raye Cobb Professional Accountancy; Sierra Nicole Copeland Professional Accountancy; Harrison Van Shuman Interdisciplinary: Business Administration and Christian Ministry; Caleb Johnathan Strauss Interdisciplinary: Business Administration and Christian Ministry; Seth Henry Streeter Interdisciplinary: Business Administration and Exercise Science; and Aaron Worten Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the School of Nursing include Erin Linda Bonehill Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the Division of Exercise Science Sports and Recreation include Hudson Troy Campbell Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Spencer Dickinson Exercise Science: Human Performance Emphasis; Aubrey Danielle Hallmark Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Anisha Zanaa Henderson Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Carson Evan Kardokus Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Daniel Gene King Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Matthew Marsic Sports and Recreation: Emphasis in Athletic Coaching; Morgan Max Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Nick Meyer Business Administration and Sports and Recreation Management; Cassidy Lena Christine Morrow Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Jadyn Pavlik Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Joey Pfennig Sports and Recreation Management; Chloe Poole Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Daniel Ransom Sports and Recreation Management; Caleigh Rippy Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Jade Robinson Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Jacob Sitsler Sports and Recreation: Emphasis in Athletic Coaching; Sheridan Swift Minor in Communication Studies; Bryant Thornton Exercise Science: Pre-Allied Health Emphasis; Zoee Weaver Exercise Science: Human Performance Emphasis; Nate Wilson Sports and Recreation Management; and Ayden Wood Exercise Science: Human Performance Emphasis Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the James E Hurley School of Science and Mathematics include Ashley Branham Minor in Natural Science; Austin Olivia Lopez Minor in Natural Science; Molly Catherine Stevenson Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the Henry F McCabe Family School of Education include Kailey Belknap Elementary Education and Special Education; Elisabeth T Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education; Addison Saunders Elementary Education; Abigail Nichole Taylor Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the Division of Language and Literature include Rebecca Carpenter Minor in Professional Writing and Editing; Rivers Davis Minor in Business Administration; Shelby Green Interdisciplinary: English and Psychology; Graci Lowe Minor in Professional Writing and Editing; and Madison Walls Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the Herschel H Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry include Matthew Allen Biblical and Theological Studies: Bible and Theology Emphasis Global Marketplace Engagement: Business Emphasis; Joshua Cody Biblical and Theological Studies: Biblical Studies Emphasis Minor in Worship Studies; Ashton Corey Humphries Minor in Business Administration; Christopher Lavigne Global Marketplace Engagement: Graphic Design Emphasis; Brendan Miller Christian Ministry: Student and Family Ministry Emphasis Global Marketplace Engagement: Global Education Emphasis; Jeffery Allen Rodriguez Minor in Student and Family Ministry; Lily Sifuentes Global Marketplace Engagement: Business Emphasis; Judah Skelton Christian Ministry: Christian Ministry Emphasis Minor in  Worship Studies; Jaxon Paul Smith Minor in Computer Science; and Levi Wilson Christian Ministry: Pastoral Ministry Emphasis Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the Warren M Angell School of Visual and Performing Arts include Alexis Albright Minor in Business Administration; Chloe Elizabeth Burke Minor in  Christian Ministry; Jacob Albert Campbell Journalism and Mass Communication: Journalism Emphasis; Zoe Elizabeth Lynn Duck Journalism and Mass Communication: Film and Media Emphasis; Chloe Finch Piano Performance: Pedagogy Emphasis; Elijah Wylde Motley Journalism and Mass Communication: Journalism Emphasis; Kelsey Price Journalism and Mass Communication: Journalism Emphasis; Brandon Spencer II Journalism and Mass Communication: Film Emphasis; Chloe Faith Taylor Journalism and Mass Communication: Journalism Emphasis Communication Studies; and Maddie Whitehouse Candidates for the Master of Business Administration from the Paul Dickinson School of Business include Brian Hancock Business Administration; and Brennyn Seagler Candidates for the Master of Arts Teaching from the Henry F McCabe Family School of Education include Rebecca J Candidates for the Master of Science from the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences include Kiersta Rose Daley Marriage and Family Therapy; Brendan Franks Marriage and Family Therapy; Hannah Nicole Frazier Marriage and Family Therapy; Sienna Darcey Golden Marriage and Family Therapy; Lindsey Marie O’Neal Hendrix Marriage and Family Therapy; Cheyenne Carmello Holsten Marriage and Family Therapy; Steilee McClain Marriage and Family Therapy; Emily Christine Skidmore Marriage and Family Therapy; and Britney Cherise Yowell Candidates for the Master of Arts in Christian Studies from the Herschel H Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry include Catherine Bankston Christian Studies: Leadership; Curtis “LC” Brown Christian Studies: Leadership; Kaelynn Craig Christian Studies: Biblical and Theological Studies This spring will mark the fifth commencement at First Southern Baptist Church Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium on the OBU campus has served as the traditional location for commencement since the iconic building was constructed in 1961 Due to damage caused by the EF2 tornado on April 19 the chapel’s auditorium is not available for the commencement ceremony Renewal efforts are continuing at Raley Chapel For more about OBU’s spring 2025 commencement, please visit okbu.edu/student-life/commencement.html SHAWNEE — Former Vian Lady Wolverines softball player Greenlee Wells and the Oklahoma Baptist University Bison swept a shortened Great American Conference home series from Southern Arkansas University taking both of Friday’s games by scores of 4-3 and 6-5 in 11 innings before having Saturday’s Game 3 canceled 6 May 2025 5:24:35 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); 6 May 2025 5:24:39 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); 6 May 2025 5:25:13 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); 6 May 2025 5:25:15 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); 6 May 2025 5:25:16 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); 6 May 2025 5:25:18 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Ouachita’s Department of Theatre Arts presents “Hello Ouachita to hold record-breaking Spring Commencement May 10 American Chemical Society wins $10,000 Kluck Service Enrichment Grant Ouachita names Rachel Martinez 2025 Support Staff Member of the Year Ouachita seniors win first place at Governor's Cup Business Plan Competition Frightful Stillness of the Tomb Ouachita Baptist University Apply Now Give to Ouachita Visit Ouachita Ouachita Baptist University's website uses cookies to improve user experience, analyze site usage and aid in student recruitment. To learn more, read Ouachita's privacy policy 6 May 2025 5:25:26 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Ouachita is currently undergoing its ten-year academic review of the CORE courses in its liberal arts programs following the last set of changes implemented in 2014 Directed by a steering committee composed of school deans and other prominent faculty members the process of reassessing current course requirements is set to be completed by the end of the 2025 calendar year with implementation beginning in the fall of 2026 serving as head of the steering committee for the review “It’s been standard for some time now to make changes to our academic CORE every decade or so,” Jones said “It’s time to evaluate what’s happening with our CORE and find out if there are things we need to refine or refresh Our charge as a steering committee is to look at our current CORE and identify distinctives that we might enhance in our approach to education while strengthening our commitment to Christian liberal arts as a Christ-centered learning community embracing the liberal arts tradition.” The approach to evaluating these CORE courses comes in four phases “The first phase has been looking back and trying to figure out what the state of the CORE has been to date,” Jones said drawing inspiration from other models that may be helpful or inspirational to us Third is looking into the literature and trying to have a deeper understanding of what’s happening in the world—what trends are emerging in terms of opportunities and challenges that students will face in the coming years the last phase is looking ahead at what courses will comprise the CORE program going forward “We’ve spent much of this semester looking back We’ve consulted many different streams of communication including conversations with colleagues and students We conducted thirteen focus groups across campus and reviewed various data points the university uses on an ongoing basis to evaluate itself Phase one resulted in some insights that we shared with our colleagues a few weeks ago “One thing that’s important for people to understand is that this is a highly complex process and it’s going to take some time,” Brune said “It’s been so helpful to hear from people across campus—their opinions and where our strengths and areas for improvement lie We also face some external pressures in higher education that we’re taking into account Finding the right solution takes effort and some back and forth we are just trying to take in as much input as we can and move forward.” Many are wondering when the changes will take place “We’re in a process that usually spans a year Our hope is to conclude by the end of this calendar year.” Brune discussed the advantages of taking the process slowly “We’ve been deliberate about not wanting to jump ahead and form conclusions until we feel like we’ve analyzed the situation as best we can,” he said “We want to be intentional about approaching it in a way that allows all the information to come together.” Jones spoke to the strengths Ouachita has shown over the past ten years “Something we discerned is that there are a lot of great and positive things people observe about our approach including the breadth of exposure across various streams of information,” Jones said “There was great appreciation for the fact that students are exposed to a wide range of knowledge and learning opportunities This is very beneficial because it fosters flexible You might think you’ll pursue one job for a long time but chances are there will be changes in the world and in opportunities and skills benefits students not just professionally but personally as well There was also appreciation for the relational component that is really special about the Ouachita community We hear students say they are grateful for the chance to explore different disciplines and connect with faculty and students they might not typically encounter within their major.” Senior students complete surveys in their exit seminars that help the CORE review process run more smoothly students are basically telling us that what they’re doing in CORE classes is helping them achieve progress toward Ouachita’s learning outcomes,” Jones said “We’re accomplishing what we set out to accomplish which is a great thing and a huge strength Students may feel anxious about CORE changes affecting their degree paths in coming years but they can rest assured knowing they are being considered and protected as much as possible during this process anything that will change will be voted on by the end of the calendar year,” Jones said “Faculty and the Board of Trustees have input in course changes we have the spring semester of 2026 to work through the logistics This is when we determine what will be taught and how we will manage different CORE paths for students already enrolled the 2026–2027 catalog would include the new CORE The catalog determines coursework requirements for students Any catalog in effect while a student is enrolled at OBU can be used to fulfill their degree plan we would bridge catalogs to ensure the student’s path remains viable All those logistical elements will be worked out in the spring of 2026 We want our students to be well cared for as they complete their degrees Brune further discussed the importance of a student-first mindset during the transition “We don’t want to leave anyone hanging with requirements that can’t be satisfied because of the changes,” Brune said we err on the side of flexibility for the student We can’t promise it will work perfectly in every situation but that’s generally the direction we try to take.” No student should worry about being left behind in this process I remember it flowing very smoothly,” Jones said “We adopt a process where an old course may count for a new course We want to make sure they have really good learning experiences as they complete their requirements.” and website in this browser for 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Powered by The Fox 6 May 2025 5:25:32 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 12/10/2024 9:11:00 PM | Nate Olson Thanks for visiting No motivational material will be needed for either Ouachita Baptist or Henderson State in their final regular-season game When the teams released their schedules over the summer there was one contest circled first over any other administrators or players care to admit it or not Erick Taylor is the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's high school sports coordinator and lead reporter for Division II He has been involved in sports journalism for 25 years This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC for me to go and play for the Dallas Cowboys and go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame says that these guys have the same opportunity,” Harris said “Showing them around The Star in Frisco and telling them stories of our Super Bowl runs in Dallas This year’s Division II winner, Josiah Johnson of Ouachita Baptist University was recognized for his leadership and dominance on the field and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown 3 nationally in scoring and allowed just 16 touchdowns all season Johnson said receiving the award was especially meaningful given the connection to Harris It’s a tradition and a standard that was set at Ouachita,” Johnson said “We call it ‘Cliff Harris every day,’ so we honor his name a lot and to be able to have this award with his name means a lot.” Matt Jung of Bethel University in Minnesota took home the Division III honor after leading the nation with nine interceptions who also had 109 tackles and earned AFCA First Team All-American recognition was named AP Defensive Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy He has since transferred to the University of Wisconsin Keiser University’s Tai Lologo was honored after anchoring a defense that allowed just 18.2 points per game one sack and two fumble recoveries and was named Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year Bazzel said the event exceeded expectations thanks to the support of Wright Lindsey Jennings “Could not have scripted a more spectacular afternoon here at The Star,” Bazzel said “To have these winners here with their families coaches and friends to celebrate their incredible seasons was outstanding.” For more information about the Cliff Harris Award, click here Feature photo from left to right: Johnson, Harris, Lologo, Jung READ ALSO: Arkansas Bill Banning PBMs From Owning Pharmacies Goes to Governor’s Desk Copyright © 2025 Arkansas Money and Politics Ouachita names students to Fall 2024 President’s List Ouachita to launch cybersecurity program in Fall 2025 Scott Anderson has joined the Ouachita faculty as instructor of cybersecurity Anderson and his family are active members of The Church in Malvern Ouachita to host award-winning author Cranor for reading and conversation Generated by Wordfence at Tue, 6 May 2025 5:25:58 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString());. © 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC. the Bison got a leadoff single from catcher Abby Laskowski who gave way to pinch runner Hailey Stanford After a bunt single and sacrifice moved the runners up Haley Hacker delivered the game-winning knock to right center scoring Stanford and sending the OBU dugout into celebration mode OBU (35–16) matched SWOSU (22–25) hit-for-hit with eight.. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy BETHANY — Former Vian softball player Greenlee Wells fresh off being named the Oklahoma Baptist University Softball Player of the Week and the OBU Bison suffered a 7-6 road loss to Southern Nazarene University on Tuesday afternoon to see their five-game winning streak snapped Ouachita names students to Fall 2024 Dean’s List The annual Miss Ouachita Baptist University pageant was held this past Saturday Weeks will compete as Miss OBU in the Miss Arkansas Competition this upcoming June.  The Miss America Organization provides many opportunities for young women across the nation with an average of over five million dollars in scholarships given to pageant participants each year elaborated on what the Miss America Organization stands for “The Miss America Organization is special because it provides young women the opportunity to develop life-long skills pursue educational and career goals through scholarships and serve their communities in ways that inspire meaningful change in the world around them,” Teed said “The Miss America Organization is the largest provider of scholarships for young women in the United States.”  The Miss OBU Organization within the Miss America Organization has had a rich history since 1967 “The Miss OBU Competition hopes to encourage young women on campus to be the very best that God made them to be and provide a platform for them to share and shine their light with and make a difference in the world around them,” Teed said “It encourages young women to represent OBU on campus in the community and in the state as role models with strong Christian character to pursue educational and career goals through scholarships leadership and communication skills that will benefit them in all areas of life and be able to discuss current events and important issues in the world around them be active and prioritize health and fitness develop friendships with other like-minded young women volunteer and give back to their communities through service platforms that they develop and are passionate about and use the unique gifts and to use talents God has blessed them with to influence others for God’s glory.” has been an exemplary Miss OBU in her year of service and looks fondly on her time with the title “What an incredible year it has been serving as Miss Ouachita Baptist University,” Gibson reflected in her parting letter in the pageant’s program “Representing a place so dear to my heart has been a deeply rewarding experience I have had the privilege of following in the footsteps of the fifty-six remarkable women who have held this title before me It has been humbling to contribute my chapter to the legacy they have created I grew up watching Miss OBU and dreamed about the possibility of gracing the JPAC stage I knew that competing in the Miss OBU competition was in my future Competing as a senior turned out to be the perfect opportunity as it allowed me to bring together the relationships I had formed and the knowledge I had gained during my time at Ouachita Representing the Women of Gamma Phi made the experience even more meaningful I will never forget how special it was to have my social club sisters cheering me on from the audience My senior year was also ideal for combining my business education with my community service initiative ‘Invest in the Future: Financial Literacy.’” as she had grown up wishing to compete in the pageant “Growing up I remember seeing my mom’s Miss OBU 1992 portrait in our hallway and I had always dreamed of wearing that crown and representing a school that has meant so much to my family and me,” Weeks said “My grandmother and grandfather met and fell in love at Ouachita and went on to have 5 children They all attended Ouachita and the youngest is my mother April Gosser Each generation has contributed so much to Ouachita and I wanted to contribute to a school that has invested so much to me by being Miss OBU.” In having such a rich family history at Ouachita winning the title of Miss OBU was a moment of mother-daughter connection “The moment they called my name as the next Miss OBU 2025 I was filled with nothing but gratitude,” Weeks said “I was beyond excited to share this amazing sisterhood with my momma and I couldn’t wait to give her the biggest hug.The best memory was getting to hug my momma after winning the crown and being able to share the same moment she experienced 30 years ago Weeks’ Community Service Initiative was “Buckle Up Back Seat,” encouraging education on the importance of wearing seat belts even in the rear of a vehicle “This issue became very real to me after witnessing a fatal car accident when I was 14,” Weeks said “My family was driving home on the interstate and two cars collided and violently rolled over each other into the median My stepfather pulled over and jumped out of the car to help The missing young man was thrown twenty yards from the car and died in my stepfather’s arms Four passengers wearing seat belts walked away with minor injuries and the only unrestrained back seat passenger lost his life.  This made me determined to raise awareness of wearing a seat belt as a rear passenger and to the establishment of my community service initiative Weeks sang “Climb Every Mountain” from “The Sound of Music” as her talent performance “My goal was to inspire the audience with a song that encourages people to follow their dreams and do whatever it takes to get there,” Weeks said “I have always loved singing and performing and knew that I wanted to share that at Miss OBU.” Winning first runner-up to Miss OBU was sophomore Kidron Romoser with the platform “Voices of Change” and a vocal performance of “Monster” from the Broadway musical “Frozen.” “This was my first pageant and was a great experience,” Romoser said I think it was something really empowering for me because I’ve never done something like this before It was neat to get to do it with these girls and befriend these people that I normally never would have come into contact with I plan to compete in the Texarkana Twin Rivers Competition at Henderson in a few weeks after this experience.” Also competing in the pageant were freshman Amy Garcia with the platform “It’s Okay to Speak Up: A Fight Against Substance Abuse” and vocal performance of “Mariposa de Barrio,” sophomore Lydia Crow with the platform “The Power of Positive Words” and dance performance to “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson From Miss OBU’s Court of Honor featuring familiar Ouachita vocalists to visiting past crown holders and other royalty such as Miss Southeast Arkansas Kensley Flynn Miss Arkansas Camille Cathey and the newly crowned Miss Arkansas’ Teen Bella Crowe to the plethora of scholarships and awards given during the competition the pageant brings a perfect blend of tradition “There is truly no other competition like the Miss OBU competition,” Weeks said and you see tons of people you know and love in the audience from school cheering you on and supporting you is an experience like no other Being able to represent the university that I love so much is a dream come true and is unlike any other preliminary competition.” Nicole Porchia vice president for student development Game Recap: Softball | 2/28/2025 9:03:00 PM | Jon Chidester – SWOSU Softball outhit Oklahoma Baptist in the game and had the tying run on base in the seventh inning but fell 3-2 to the Bison on the opening night of the road conference series The Bulldogs final-inning rally fell just short after they had already scored one run in the inning it was OBU's two-run home run in the fourth inning that proved to be a difference maker It was the lone extra-base hit by either team on the night The home run came in response to SWOSU's first run in the top half of the fourth. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with two singles and a walk, before Taylor McMahon drove in a run with a fielder's choice Barkley nearly had her third hit of the game but finished 2-4 to lead the lineup Alexis Taylor (L, 5-3) threw 4.0 innings of solid ball in the circle, but suffered the loss. Jaycee McKee surrendered a run in her first inning of relief Thanks for visiting LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — The Cliff Harris Award is staying where it belongs — at Ouachita Baptist University Josiah Johnson was selected as the winner of the Cliff Harris Award for NCAA Division II The Cliff Harris Award recognizes the top small college defensive player in the nation in the NCAA Division II The award highlights the exceptional talent and leadership of athletes who made significant contributions to football and made significant impacts on their teams Johnson was more than a significant contributor "one of the most physical defenders in program history" and a "well-respected leader whose love for his teammates defines his impact." but nobody may be prouder of Johnson than Cliff Harris It is the first time an OBU Tiger has won the award "I couldn’t be prouder to announce that an OBU Tiger is being honored with this trophy for the first time since the award’s inception,” Harris said Johnson was a pivotal piece on OBU's nationally ranked No Johnson helped the Tiger defense hold six of their 11 regular-season opponents to single-digit scores OBU's defense also allowed the fewest touchdowns in NCAA Division II with 16 He also helped the squad reach their highest-ever ranking in the AFCA Top 25 Poll Johnson was instrumental in the Tigers' historic 17-13 victory over the defending national champions Posted by | Apr 7, 2025 | Oklahoma Baptist University is offering a broad range of summer courses at a rate of $350 per credit hour to assist students in affordably earning credits they need between the spring and fall semesters OBU’s reduced summer tuition rates are where accessibility and affordability meet we believe we are giving more students access to the high-quality education we offer at OBU,” Dr “We have committed to offer more online courses to try and meet the various needs of both current and incoming students.” This also eliminates the hassle of applying to another college and transferring credits back to OBU Core and supportive core classes will be emphasized but academic divisions also will offer strategic courses that are needed for their students A full list of summer 2025 courses has been published and registration is open OBU will offer a diverse selection of courses during Summer 2025 providing students with opportunities to advance their academic progress or explore new subjects The summer schedule includes two main sessions: Summer 1 (May 2-June 26) and Summer 2 (June 27-August 19) Students can choose from courses in the arts Additional courses include Issues in Biology The entire list can be seen at okbu.edu/events/summer-classes/index.html Full-summer options include Camp Administration offering students flexible scheduling to meet their educational needs All of the courses listed here are full summer which will meet the first eight weeks of the summer term “One of the biggest advantages of taking summer courses through OBU is the faith-integration for which the school has always been known,” said Dr “Students often take summer courses through community colleges they are not taught from a Christian worldview A large number of our students come to OBU for faith integration and now they don’t have to compromise on that distinction during the summer.” These courses can be used to retake classes (also known as credit recovery) and to meet prerequisites for programs allowing a student to possibly take fewer credit hours during the fall or spring semesters or to graduate early Ouachita track & field named for Hickingbotham family Hickingbotham came to Ouachita as a freshman in 1955 from his hometown of McGehee Former Vian softball player Greenlee Wells and the Oklahoma Baptist University Bison took a series from 10thranked Harding University last weekend in Searcy Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. OBU finished the regular season with a 34-16 record and is seeking their first tournament victory while SWOSU enters the tournament with a 22-24 record and is making its debut OBU previously won two out of three games against SWOSU during the regular season but both teams have strong individual performances to watch for in this critical matchup The winner of this matchup will advance to face either No As both teams bring momentum and strong individual performances to the matchup OBU aims to break its GAC Tournament losing streak while SWOSU seeks to capitalize on its recent success The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI Thanks for visiting Ouachita concert and lecture to honor McBeth Lead photo by Sarah Dean Josiah Johnson of Ouachita Baptist University was named the winner of the 2024 Cliff Harris Award recognizing the outstanding player in Division 2 college football The award is presented each year by the Little Rock Touchdown Club Johnson was a first team all-American safety for the Tigers 3 scoring defense with  72 tackles (44 solo) two interceptions and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown The Tigers held six of their 11 regular-season opponents to single digits and allowed the fewest touchdowns in Division 2 with only 16 “I couldn’t be prouder to announce that an OBU Tiger is being honored with this trophy for the first time since the award’s inception,” said Pro Football Hall of Famer Cliff Harris the Arkansas native who played college ball at OBU and went on to a Pro Football Hall of Fame career as a safety with the Cowboys congratulations Josiah on an incredible season.” Johnson played a pivotal role in Ouachita’s historic 17-13 victory over defending national champion Harding University holding its record-setting offense to just 218 rushing yards and 288 total yards — the Bisons’ lowest output since 2022 The Tigers were co-champions of the Great American Conference in 2024 achieving their highest-ever ranking at No but fell 38-31 in overtime to Central Oklahoma in the first round of the D2 national playoffs READ ALSO: David Bazzel Named Arkansas Sportscaster of the Year Posted by | Mar 6, 2025 | the Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) hosted the annual Oklahoma Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) Basketball Tournament Sixteen different BCM’s from across the state participated in the tournament consisting of twenty men’s teams and eight women’s teams Even though it is presented as a basketball tournament the event is a witness opportunity event for BCM students to reach out to their student bodies “I think it’s a great outreach for students in their BCM to also reach out to their student bodies and invite their peers who may not really have a relationship with Jesus and introduce them to Christ through sports,” said David Gardner assistant director of OBU Bison Recreation and Wellness This event is sponsored by the Oklahoma BCM in partnership with OBU and was held at OBU’s Recreation and Wellness Center All teams competed in a single elimination/consolation bracket-style tournament with standard Oklahoma High School basketball rules OBU’s team won in overtime against the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) with a score of 33 to 28 Oklahoma State University (OSU) retained their title as champions for the third year in a row defeating UCO as well with a score of 61 to 44 In the consolation bracket for the women’s side the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) faced off against Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) USAO came out on top with a close score of 27 to 23 On the men’s side of the consolation bracket NWOSU won against OBU with a score of 57 to 48 Each of these teams were formed by their respective BCM’s director allowing the students and directors to build their relationships with each other and with Christ “The relationships each of the directors get to build with their students in activities outside the normal setting allow for memories to be made and friendships to develop,” said Gardner To view a list of all upcoming events at OBU, visit events.okbu.edu Jacob King is staff editor of the Baptist Messenger Posted by | Nov 13, 2024 | , Can you share about your ministry calling and career God called me to ministry at Falls Creek in the summer of 1968 while attending camp with my home church I was blessed with a pastor who found me many opportunities to preach while in high school which served to deepen my call My first paid staff position was as Minister of Music/Youth at Brownwood I began pastoring a year later and served four churches as pastor over the next 25 years which was renamed The Church at the Cross after we relocated from a neighborhood to 47 acres on a freeway I moved to Arkansas in 2001 where I was President of Shiloh Christian School for five years before returning to Oklahoma as Director of Admissions for Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) I have served OBU in various capacities since that time including several years on the president’s Executive Cabinet President Heath Thomas shared his vision of extending the mission of the university into the prisons of our state and asked me to pray about launching the Prison Divinity Program God confirmed this calling and continues to do so I am very grateful to serve my university and my home state in this unique way who is a powerful prayer warrior and a partner in ministry in every possible way We have two great grandchildren and 11 grandchildren Please share about the OBU Prison Divinity Program I believe there is no greater expression of the transformational education OBU offers than that offered in the Prison Divinity Program What better place for Christian liberal arts to impact culture than in one of its darkest places I am blessed to witness vivid demonstrations of what it means to be a new creation in Christ on a regular basis The university offers a fully accredited 4-year 120 credit-hour Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Studies through the Prison Divinity Program year-round at the Lexington Correctional Center This is a one-of-a kind educational opportunity in our state prisons These courses off er the same rigor as those offered on the Shawnee campus and we expect no less from these students than any OBU student Thirty of them are sophomores and thirty are seniors who will graduate in May 2025 as our first graduating class Many will be deployed by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) to other prisons across the state as Field Ministers – a title given them by the ODOC Through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit they will take what they have learned and experienced and begin to accomplish our ultimate goal – the transformation of prison culture within our state the next cohort of Bison will arrive and begin their studies next summer What Gospel fruit have you seen in the OBU Prison Divinity Program Evangelism and ministry are not waiting until our students graduate Four students currently pastor churches inside the prison Several others preach and lead worship on a regular basis Many of our students engage consistently in personal evangelism hundreds of men have come to Jesus in the last four years More than 500 men in the maximum-security unit alone have made life changing decisions to follow Christ We witness salvations every week – sometimes one or two these are not “jailhouse decisions.” There is no worldly advantage to be gained in prison by declaring one’s allegiance to Christ Believers are often targeted and persecuted for their faith these men stand strong and boldly confess their Lord in word and deed How has this been a great example of Oklahoma Baptists coming together to offer this program the program exists entirely upon the favor of God shown through various entities and individuals The Prison Divinity Program is an effective partnership between OBU Oklahoma Baptists and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections The Department has invited us into the prison system and we are continually grateful to be their guests and receive the favor they have shown us This program is not a line item in anyone’s budget Everything from payroll to paper clips is made possible through the generous gifts of our donors one of which is Oklahoma Baptists through the Edna McMillan State Missions Offering God’s favor is shown through the support of several Oklahoma Baptist churches and many individual Baptists Any prayer requests or anything else that the Lord has on your heart There is no greater partnership than our partnership in prayer We know that every wonderful outcome in the Prison Divinity Program is due to the faithful prayers of God’s people Please join us in prayer for the next cohort May God raise up the men He desires to be enrolled at OBU Pray for the continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the prison resulting in changed lives Pray for our students that even in the midst of strenuous academic responsibilities they remain quickened for ministry and evangelism each day 6 May 2025 5:27:22 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Game Recap: Volleyball | 9/14/2024 2:50:00 PM | Jon Chidester Thanks for visiting Posted by | Apr 4, 2025 | friends and supporters of Oklahoma Baptist University gathered Tuesday night on Bison Hill for the 10th Green and Gold Gala the gala showcased the university’s recovery from the tornado on April 19 Attendees toured historic Shawnee Hall and Raley Chapel both undergoing modernization as part of the university’s ambitious Shape the Future campaign Guests also explored the emerging STEM corridor in Thurmond Hall and the remodeled Wood Science building witnessing firsthand the impact of recent investments former mayor of Oklahoma City and chairman emeritus and founder of Humphreys Capital Thomas welcomed guests to the Recreation and Wellness Center noting that the campus itself symbolized resilience and renewal he reflected of the significance of the event’s location “Tonight was a defining moment for OBU in our history,” Thomas said “Having the gala on Bison Hill made all the difference I’ve had so many alums and so many friends say ’It’s one thing to hear the stories about Bison Hill going through the tours and connecting with old friends It makes all the difference in the world.’” enhance student experiences and modernize campus facilities “We are going to take the strength of today and build on it so that we can have all the momentum that we need to move forward and remain in the Shape the Future vision,” he said “This is going to build momentum to carry us forward.” It was Thomas who introduced world-renowned leadership expert John C whose global influence has shaped leaders through his Maxwell Leadership organization and more than 34 million books sold in over 50 languages spoke to the crowd about the power of vision and perseverance Oklahoma Baptist University’s Green and Gold Gala keynote speaker shared the importance of expanding one’s God room “the space between what individuals can accomplish on their own and what God can do through them.” Maxwell delivered an inspiring keynote address at OBU challenging attendees to embrace leadership Maxwell described OBU as a university where students come and are taught “how to get out of the people pile How to go beyond and excel and change lives.” He spoke about how great leaders can “see more” and “see before” others A central theme of his message was expanding one’s God room far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams.” He emphasized that God works not by force but by transforming hearts “His Spirit is gently working within us,” Maxwell said He urged the audience to embody the teachings of Jesus by being “salt and light” in the world “Salt makes things better and light makes things brighter,” he said we ought to live this incredibly beautiful fruit-of-the-Spirit life that leaves people hungry to know God.” he wanted to do his best to honor the school “and obviously come alongside President Thomas and help him.” “Because he’s just a beautiful leader and an incredible young man who has unlimited potential,” Maxwell said “He’s already showing the fruit of it here; you can sense it and you can see it and you can feel it You’re looking at him and you’re just saying Reflecting on his own mentoring experience Maxwell shared advice an individual gave him when he was in his 20s I want you to attempt something so big for God that if it happens people who know you will look at you and they’ll shake their heads and say you’re not that good.’ And then they will give God all the credit,” he said Maxwell encouraged the audience to live in their God room so that their impact would be unmistakably God-driven “Wouldn’t it be incredible if you not only taught the students to get out of the people pile in this environment to have God room in their life?” he said Maxwell closed by urging everyone to embrace growth more’ and ‘see before.’ I wish for God room for you that He will take you to a level that you know for certain you would never be there except for the fact of the goodness and the grace and the favor of God.” The Green and Gold Gala continues to serve as a touchstone for the OBU community philanthropy and a shared commitment to the university’s mission To be a part of the Shape the Future campaign go to okbu.edu/giving/shape-the-future/index.html We affirm that respect and honesty undergird responsible citizenship and stewardship REQUEST INFO SCHOLARSHIPS APPLY NOW Posted by | Mar 10, 2025 | More than 900 middle school and high school students gathered at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) on March 1 for the annual Generation Why youth apologetics conference hosted by OBU’s Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry equipped students with practical tools to understand articulate and defend their faith in an increasingly post-Christian culture Themed “Apologetics and Evangelism,” the conference featured Dr Paul Gould and Mary Jo Sharp as keynote speakers and discussions designed to strengthen their faith and ability to share it with others “We were blown away at another huge turnout this year This was a great opportunity for OBU to serve churches across the state and region.” The conference is designed for middle school providing a foundation for engaging faith in today’s world from logical arguments for Christianity to practical evangelism strategies students are confronted with all sorts of challenges to their faith both internally and from the world around them We pray that Generation Why serves as one tool to help this generation ‘give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you’ (1 Pet next year’s Generation Why conference is set for March 7 a nationally recognized Christian apologist and associate professor at Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology known for his engaging storytelling and deep understanding of modern culture will challenge students to think critically and live out their faith with confidence “We need continued prayer and support as we immediately begin planning for next year.” Find more details on Generation Why 2026 at: okbu.edu/genwhy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.