On April 24, Ouachita Baptist University’s 13th annual Scholars Day will envelop the campus with a year’s worth of academic achievements, encompassing every discipline and, for the first time, inviting prospective students to join the festivities.
High school students interested in OBU will be paired with a current Ouachita student who is in the same field of study. Together guests and Ouachita students will see the best Ouachita has to offer.
“There are award-winning presentations from every field of study – from science and business to history and theatre – and everything in between!” said Dr. Barbara Pemberton, professor of Christian missions and director of Ouachita’s Carl Goodson Honors Program, which hosts the event.
Scholars Day, first organized in 2001 exclusively for natural science students by Dr. Tim Knight, the current dean of OBU’s Patterson School of Natural Sciences, and Dr. Joe Jeffers, the Charles S. and Elma Grey Goodwin Holt Professor of Chemistry and Pre-Medical Studies, has grown into a campus-wide event, according to Pemberton.
“I like to think of it as a celebration of the really great work our students do,” said Dr. Stan Poole, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies. For students in the Honors Program, “it represents the culmination of all the work they’ve been doing on their honors theses,” he said.
Both Pemberton and Poole emphasize that everyone is invited to participate and attend Scholars Day. The event is not limited to honors students, seniors or any particular major.
“The day will kick off with a special welcome for visiting prospective Tigers followed by lunch on the grounds,” Pemberton said.
Ouachita’s chapter of Alpha Chi national honor society, which recently earned the Star Chapter Award, traditionally begins Scholars Day with its formal induction ceremony in the middle of campus. This year, the ceremony will immediately follow lunch, starting at 1 p.m.
Signs will be posted all over campus to guide people to various events after the induction ceremony.
“My hope is that students and faculty will support and encourage our OBU scholars by attending as many presentations, papers and performances as they can,” Pemberton said.
3D case study presentations will be held in McCellan Hall 100 from 1:45-5:30 p.m. During these presentations, the science department will demonstrate how Ouachita students are now diagnosing virtual patients with 3D technology.
Science poster presentations will be on display on the second floor of Riley-Hickingbotham Library from 1:45-4:30 p.m.
In Mabee Fine Arts Center, recitals will be held in the W. Francis McBeth Recital Hall from 2-3 p.m. A performance thesis will also be held in McBeth Recital Hall beginning at 3 p.m. A senior visual arts student will present on her exhibit in Hammons Gallery at 3 p.m.
Other senior visual arts presentations will be held in Verser Gallery at 3:20 and 3:40 p.m. Theatre scenes will be performed in Verser Theatre from 4-4:30 p.m. and will include excerpts from notable plays such as Much Ado About Nothing and Little Women.
Senior theses on a variety of subjects will be presented in Walker Conference Center beginning at 2 p.m. with the exception of the theatre thesis in McBeth Recital Hall at 3 p.m.
Other student presentations from a variety of disciplines will be presented across campus in McClellan Hall 205 and 206, Young Auditorium and Hickingbotham Hall 200 starting at 2 p.m. and ending around 4 p.m.
For more information about Scholars Day, contact Dr. Barbara Pemberton at pembertonb@obu.edu or (870) 245-5541.
PHOTO CREDIT TO HEATHER FRANCIS
