Ouachita Baptist University’s Carl Goodson Honors Program awarded three grants for student research initiatives, inducted more than 60 new members and presented badges to seniors for successful thesis proposals at its annual Black and White Reception.
“The Black and White Reception is an annual reception held to celebrate student achievement in the honors program,” explained Dr. Barbara Pemberton, director of the program and professor of Christian missions. “This year went exceptionally well. There was a great turnout, and the honors officers did a wonderful job hosting each table and making our guests feel at home. I think everyone had a good time.”
Ouachita’s Carl Goodson Honors Program was established more than 50 years ago to encourage academic success and intellectual growth for high achieving students. Students in the program select a variety of honors core classes and interdisciplinary seminars, conduct research under a professor for their theses and can plug in socially through Alpha Tau, which connects students with community service opportunities and other activities. Once a student completes the program, it is noted on their academic transcript.
Several students involved in the program were awarded grants to further explore their scholastic study and gather research outside of the classroom. The recipients chosen for this year’s grants include Jodie Webb, Ben Elrod Scholar; Kimberley Attaway, Carl Goodson Scholar; and Libby Hilliard, Garrett Ham Scholar.
“I am very humbled and grateful to have been chosen to receive this grant,” said Webb, a junior early childhood education major from Arlington, Tenn., who will use the grant to attend the education department’s short-term study abroad opportunity in the United Kingdom to research reading teaching methods. “I have always been taught that hard work and diligence pay off. I feel like I have worked hard for my grades, and I am prepared to work hard to continue this journey to becoming an excellent teacher. … It is such an honor and privilege. I am excited to continue my educational pursuits to the glory of God.”
Dr. Ben Elrod, Ouachita chancellor and former president, presented the award named in his honor.
Attaway, a junior music education major from Austin, Texas, plans to use the grant she received to attend the Texas Music Educators Association conference in San Antonio, Texas, this spring. The grant Attaway received is named after Dr. Carl Goodson, the program’s founding director and former Ouachita vice president for academic affairs.
Noting that winning the grant “will push me to work even harder on my thesis research,” Attaway said, “I want to strive toward the academic integrity and excellence the title holds so that I can represent the Carl Goodson Honors Program to the best of my ability.”
Hilliard, a biblical languages major from Van Buren, Ark., said she considers the grant a “huge honor and blessing,” and plans to use it to continue her biblical language studies via a trip or the purchase of academic resources. The award Hilliard received is named after Garrett Ham, a 2007 honors program alumnus.
“Garrett Ham has provided an opportunity to further my studies on a level that I did not think I would reach until graduate school, which will put me in a great place when I come to the end of my time at Ouachita,” explained Hilliard, noting that she is “inspired by his generosity.”
“It also provides accountability,” Hilliard continued. “I will feel the healthy pressure to learn as much as possible from the experiences and resources I will gain as being the recipient of this scholarship.”
Speakers at the reception included: Jacob Lively, a 2012 Ouachita graduate, two-time OBU Student Senate president and founding member of Alpha Tau; and Dr. Charles Wright, Ouachita’s interim president, who gave the concluding charge to the new inductees. Other special guests included Dr. Ben M. Elrod, chancellor and former president of Ouachita, and his wife, Betty Lou, and Dr. Daniel Grant, Ouachita president emeritus, and his wife, Betty Jo. Weston Wills, a junior worship arts major from Norphlet, Ark., provided entertainment for the evening.
For more information about the honors program, visit www.obu.edu/honors or contact Dr. Barbara Pemberton at pembertonb@obu.edu or (870) 245-5541.
By Anna Hurst
