The development office hosted Stepping Up for Ouachita on Nov. 10. The event helps bring support for women at Ouachita. This was the second annual luncheon, but the first year the event was held on campus.
“This year as part of the 125th anniversary festivities, we brought the event to campus,” said Keisha Pittman, development officer and event coordinator. “Our advisory committee, sponsors and guests were excited about seeing campus with its heightened spirit and renewed academic commitment.”
The fashion show luncheon, held in Walker Conference Center, benefitted scholarships for outstanding women students at Ouachita. Artwork by female students was showcased outside of the banquet room to kick off the event.
“Students got involved in a variety of ways and were an essential part of every component of this event,” Pittman said. “Since the event benefits students, our donors love to see them and have an opportunity to interact with them.”
One event during the luncheon was a vintage style fashion show run by Grace Steuri of Little Rock. Steuri has volunteered her time raising money for various charities around the nation.
“A couple of years ago I read in the newspaper about a vintage style show that Grace Steuri presented to help raise funds for local charities,” said Becky Horne, wife of President Rex Horne. “Thus the title of the show, ‘FASHIONating History,’ is truly an appropriate title as we learn not only about fashion but a bit of history as well.”
Women from across Arkansas were able to serve on the event’s advisory committee.
“We had an advisory committee of 40 women,” Pittman said. “These ladies met a couple times in the months leading up to the event and then corresponded by e-mail for many of the other planning details. They formed sub committees for different parts of the event that needed to be handled.”
Women currently living in Arkansas who have graduated from Ouachita were invited to the event. Save-the-date invitations were sent out six months in advance to give each woman the chance to respond and RSVP for the event.
“I saw over 300 women and a few men, who were there to help support female students at Ouachita, like myself,” said Catie Bennett, a junior early childhood education major. “These 300 plus alumni believe in Ouachita; they believe in the education I am receiving and they are willing to make a sacrifice to help me fulfill my dreams.”
This year the development office partnered with Southern Bancorp as the presenting sponsor. They were able to help this year because the event was held in Arkadelphia.
“Southern Bancorp commits to making a difference in communities, and Ouachita commits to producing difference makers who will go out and invest in communities across our state and nation,” Pittman said. “Much of who our graduates become is reflective of the community of Arkadelphia and its commitment to developing college students.”
The need to raise money for outstanding women on campus was motivation for the alumni in attendance.
“We would love to continue to see this event grow,” Pittman said. “We will probably move the event around each year, giving us a fresh look at what the possibilities are among Ouachita women. This event is about all of us joining together to make a difference for future generations of Ouachita women who will continue to make a difference around the world.”
Picture by Nicole McPhate.
