By Felley Lawson 
OBU News Bureau

ARKADELPHIA — Thirty students at Ouachita Baptist University have been named to the latest edition of Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities. 

The students were chosen by Ouachita’s faculty, staff and 2022 senior class based on their academic performance, leadership in extracurricular activities, community service and potential for success. 

Ouachita’s Arkansas students named to Who’s Who include the following, in order of hometown: 

Amity
Hannah Dwiggins, 21, an elementary education major, received the 2022 Phi Kappa Delta Teachers in Training Award. A graduate of Centerpoint High School, Dwiggins was a member of EEE women’s social club and served as chaplain of Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education while at Ouachita. She was a student leader for juniors and seniors at Caney Missionary Baptist Church in Bismarck and served as a volunteer summer church camp leader. Dwiggins plans to pursue a career in teaching. 

Arkadelphia
Erica Dixon, 24, is a graphic design major and a graduate of Arkadelphia High School. She was a member of Tiger Steel drum ensemble, served as president of Tri Chi women’s social club and was a Kappa Chi men’s social club little sister at Ouachita, where she was elected 2021 Homecoming Queen. As a student, she was employed at Cookie Advantage and was a member of First Baptist Church, Arkadelphia. Dixon plans to pursue a career in design and communications. 

Bauxite
Maddie Bailey, 21, is a political science major and a graduate of Benton High School. At Ouachita, she was named to the President’s and Dean’s lists, received the Bob Riley Outstanding Graduate in Political Science award and was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha national honor society for political science, Theta Alpha Kappa national honor society for religious studies and theology and Alpha Chi national college honor society. Bailey served as special events chair and director of Tiger Tunes for the Ouachita Student Foundation and president of the Pre-Law Society. She was a member of EEE women’s social club and participated in the Carl Goodson Honors Program, where she was a Blue Ribbon Finisher and a recipient of the Carl Goodson Travel Grant. She volunteered through Campus Ministries Life Group and Big Sister mentor programs, as well as Tiger Serve Day. A member of The Summit Church in Saline County, Bailey served as an intern with the Arkansas Baptist Foundation and was a member of the Kanakuk K1 office staff. Through the Chicago Semester Program, she also served as an intern with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services in Summer 2019. Her participation in the Carl Goodson Honors Program sparked her passion for fighting human trafficking and hopes to pursue this through a career as a prosecuting attorney. 

Benton
Gracen Goudy, 22, is a communications & media/mass communications major and a graduate of Bryant High School. Named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, she received the Roy Buckelew Outstanding Speech Major Award, served as co-editor of the Ouachitonian and president of the EEE women’s social club, volunteered through Tiger Serve Dayandwas a WOW new student orientation leader. Goudy was a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation and the President’s Leadership Circle and was elected to the Homecoming Court. She worked as a youth intern at First Baptist Church, Arkadelphia, and as a freelance writer for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, and plans to pursue a career in communications and marketing. 

Benton
Cloe Humphry, 21, is a worship arts major and a graduate of Bryant High School. Named to the Dean’s List at Ouachita, she was a member of Ouachita Worship and the Worship travel team, Ouachita Singers and Concert Choir. Humphry was also a life group leader and a worship leader for Refuge, and was voted Miss Congeniality during the 2022 Miss OBU Pageant. She is interested in missions and plans to pursue a career as a church worship leader.

Benton
Dane Jester, 21, a biology major from Hot Springs, Ark., graduated from Benton High School. Named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, Jester was a Blue Ribbon Finisher in the Carl Goodson Honors Program where he served as academic chair, social chair and community service chair. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, the President’s Leadership Circle, Student Senate and the Beta Beta men’s social club, where he was chaplain and social chair. Jester volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and worked during the summers as a research intern at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and a patient care technician at CHI St. Vincent. He will attend the UAMS College of Medicine with the goal of eventually serving his community as a physician. 

Cabot
Cora Saddler, 22, an English and Spanish double major, is a graduate of Cabot High School. Saddler was named Ouachita’s 2022 Overall Academic Achiever, the university’s highest academic honor. She also earned distinction as Academic Achiever and Outstanding Senior English Major in the School of Humanities and as a Blue Ribbon Finisher in the Carl Goodson Honors Program. Saddler received a Ben Elrod Research Grant, an Outstanding Sophomore Spanish Major Award and Outstanding Sophomore and Junior Herman Sanford scholarships. She also earned first place for academic research in the Assayers 29 and 30 competitions. Saddler served as honor secretary and co-president of Sigma Tau Delta international English honor society at Ouachita, as president of Alpha Chi national college honor society at Ouachita, and as a member of the Wind Ensemble and the Tri Chi women’s social club. She will soon begin an internship with “Streetwise Magazine,” a publication that helps give stability, voice and dignity to people experiencing homelessness in Chicago, and will pursue a Master of Arts degree in English with a concentration in creative writing at the University of Maine, beginning in Fall 2022. 

Camden
Harry Jeffrey,22, a chemistry and biology double major from Conway, Ark., is a graduate of Harmony Grove High School in Camden, Ark. He was named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, where he served as president of the American Chemical Society and treasurer of the Student Senate. Jeffrey was a member of Gamma Sigma Epsilon honor society for chemistry, Tri Beta biological honor society and the WOW steering committee. He was also a member of Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club, where he served as social chair, secretary, historian and Tiger Tunes director, and received the Shelby Seabaugh Spirit of Tunes Award. Jeffrey worked as a tutor for the Academic Success Center and volunteered through Tiger Serve Day, the WOW steering and parent committees and Eta Highway Cleanup. He plans to enroll at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in order to become a physician assistant. 

Conway
Harry Jeffrey,22, a chemistry and biology double major from Conway, Ark., is a graduate of Harmony Grove High School in Camden, Ark. He was named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, where he served as president of the American Chemical Society and treasurer of the Student Senate. Jeffrey was a member of Gamma Sigma Epsilon honor society for chemistry, Tri Beta biological honor society and the WOW steering committee. He was also a member of Eta Alpha Omega men’s social club, where he served as social chair, secretary, historian and Tiger Tunes director, and received the Shelby Seabaugh Spirit of Tunes Award. Jeffrey worked as a tutor for the Academic Success Center and volunteered through Tiger Serve Day, the WOW steering and parent committees and Eta Highway Cleanup. He plans to enroll at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in order to become a physician assistant. 

El Dorado
Buck McKnight, 21, a Christian studies/biblical studies & theology and Christian studies/Christian ministry double major, is a graduate of El Dorado High School. At Ouachita, he was named to the President’s and Dean’s lists and was a member of Ouachita Worship, Refuge and the Beta Beta men’s social club. McKnight is a freelance musician and plans to pursue a career in clinical mental health counseling. 

El Dorado
Kate Vernon, 22, an elementary education major, graduated from El Dorado High School. Named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, Vernon served as fundraising chair and assistant Tiger Tunes director for Tri Chi women’s social club and was a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation, Student Senate and Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education. She volunteered through Tiger Serve Day, Campus Ministries and WOW new student orientation. While at Ouachita, she worked as an art teacher at Dance Praize, a K-1 counselor at Kanakuk Kamp and an associate at The Pottery House. Vernon will be the K-5 art teacher at Benbrook Primary School in Benbrook, Texas. 

Hot Springs
Dane Jester, 21, a biology major from Hot Springs, Ark., graduated from Benton High School. Named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, Jester was a Blue Ribbon Finisher in the Carl Goodson Honors Program where he served as academic chair, social chair and community service chair. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, the President’s Leadership Circle, Student Senate and the Beta Beta men’s social club, where he was chaplain and social chair. Jester volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and worked during the summers as a research intern at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and a patient care technician at CHI St. Vincent. He will attend the UAMS College of Medicine with the goal of eventually serving his community as a physician. 

Jefferson
Jazmyn-Rayne Parker, 22, is an elementary education major and a graduate of White Hall High School. Named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, she was a member of the President’s Leadership Circle, was a WOW new student orientation leader and served terms as vice president and president of Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education. Parker was elected to the Homecoming Court, served as keeper of the beaus for the EEE women’s social club and volunteered through Tiger Serve Day. She worked as a summer camp counselor and a unit coordinator at Kanakuk. Parker plans to teach first or second grade at Eastside Elementary in Cabot, Ark., and in the future, to pursue Master of Education degrees in curriculum and instruction and in reading intervention. 

Jonesboro
Molly Maddox, 22, is a communication sciences & disorders major and a graduate of Valley View High School. She was named to the President’s List at Ouachita, where she was a member of the Alpha Chi national college honor society and the Ouachita Student Foundation. Maddox served as president of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, parliamentarian of the Student Senate, pledge mistress of the EEE women’s social club and a TranServe volunteer. She plans to attend graduate school and pursue a Master of Speech-Language Pathology degree. 

Little Rock
Abigail Blankenship, 21, is a mass communications major and a graduate of Little Rock Christian Academy. At Ouachita, Blankenship received the William D. Downs Outstanding Mass Communications Graduate award and the Matt Turner Outstanding Junior Communications Major award and was named to the President’s and Dean’s lists. She was a WOW new student orientation leader and a member of the President’s Leadership Circle, the Tiger Serve Day leadership team and Homecoming Court, as well as the EEE women’s social club, which she served as online media chair. Blankenship was photo lab editor during her junior and senior years. While at Ouachita, she was a USGA P.J. Boatwright Jr. Intern with the Arkansas State Golf Association during the summers of 2020 and 2021. Blankenship plans to pursue a career in photography and social media. 

Little Rock
Cross Brandon, 22, a music industry major, graduated from Pulaski Academy. At Ouachita, Brandon served as president of Kappa Chi men’s social club, volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and was a member of the Saxophone Quartet, Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble. A recipient of the David Glaze and Barbara Stubblefield scholarships, Brandon earned first place in the 2019 Wind and Concerto Competition. While at Ouachita, he was a member of the worship team at the Church at Rock Creek and a recurring guest artist at Second Baptist Church in Little Rock. He was also a volunteer with the Arkansas Food Bank. Brandon plans to pursue a career as a professional doubler, a musician who plays two or more instruments from the six woodwind families and can play more than one instrument during a performance. 

Little Rock
Austin Guymon, 23, is a history major and a graduate of Little Rock Christian Academy. At Ouachita, Guymon was a linebacker for five seasons on the Tiger Football team, where he was a two-time all-Great American Conference honoree. He was named to the Dean’s List and served as song leader and sergeant-at-arms for the Beta Beta men’s social club. As a student, Guymon worked as a summer counselor at Kanakuk Kamp. He is a graduate assistant for Tiger Football at Ouachita. 

North Little Rock
James Renshaw, 22, a business administration/management major, graduated from Baptist Preparatory School in Little Rock. He was a life group leader and Refuge speaker at Ouachita, where he was a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation. He served as chaplain and historian of Beta Beta men’s social club and on the leadership team of the Monticello Children’s Home. While he was a student, Renshaw worked as a men’s youth intern at Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. He plans to pursue a career in pastoral ministry. 

North Little Rock
Kayla Whittington, 22, is a chemistry, biology and Spanish triple major and a graduate of North Little Rock High School. She was selected Outstanding Senior Woman and was one of two students named Outstanding Graduate in Chemistry at Ouachita. A Blue Ribbon Finisher in the Carl Goodson Honors Program, Whittington was a Mondy-Provine Scholar and received the Mrs. J.R. Grant Endowed Award as a freshman. She was a member of Alpha Chi national college honor society, the American Chemical Society, Gamma Sigma Epsilon honor society for chemistry, the Tiger Serve Day leadership team and Gamma Phi women’s social club, where she has served as panhellenic chair, chaplain and president. She has worked as a summer intern with the North Pulaski Baptist Association and conducted research during the summer through the J.D. Patterson School of Natural Sciences at Ouachita and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Whittington will attend the UAMS College of Medicine in Fall 2022, with the goal of becoming a pediatric pulmonologist. 

Searcy
Anna Roussel, 22, is a communications & media/strategic communications and political science double major and a graduate of Searcy High School. Named to the Dean’s List at Ouachita, Roussel served terms as vice president and president of the Ouachita Student Foundation and was co-editor of the Ouachitonian. She was a Midwest Model United Nations Outstanding Delegate, served as historian for the EEE women’s social club and was elected to the Homecoming Court. Roussel volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and Hot Springs KLIFE, as a Campus Ministries life group leader and as a WOW new student orientation leader. While a student, she worked at Kanakuk Kamps, was an intern to Gov. Asa Hutchinson and was a marketing intern at First Community Bank. Roussel plans to pursue a career in marketing and development or in politics. 

White Hall
Matthew Branch, 22, is a communications & media/sports media major and a graduate of White Hall High School. He was named to the President’s and Dean’s lists at Ouachita, where he was the student director and a founding member of the Ouachita Sports Digital Network. Branch received the William D. Downs Outstanding Mass Communications Graduate and Outstanding Communications Sophomore awards and was also a member of the Ouachita Student Foundation, the President’s Leadership Circle and the Varsity Diner Home Group. He volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was a broadcast intern for the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League, as well as a radio broadcaster for the Bearden High School Football Team. Branch plans to pursue a career in sports broadcasting at the professional or collegiate level. 

White Hall
Michaelyn Ferrell, 22, is a business administration/marketing and communications & media/strategic communications double major and a graduate of White Hall High School. At Ouachita, where Ferrell received the 2022 Dr. Lera Kelly Outstanding Senior in Business Administration Award, she volunteered through Tiger Serve Day, was a member of the WOW steering committee and served as president of the EEE women’s social club. Ferrell plans to join her family’s business, Hunter’s Refuge, in White Hall. 

Wynne
Cannon Fisher, 21, a nutrition & dietetics major, was a home school graduate. Fisher was named to the President’s List at Ouachita, where he was selected to conduct research with the J.D. Patterson Summer Research Program and was the only undergraduate nutrition student in Arkansas chosen to present their research at the Council on Undergraduate Research’s annual Posters on the Hill session in 2021. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, the Ouachita Student Foundation and the Cheer team; served as president of the Student Dietetic Association and Tiger Tunes director for Student Life; and was a Chi Delta women’s social club beau. Fisher volunteered through Tiger Serve Day and Meals on Wheels, and welcomed students to campus as a member of the Cheer team. While at Ouachita, he worked as a breastmilk technician at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. Fisher plans to become a clinical dietitian and a university professor. 

For the entire list and included photos, click HERE.