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Robinson received a prestigious $25,000 Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Foundation. As a registered dietitian, Robinson hopes to provide resources for minority communities, where diabetes has a severe impact. (photo by Abby Blankenship)

Robinson receives dietetics scholarship

BY MACKENZIE HALL

News Editor

Latina Robinson of North Little Rock, Ark., a Dietetic Internship graduate student at Ouachita, is one of two recipients of a $25,000 Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Foundation.

The scholarship was established to advance inclusion, diversity, equity and access for dietetics students to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the field. The $25,000 scholarship is for the 2021-2022 academic year to support students as they pursue dietetic careers.

“I was delighted and appreciative to receive the AND Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship. I honestly could not believe that they chose to select me out of all the other applicants in the nation. What a blessing,” Robinson said. “It is amazing to know that AND believes in me and what I intend to do within my community.”

Robinson feels that the professors at Ouachita value her as a student. She enjoys the support and hands-on nature of the program.

“I knew Ouachita’s Dietetic Internship program would teach me the necessary competencies to help develop a confident disposition,” Robinson said. “I love the program’s community concentration and public health aspect, which fully embodies my core value of becoming a registered dietitian.”

Robinson hopes to continue pursuing her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Ouachita and become a registered dietitian to provide resources and care for minority communities, where the prevalence of diabetes has a severe impact.

“My vision is to provide the public with the right tools and resources to prevent the disease within minority groups,” Robinson said, adding that she wants to “inspire and motivate minorities in the nation into defeating this dreadful disease.”

After losing a loved one to type two diabetes, Robinson knew she wanted to continue fighting and educating on the disease.

“During the last couple months of my grandmother’s life, I witnessed her complication’s hardship,” Robinson said. “I ultimately realized the increased risk of these complications within the African American population.”

“Latina is an excellent student in our Dietetic Internship. She aspires to own her own business and work in a rural setting with people who have been impacted by diabetes,” Holly Kyzer, instructor and director of the Dietetic Internship program at Ouachita, said. “She has a big heart and wants to give back to her community. I expect great things from Latina.”

After completing her master’s degree and gaining experience as a registered dietitian, Robinson hopes to establish a diabetes clinic and wellness center.

NEWS

WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 5 Social clubs to host rush week School of music presents

BY JULIA SHANDS

Staff Writer

With the first semester of the school year coming to a close, social clubs and freshmen are preparing for rush week, which takes place the first week of the spring semester. Last year, rush took on an online hybrid form due to COVID. Clubs are excited to return to an in-person rush process this year.

Josie Pringle, panhellenic co-president, confirms that rush will look how it has in the past apart from a new rule that will only benefit rushees.

“Rush will proceed as normal, with girls attending short parties each night, starting on Tuesday and ending on Friday, and bid day will be held on Saturday,” Pringle said. “My favorite change we have made this year is loosening our dress code rules. We want rushees to feel completely comfortable and confident in the outfits they choose to wear, so we have decided to forgo the requirement of neutrals only. Rushees can now wear any color clothing to the rush parties.”

Although rushing can be a stressful experience, panhellenic hopes that the week will foster new friendships.

“Rushees should expect to have fun and to get to know all kinds of people on campus,” Emily Tarr, panhellenic co-president, said. “One of the best parts of rush is the connections that you can make. One week could end up bringing you an unexpected friendship.”

Rushees should look forward to participating in an exciting, memorable week where they will learn more about the social clubs and, ultimately, decide if they would like to take part in a brotherhood or sisterhood.

“The week consists of attending four nights of short parties alongside other girls within their rush groups,” Pringle said. “These

Top: Panhellenic co-presidents Josie Pringle and Emily Tarr give a presentation at the women’s rush interest meeting in November. Rushees can go to panhellenic with questions about rush. Bottom: Junior Alex Henry talks with rushees at the interest meeting. Current members and rushees alike make new friends during rush week. (photos by Coleman Callan)

parties allow rushees to meet club members, learn about joining a social club and think about if they want to join.”

Every student involved in a club has participated in the rush process. Therefore, members understand what rushees are experiencing and are happy to share wisdom from what they have learned along the way.

“Go into the week with an open mind,” Thomas Harrington, president of Eta Alpha Omega said. “Take this chance to really get to know the upperclassmen and see which club is the right fit for you. The main thing is just to enjoy the week and all the memories that you will make during it.”

Lydia Dean, Chi Mu co-rush chair, hopes participants know that their identity is found in Christ.

“Rush is what you make of it,” Dean said. “Whether you put pressure on getting the club you want is ultimately up to you so have fun, be mindful and give your heart to the Lord because He is our ultimate source of love and care.”

annual Christmas service

BY SARA PATTERSON

Editor-In-Chief

The Division of Music presented A Service of Lessons and Carols on Monday, Dec. 6. The service was open to the public and involved a variety of Ouachita faculty, staff and students.

A Service of Lessons and Carols has been a tradition at Ouachita for over twenty years. The program includes Scripture readings related to the birth of Jesus, as well as carols sung by both the performers and the audience.

Student scripture readers for this year’s service were Emily White, senior graphic design major; Nicholas Harrington, senior studio art and history double major; and Erica Dixon, senior graphic design major.

The three students are currently enrolled in the senior Fine Arts Seminar class taught by Dr. Gary Gerber, dean of Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts. Gerber asked the students to read at the service and each of them were excited by the opportunity.

“I presented for Dr. Gerber’s class. A couple of weeks later, he pulled me aside and asked me to read scripture since I’m able to project well. There are no microphones at the service,” White said.

Faculty and staff Scripture readers included Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita president; Dr. Jeremy Greer, dean of the Pruet School of Christian Studies; Carrie Sharp, assistant professor of education; Larry Grayson, instructor of music and director of the Worship Arts Program; Dr. Lewis Shepherd, vice president for community and intercultural engagement; and Dr. Stan Poole, vice president for academic affairs.

The Ouachita Singers, Women’s Chorus and Ouachita Brass Ensemble led the audience in carols. Dr. Joshua Brown, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities, conducted Ouachita Singers and Dr. Mary Chung, associate professor of music, accompanied. Dr. Natilan Crutcher, visiting assistant professor of music, conducted Women’s Chorus and Kristen La Madrid, Ouachita staff accompanist, accompanied this group. Jim Lloyd, instructor of music and athletic band director, conducted the Ouachita Brass Ensemble.

These groups led the audience in carols of “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World” and “Angels From the Realms of Glory.”

The event provided a reminder of the impact of Jesus’ birth for both those in the audience and those who helped lead the event.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to read scripture and sing praises that reflect the coming and life of Jesus. The choirs sang beautifully and I was grateful to read the Word of God alongside Ouachita faculty that I look up to,” Dixon said.

With students ending the residential semester at Thanksgiving break and finishing the fall semester remotely due to COVID restrictions last year, the service has not happened since December of 2019. The return of this important holiday tradition meant much to students like Dixon.

“I really enjoyed the traditional feel of the program. Dr. Gerber recounted the history of Lessons and Carols and it began in the 1880s in England. Ouachita began its program in 1997 and last year was the first time it has ever not happened,” Dixon said. “Knowing it was a returning step to our Ouachita traditions made the experience even more sentimental.”