Volume 131, Issue 8: February 16, 2023

the

S GNAL

Valeria Gomez

Emilee Webb

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Ouachita Baptist University

Office: Evans Student Center

Email: signal@obu.edu

Phone: (870) 245-5210

The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published twice a month on Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters when school is in session. The newspaper is distributed free of charge; 1,200 copies are placed in more than 20 locations across campus.

Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or university. The Signal is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press and is printed by the Nashville Leader.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Letters to the editor are encouraged and accepted, unless libelous, irresponsible or obscene. Letters should be typed and include a signature and contact phone number, and must be less than 500 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and style. Letters should be sent via campus mail to Box 3761 or via email to signal@obu.edu.

Roots named Ouachita’s most iconic love story

BY JULIA SHANDS

Editor-in-Chief

It was 1980. He was a sophomore, and she was a senior. They first met in the old communications building known as Flenniken Hall, but it wasn’t until a 12-hour drive that Ouachita’s most iconic love story began.

Dr. Deborah Root, professor of communications and director of assessment and institutional research, was editor of the Ouachitonian while Dr. Jeff Root, professor of communications and dean of the School of Humanities and School of Education, was editor of the Signal newspaper. The two spent a copious amount of time together in the newsroom, and before they knew it, they became a match made in AP style heaven and the future dynamic duo for Ouachita’s communications department.

Deborah made the first move. 19-year-old Jeff had the night shift driving the 15-passenger van with several other students to attend a workshop led by Dr. Bill Downs, professor emeritus of communications, in Chicago, Illinois. Deborah felt like he shouldn’t do the night shift alone and sat beside him in the passenger seat.

“We talked all the way to Chicago, so that’s really how we got to know each other,” Jeff said. “I thought maybe that meant she had some interest in me. Later on, I thought, ‘You know, maybe she just thought I’d fall asleep and kill everybody.’ Not sure which one of those it was, but that was how we began to get to know each other.”

After interest was sparked in both of them, they went on their first date in Mitchell Auditorium, where Jones Science Center now stands. Every Sunday, Mitchell would show a movie, so Jeff asked Deborah to go see “Gone with the Wind.” The movie was three hours

and 42 minutes long, and they spent it sitting in foldable wooden chairs. And in true journalist fashion, when the date was over, they went back to the newsroom to meet a deadline.

“Those were wooden chairs that we were sitting in with no cushions, so I wasn’t very comfortable,” Jeff said. “It was a long time to sit in those chairs. But, you know, it was worth it.”

working together,” Jeff said. “And the reason that it kind of fits for us is that we’ve really never stopped working together. Now, we haven’t always had a job in the same place, but we went to grad school and had classes together, and since we got back here, we have been working together every day from that point on.”

creating an unspoken competition between the two.

Deborah added, “And when Mitchell was torn down, we got the same row of seats where we had our first date, so they’re in our house.”

When Jeff served as editor, he didn’t have the privileges of today’s printing process. He had to physically build the pages by pasting them with wax and piecing them together on a light board. Because it was such a meticulous task, Jeff needed another set of eyes, which led to the beginning of Jeff and Deborah’s long career together.

“We just spent a lot of time

Jeff and Deborah got married in 1982. Jeff was a senior, and Deborah was one year out of school. “I didn’t expect to get married while I was a student,” Jeff said. But when I met Deborah, I mean, everything was just clear to both of us. I think that this was, you know, for life. It was just meant to be.”

Following a year in Fayetteville, Ark., the couple returned to Arkadelphia where Jeff taught at Arkadelphia high school, and Deborah began her career at Ouachita. After five years, it just made sense that they pursue their doctorate with one another at Oklahoma State University. They had one computer but two dissertations to write,

“We would not openly say we were competitive,” Jeff said. “But it was one of those deals where we worked in four-hour shifts, and I think we got through considerably faster this way because if she was going to spend four hours on her dissertation, and then the computer is available, well OK, I’m going to spend four hours on mine.”

98.’ And I said, ‘Well, Jeff made 100, and I got a 98, and nothing’s wrong.’ Then he took my blue book, and he opened it up, and in the back where he put a 98, he put, ‘Plus two points to maintain marital harmony.’”

They finished up their doctorates and knew they wanted to teach at a Christian university. Ironically, they got offers from Oklahoma Baptist, which many Ouachita students would call “the other OBU.” But, their hearts yearned for home. Jeff was hired as Ouachita’s public relations director, and Deborah was hired as the director of publications.

“We had the chance to come back to Ouachita, and it was just a dream come true,” Jeff said. “Not only to work together in the same department, but to be here. So once we got here in 1991, we’ve never looked seriously into going anywhere else. This is where we want to be, and you can have a calling to be an educator, you can have a calling to be in Christian education, but I feel specifically my calling is Ouachita.”

Even their doctoral professors knew that the pair had a friendly rivalry. Two academic overachievers can make for a dangerous household, and one professor in particular wittingly applied pressure to their already competitive nature with a blue book test.

“Jeff made a 100, and I made a 98, and there wasn’t anything marked wrong on my exam,” Deborah said. “I went up to the professor after class, and I said, ‘You didn’t mark anything wrong?’ He said, ‘No, that was great.’ I said, ‘But you gave me a 98.’ He said, ‘Yeah, I just wanted to give you a

Jeff has been at Ouachita for 32 years and Deborah for 36. This past summer, they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Throughout this time, they’ve had a daughter, Abby, who met her husband Stephen at Ouachita, they’ve taken on multiple roles at the university, fostered meaningful relationships with students, welcomed a grandchild and have ultimately seen great success as educators. The best part is that they’ve done it together. The Root name has made a long-lasting impact on the School of Humanities.

“The things that we do, we just have always just done together,” Deborah said. “I mean, it’s like wanting to do something with your best friend, and he’s my best friend. We have always done it all together, and we always will.”

Jeff Root works as editor-in-chief of the Signal newspaper and Deborah Root, once editor of the Ouachitonian, serves as his right-hand person while putting together the next issue of the paper. The two graduated from Ouachita, got married, found their way back to OBU and became prominent figures in the communications department. (photo by Ken Shaddox)

Shourd wins Miss OBU title, looks toward year of service

BY SYDNI WHITFIELD Staff Writer

There is so much more to the Miss Arkansas Organization than what initially meets the eye. It provides young women with more than just the opportunity to perform on stage, but also a chance to promote a social impact initiative, volunteer for a cause, earn scholarships and practice answering difficult questions with poise and grace. The highly anticipated annual Miss Ouachita Baptist University pageant competition was held on Saturday, Feb. 4. Four girls competed for the title: freshmen Cali Rose Mendonca, Abigail Grace Wood, Savannah Mae Carrigan and sophomore Haley Shourd. Each contestant competed in onstage interview and social impact statement, talent and evening wear. Miss Arkansas 1994 and previous Miss OBU titleholder, Dr. Beth Anne Rankin, emceed the event.

The entertainment was not limited to just the competitors. Current titleholders of other scholarship competitions who attend Ouachita also had the opportunity to shine and show their school pride. A variety of entertainment was performed by titleholders junior Bel Butler, freshman Katy Beth Dunn, sophomore Kensley Flynn and junior Bailey Gibson.

The judges had a hard decision to make based on not only the onstage performances seen by the audience, but also by a private interview witnessed only by the judges. Wood was named first runner-up with an $800 scholarship and Shourd was crowned the new Miss OBU, receiving a $1000 scholarship from Ouachita Baptist University and a $1250 scholarship from the Miss OBU board of directors.

Shourd was showered with love

OBU Grant Center to host IFF 2023

BY EMMA DONLEY Staff Writer

One hundred years ago, Ouachita welcomed Charles Pong, an international student from China, onto the campus and began a legacy of inviting students from around the world to participate in a Christian education. This year, the annual International Food Festival will be a chance for the entire campus to get together and celebrate that legacy.

and excitement from classmates, school faculty and previous titleholders as she was crowned.

“It was a shock for me to have my dream become a reality,”

Shourd said “I always wanted to represent Ouachita. When I first came here, I had Caroline Derby as my WOW leader. I saw how well she led, and it made me realize how much this title meant.”

For many years, Shourd has observed the women who have held the title of Miss OBU. “I know and have witnessed several of the former Miss OBU titleholders like Tiffany Lee, Caroline Derby and Kaelin Clay who have had this title and graced it so well,” Shourd said. “I am so honored to be a part of this community of women. They are such a light with their joy, and they reflect Christ in the way that they live and do things at Ouachita. That is something I hope to do with this role as well.”

Shourd’s job does not just start when she walks on the Miss Arkansas stage in June. She will be representing the school every day, and she seeks to make an impact starting on campus.

“I believe I am a very personable person,” Shourd said. “With

this title, I feel like I will be able to start up more conversations. My platform is Champions for Childhood Cancer Awareness. There are several ways on campus where I hope I will be able to get people connected, so they can make an impact with my platform.”

Shourd added, “I have already gotten an overwhelming amount of love and support. To me, it is the coolest thing to feel acknowledged by your classmates. It will be so rewarding to have people actually see the work I am doing for my platform and understand what it is all about.”

Along with promoting her platform, she seeks to also be a light for students. “I hope to be open for anyone to communicate with and be a welcoming presence,” Shourd said. “As a freshman, I always tried to be open to new people and speak to anyone I passed. Now, with this role, it opens the doors, so I can speak to everyone and show what Ouachita is all about.”

Shourd will compete in Miss Arkansas this summer. Shourd notes, “Even at state, there is a ‘Ouachita difference.’ I truly can’t wait to be the ‘Ouachita difference’ everyone notices this summer.”

Ouachita’s IFF is a yearly event hosted by the Grant Center for International Education where students and faculty get the opportunity to cook and share dishes from around the world with the student body. This event will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 5:30 p.m.

Jason Greenwich, director of the Grant Center for International Education, explains the importance of IFF.

“One day a year, it highlights our international program,” Greenwich said. “That means a lot not only to the Grant Center for International Education but more importantly, it means a lot to our international and third culture students.”

Nineteen students have been hand selected to lead this event and organize the different dishes. Students coordinate contributions from fellow students, faculty and staff, Sodexo and restaurants to ensure a great experience for all. They have been preparing since December for this event. Yu Chan Jeong, a junior from Indonesia, and Maria Urbina, a senior from Honduras are the student directors this year.

Urbina explains how the International Food Festival makes international and third culture students feel welcome on campus.

“IFF is like OBU saying they appreciate us,” Urbina said. “It’s like

them saying, ‘We are willing to get out of our comfort zone and try food that we have never even heard of just because we love you, and we appreciate you being here.’”

Urbina places a great emphasis on the power of food and what it means to her and her culture.

“For me, that’s how I show love,” Urbina said. “I love it when people are open-minded and want to try my food.”

This year, the theme of the event, Celebrating One Hundred Years of International Education, is at the forefront of the minds of those involved. “One hundred years is a big accomplishment,” Jeong said. “ I feel a sense of pride that Ouachita cares about internationals and wants us to be here.”

Isabella Bejarano, a junior from Columbia, shares why she believes students should come to IFF. “A lot of people have never gone out of their state or country,” Bejarano said.“Being able to travel the world in one day by trying these foods is a way that we also want to serve our campus.” She added, “The best way to make international students feel loved and appreciated is by coming and supporting them.”

Aksa Mathew, a freshman from Kuwait, will be making Chicken Biriyani from India, where her family is from, and is excited to share her dish this Tuesday.

“We are sharing our memories and our culture with others,” Mathew said. “We are sharing our home.”

There are typically around 50 dishes served at IFF, and the price of admission is $5. “I could not be more encouraging of students just to come,” Greenwich said. “Why would you miss out on an opportunity like this? The world has come to you at Ouachita. It’s the most they’re going to get for $5.”

Haley Shourd holds several awards after being crowned Miss OBU 2023. Shourd won the title on Feb. 4 and will compete in Miss Arkansas. (photo by Sarah Dean)

Students and faculty travel to Lanier Theological Library in Houston, Texas

BY CAMRYN MANNING Staff Writer

Professors Dr. Jeremy Greer, Dr. Scott Duvall and Dr. Matt Douglass brought students to Lanier Theological Library in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 11 for a day of worshipful study.

The library houses various original collections of notable scholars and artifacts, including the Lanier Dead Sea Scroll Fragment.

Junior Karli Latture didn’t hesitate to join the trip. “It was a no-brainer,” Latture said. “A weekend off campus in a beautiful library filled with resources of all kinds was nothing short of intriguing.”

Junior Katelyn Brown is native to Houston and loved the opportunity. “I got to experience one

of my favorite places back home with some of my favorite people,” Brown said.

The picturesque location captured the hearts of the students. “I think one of my favorite memories has to be when we approached the library,” Latture said. “It was as if we were all transported somewhere else, like something out of a movie.”

Senior Levi Dade appreciated that much of Lanier’s decor had theological significance.

“In essence, it was [the class] Bible Survey in an art form,” Dade said. “Someone who could not read could follow the art and get the basic message of the Bible, thus the basic message of salvation.”

Most of the day at the library consisted of study. “I got to learn about projects being worked on, whether

they were lessons for class, essays or theses,” Brown said. “I loved having these conversations. It was fun to work alongside students and professors who care as much as I do about pursuing academic excellence for the glory of Christ.”

Many students enjoyed the studious environment at Lanier, including junior Grace Googe.

“I saved up some projects for this trip because of the library’s aesthetic atmosphere,” Googe said. “We had a different work environment from Ouachita. That alone was beneficial, whether you were a Christian studies major or not. I got to sit by the fireplace and read part of a counseling book about integrating faith in the therapy room. It was neat to study in that environment for sure.”

At the day’s end, the group met

in the chapel for prayer and sang together. “Marveling at the captivating biblical murals and singing the Doxology, there was a worshipful moment I’m grateful we experienced together,” Brown said.

Dade appreciated the community of the group. “Even though Lanier is a very special place, this trip was memorable for me because of the people I was with, my OBU family,” Dade said. “It would not have been the same without them. It gave me a deeper appreciation for them as well as for my relationship with Dr. Greer, Dr. Douglass and Dr. Duvall.”

Googe also enjoyed the connection formed based on the desire to learn more about theological principles. “It was significant to be doing something different I wouldn’t normally do and spending time

with people I normally don’t spend time with,” Googe said. “We were all coming with a common purpose. I really liked getting to connect with people that I don’t get to be around as much.”

There were many lessons learned on the trip. “Turning off my phone for hours at a time made me realize how much I use it,” Googe said. “I turned off my phone for six to seven hours, and I got stuff done that usually would take a week.”

Latture realized on the trip that her learning had just begun. “Often, I feel as though I don’t know where to start when it comes to theology,” Latture said. “This weekend taught me that I just have to start. I’m never going to learn all there is to learn, but I can start by taking advantage of the resources I have.”

Dr. Greer, Dr. Douglass and Dr. Duvall stand with students in the chapel at Lanier Theological Library. The group had the chance to see original works from notable scholars and artifacts. (photo by Ben Blackwell)

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT

OBU music honors Mary Shambarger

BY KATIE BAYER Staff Writer

Ouachita’s Division of Music

will be celebrating the 25th year of the Mary Shambarger competition on Tuesday, Feb. 21. This tradition was started in 1999 in honor of the late Mary Shambarger, a seasoned voice professor at OBU. Shambarger had a magnificent impact on every life she touched and established the all-female singing group, the Ouachitones, known today as the Ouachita Sounds.

“The main significance of the competition is that it’s a way to honor Mary Shambarger’s contribution to OBU and to remember her,” said Dr. Maggie Garrett, professor of music. “Also, the students have opportunities to win big prizes. The first-place winner will receive a $500 cash prize. $300 will go to the second-place winner, $100 to the third, and $50 awards are given to any honorable mentions.”

The competition is a way for music students to show off their talents to a panel of judges. This year, there will be 17 competitors from across the fine arts spectrum. The genre of the songs transitions every year between aria, art songs, and musical theater. This year, the show will be focused on arias, or a song taken from a larger work, according to Garrett.

Regretfully, Shambarger passed away in 2022, shortly after the 24th annual competition. As a way of honoring her memory, Garrett decided to organize something special. Shambarger is survived by her daughter Susan Goss and her sister Marjorie Halbert, a retired voice professor from Belmont University.

“At 7:30, we are going to have a time with her daughter and her sister…as a way to let our students

The Signal Sleuth Crossword

Complete the puzzle using clues found in this week’s edition of the Signal!

know who she was, what she was like and why we have this competition named in her honor,” Garrett said.

The competition is a rewarding time for the students, but also for the vocal instructors at Ouachita.

“Every year, I’m always amazed at how well our students do,” Garrett said. “They really bring their best to the competition, and it’s exciting to sit back and watch them and see how they’ve grown, even in the preparatory process for the competition. This year, I am very excited about our evening program with Susan Goss and Marjorie Halbert and excited for our current students to learn more about Mary Shambarger and her history, the impact that she had on the school and what this competition really means.”

Mary Shambarger was and is an Ouachita treasure, and her legacy is one that few can compete with.

Across:

3. Name of the OBU women’s basketball player who just reached 1,000 career points

4. Name of this year’s Muse Project show

7. Coach Knight just became president of this sports association

8. Last name of the couple who

met at Ouachita and now lead the communications department

9. Name of the upcoming music competition

10. Social media platform banned on several college campuses across the U.S.

Down:

1. Name of the theological library

Christian studies students visited

2. Newly crowned Miss Ouachita Baptist University

5. The Signal slogan: The heart of ________ News

6. Dean leading the Christian studies trip

11. Acronym for upcoming international event

Avery Stahl performs at the 2022 Mary Shamburger Competition presented by Ouachita’s Division of Music. (photo by Hannah Adamson)

Rundown on Huckabee’s first month

BY AUSTYNN CROCKER Staff Writer

The current Governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, was inaugurated on Jan. 10. Since her inauguration, she has caused quite a stir in the Arkansas government, already signing seven executive orders. These executive orders include banning critical race theory in schools, banning the term Latinx from important government documents and an executive order repealing former mask mandates, among others.

As the first female Governor of Arkansas, it was theorized that she would begin with a more mellow approach to the office but looking back at her past as former President Donald Trump’s Press Secretary, it is not surprising that she began her time in office with a flurry of executive orders. As Press Secretary, Sanders was unapologetically assertive in her position, which is the

type of governor Arkansas needs.

Governor Sanders has had some controversy regarding her executive orders, including banning critical race theory from schools.

“It is technically defined as an examination of systemic racism in American law and society,” Emily Washburn said, a writer for Forbes magazine. Governor Sanders has repeatedly defended this executive order, explaining, “It’s incredibly important that we do things to protect the students in our state. We have to make sure that we are not indoctrinating our kids and that these policies and these ideas never see the light of day.”

The banning of the term Latinx in all legal documents is another executive order that has sparked controversy, especially among members of the non-binary Hispanic community. Before Sanders’s order, Latinx was a term used to encompass Latina or Latino, but it was not recognized as a real

word according to Real Academia Española. Her reasoning behind passing this bill was written into the document stating, “The government has a responsibility to respect its citizens and use ethnically appropriate language, particularly when referring to ethnic minorities.” Although the non-binary community has taken offense to this order, it appears to not have been Sanders’s goal to exclude minorities, but instead to dissolve harmful language.

The Governor’s first month in office, while productive, has provoked hostility over pertinent issues. Critical race theory and the term Latinx were issues unbeknownst to most Arkansans, and while important, were not dire. Sanders has entered office with a Republican majority, where she faces little push-back from her colleagues. This has allowed her to execute almost as many orders as she can, but in her first month,

her focus should have been on bills such as her education plan, rather than the controversial topic of critical race theory. Although she has taken advantage of her majority position, the future of her term appears productive. Her education plan seeks to give teachers a mini-

mum $50,000 salary. Giving teachers a better salary will not only aid school faculty but also students who, in turn, will receive a better education. Governor Sanders places high value on education, which is a much-needed outlet for her to focus on during her time in office.

Should TikTok be banned at Ouachita?

BY KAELIN CLAY Staff Writer

The age-old argument surrounding the safety of social media has been elevated by the Chinese government’s relation to our newly beloved form of entertainment: TikTok. According to Mashable. com, TikTok’s Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, has been collecting data from the app’s users and offering the data to the Chinese government. Many Americans have learned of this subject in shock, and the question facing many government entities and college campuses is, “Should we ban the network?”

Many students at larger state universities are facing TikTok withdrawals since the app was

banned from school devices and on school WiFi, but Ouachita students are still scrolling. TikTok is now deemed a luxury for us, even though it was once commonplace for young adults across the United States.

Ouachita is a private school and has the power to make its own decision without state infringement on whether or not the app should be banned from campus. Communications Law Professor Jackson Carter chimed in with his opinion.

“From a security standpoint, the way that any of that data would be usable would be through the aggregation of millions of data points, which just means a ban on a campus of 1,500 doesn’t do anything,”

Carter said. “In order to make a difference, these sorts of bans would

have to come at the state and national level, or when thinking about colleges, from a system level.”

Carter explained that online security concerns are not solely related to TikTok. “I think it is also important to remember we are sharing the same kinds of data with lots of other organizations, and we don’t bat an eye at it,” Carter said. “All the major U.S. tech giants collect the kind of data that TikTok does, and nobody is going to realistically call for banning Facebook or Google on campus.”

Carter also shared that a campus-wide ban could potentially foster obstacles for a media-centered learning environment in Lile Hall. “From a practical learning perspective, a ban would certainly make it more difficult for [communica-

tions] students to learn,” Carter said. “I think it would mean there would be a greater emphasis on students learning outside the classroom than there already is, which can be both a good thing and an inconvenient thing.”

TikTok also curates a digital bond between students. A University of Oklahoma student, Laurel Reesing, shared a noteworthy void following the ban at her school.

“There is now a little bit of a disconnect as university-run accounts were deleted, so this makes it a little bit harder for some organizations to interact as much,” Reesing said.

Some students’ concerns outweigh the positive influence of marketing trends and creative progressiveness. Sophomore Class

President Malea Borland shares her heart on the ban.

“I think it’s best to be centered around doing what is good,” Borland said. “I would encourage students to deeply consider why certain corporations, universities and government officials have banned the app and if they truly believe that they are becoming better people by keeping it.”

The concerns are authentic, and the threat is heavy, but a question still remains: how will we advance, market and connect without the use of this digital powerhouse? Maybe Ouachita should hang on to TikTok for just a bit longer and bask in its innovative potential, but at the end of the day, students should hone their discernment in the use of any social media platform.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the governor of Arkansas. She was inaugurated in Little Rock, Ark. on Jan. 10, 2023. (photo by Will Newton / Associated Press)

Coach Knight elected AFCA president, looks to NIL deals

BY ALFONSO GOMEZ Staff Writer

Ouachita’s head football coach, Todd Knight, was named president of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) last month during their convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Knight was chosen by fellow members of the AFCA, all of which are high-level coaches in their respective conferences and divisions.

Knight began his journey with the association over 12 years ago as one of the Division II representatives on the board of trustees. The process of becoming president is a lifelong commitment, according to Knight. All board members must be appointed by their division, which is a big achievement in itself. Then they must remain on the panel year after year and wait until they have enough seniority to become a candidate for president.

Finally, other coaches turn in a vote and the decision is finalized.

At the time of Knight’s initial ascension to the AFCA board, Ouachita Athletic Director, David Sharp, said, “It’s one of those things when you are experienced, and your reputation speaks for itself, and you are of high character, people are going to look for you to serve in positions that will help in organizations like this one.”

Sharp’s words hold true today as Knight’s reputation has only grown since then, having led Ouachita football to five Division II playoffs and six GAC titles.

According to Knight, the AFCA works to guide college football for the benefit of student-athletes and coaches. They do this through their connections with the NCAA rules committee and the College Football Association. The organization is also responsible for the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision

Coaches Poll as well as the top 25 polls for Division II and Division III

Some issues Knight looks to clarify during his time as president have to do with the transfer portal and NIL deals. “There are issues with the transfer portal right now,” Knight said. “Graduation rates for athletes who transfer are too low, and we need to help fix that as an organization for the benefit of students and coaches.” He continues by commenting on the disparity with NIL deals within teams and how there should be rules put in place for revenue share.

Finally, since AFCA presidents only serve for one year before moving on from the association, Knight will look to benefit college football as much as he can. Inadvertently, Knight’s presidency could prove to be beneficial to cementing the reputation of Ouachita football as among the best in Division II.

BY KYNDALL BELL Staff Writer

During Ouachita’s women’s basketball matchup against Henderson State on Jan. 23, Makayla Miller, a senior biology major, scored big, landing 1,000 points in her career. This remarkable accomplishment has honored and shocked Miller ever since that memorable shot.

“Coming into college, I didn’t expect to reach 1,000 points,” Miller said. “It was a strange, exciting moment that I feel honored to have achieved.”

Ouachita’s current ranking in the GAC is 6th place. Putting them in a good spot ahead as they near their last couple of games before the GAC tournament March 2-5.

“This season has been a rollercoaster that is heading in the right direction,” Miller said. “We have been able to come together as a team on defense while holding some winning streaks along the way.”

Miller’s determined, tenacious attitude has driven her team this year. “My role this year has been being a leader and bringing energy to my teammates,” Miller said.

Being at Ouachita has played a crucial role in Miller’s story. “In high school, I was overlooked and under-recruited due to my height,” Miller said. “Getting the chance to play here at Ouachita has been a life-changing experience. Being able to overcome my adversities to get to where I am now, achieving 1,000 points, has shown me that if you truly want something it is possible, especially if you put in the work for it.”

Miller’s impact as a player has been electric throughout her career. Makenzie Schilmoeller, a sophomore guard, explains how Miller’s impact charges the team’s camaraderie. “Makayla creates plays and brings an energy that feeds the team. She’s more than just a player, she is our sister and friend. She’s tough and has grit along with a goofy side that keeps us all laughing,” Schilmoeller said. She added, “1,000 points in basketball is a way to recognize a player’s hard work and dedication to the game.”

As Makayla’s senior season comes to a finish. These attributes continue to make a player like Miller so remarkable to watch dominate the game.

Coach Todd Knight runs out onto the field during the Battle of the Ravine game this season. Knight took the Tigers to an 11-1 record this season, leading the team to win another Great American Conference championship. (photo by Sarah Dean)

Makayla Miller drives the ball during a home game against Arkansas Tech this season. She has led the team to a remarkable 10-11 record. (photo by Levi Dade)

Miller hits 1,000 career points, reflects on major achievement