VOLUME 129, ISSUE 11
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SIGNAL A P U B L I CAT I O N O F O U AC H I TA BA PT I S T U N I V E R SI T Y
MARCH 25, 2021
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cover story....................................3 news................................................4-5 arts/entertainment....................6 opinions...........................................7 Sports................................................8
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SIGNAL
Caity Hatchett
Elizabeth Steely
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SPORTS EDITOR
Sara Patterson
Matthew Branch
OSDN COORDINATOR
Katie Kemp
Hannah Smith
COPY EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
Langley Leverett ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT & OPINIONS EDITOR
Dr. Jeff Root Adviser
Caroline Derby AD COORDINATOR
PHOTO EDITOR
Abby Blankenship PHOTO EDITOR
Dr. Deborah Root Adviser
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.
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Couch transitions to new country, new sport BY CAROLINE DERBY Staff Writer
On the cover: Joe Couch prepares to punt a football. He transferred to Ouachita over the winter break to be a punter for the football team. (photo by Wesley Kluck) On this page: Couch spends much of his time adapting to American football and practicing at Cliff Harris Stadium. (photo by Abby Blankenship)
Waking up in the morning to sandy beaches and sunshine was Joe Couch’s life in Australia. He spent time with his friends, went to the beach and lived in a city with millions of people. He also played Aussie Rules-- an Australian sport similar to football. The sport combines running, kicking and using a technique of hitting the ball with your fist to pass it to the next player. The object of the game is to get the ball in between your team’s posts. Just like rugby, there is lots of contact and there are no pads involved. “There are like 8-10 miles a game, so I’ve gone from running 8-10 miles a game to kicking a few times,” Couch said. Now, Couch wakes up and the weather is humid. Unfortunately, there are not any beaches, and he lives in a town with around 10,000 people. Although the only coastline in Arkadelphia is on the banks of Lake Degray and it rains quite frequently, it does have a sport that Couch loves: football. Couch moved to Arkadelphia to be a punter for the Ouachita Football team. “I do miss home,” Couch said. “I miss my mates, I’ve got family back home, my dogs, but it’s been a fair move to go to a different nation.” Couch comes from a family of athletes. His dad, Paul Couch, was a professional Aussie Rules player. His mom ran track, his sister ran track and his brother was also a professional Aussie Rules player. “My dad played AFL, which is kind of like the NFL back home, but for Aussie Rules,” Couch said. “He played for several years professionally, played in hundreds of games and he is pretty much like
a legend back home.” Couch grew up with examples of how to be driven, chase dreams, set goals and crush them. Watching his dad and siblings achieve greatness inspired him to want to work hard. His dad fostered the interest within him to play Aussie Rules, and because of that, Couch worked hard to develop his own skills, athleticism and love for the sport. Back home, Joe didn’t just play Aussie Rules. He was a coach, too. The drive and determination he possesses, among other things, led him to become interested in punting and American football. “I chose to do punting because I kept getting injured back home, and the chances of me playing professionally were slim, but I kept on chasing it, and then the coronavirus happened,” Couch said. When the world shut down due to COVID-19, so did sports across the world. Couch started looking into other options for his athletic career, education and new experiences. He had friends who come over to the United States to play football, one of whom is playing professionally. Couch began training and working with Prokick, and through them, he was connected to Jake Ford, a former Ouachita punter. From there, he was connected to Ouachita and they offered him a 3-year scholarship to obtain his degree in kinesiology while playing American football. “Jake was pretty happy to have someone from back home here,” Couch said. When comparing Aussie Rules to football, the game itself as well as its athletes are fundamentally different. Couch has had to change the way he trains and how he approaches each practice. “Since last March, I have put on 40 pounds because I have been doing more weights and running
less,” Couch said. “I am having to get used to wearing pads and a helmet because I have never done that before.” Couch has done well adapting to football and the contrast between the two sports, but he has also had to get used to a new team and new people to work with. “They [the athletes here] are a lot bigger. The ones back home are a lot leaner and are more endurancebased,” Couch said. “I appreciate the sport [of football] a lot more than I used to, and it comes from being a part of the team and actually playing the sport.” A big part of why Couch decided to take the leap and travel thousands of miles is because he wanted a new experience and a chance to become his own person. Part of Couch’s craving for a new experience is exploring the area. He’s looking forward to traveling to unique places in Arkansas, as well as the rest of the country. Couch’s brother lives in Tampa, with beaches and sunshine galore, and he plans to spend some of his summer down there. The future is bright for Couch as he pursues a professional football career, but he may also go back to his roots and coach again. He’s seen different coaching styles, but he wants to be a coach that understands the players he is working with and to get the best out of all of them. “I feel like my development as a player and as a person was inhibited by coaches,” Couch said. “I want to bring out the next youth and bring them up in the right way.” Although Couch has only been here for a part of a semester, he has felt the southern hospitality that Arkansas has to offer. He looks forward to continuing to explore America, gaining new experiences and playing football at Ouachita.
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Refuge speakers offer rest through worship BY SARA PATTERSON News Editor
Studying on quiet afternoons. Writing and revising late at night. Practicing the presentation during free time. Believe it or not, this is what being a Refuge speaker looks like for Bailey Buettner and Jack Bennington. While students see the finished product on Thursday nights at 9 p.m., that’s only a small part of Buettner and Bennington’s ministry responsibilities. Bennington, a senior Christian studies and communications major, began serving as a Refuge speaker in the fall. Although this is his second semester as a speaker, Bennington is still finding a balance between college and ministry. “As a college student, it’s a crazy life… [you’re] figuring out a lot of things,” Bennington said. “There’s just a lot going on.” Despite the busy college lives that Bennington and Buettner both lead, they make time to uphold their responsibilities as Refuge speakers. To do this well, they rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them in their preparation and presentation. Once the hard work is done and the time to deliver the sermon is just minutes away, the speakers surrender all the hours of preparation to God, trusting that He will move in the hearts of each audience member. “It’s completely in the Spirit’s control,” Buettner said. “There’s nothing I can say that’s just absolutely so powerful and life-changing. That’s what the word of God is for. That’s what the Spirit’s conviction is for.” For Buettner, a senior Christian studies major, conviction from God led her to apply to be a Refuge speaker at the end of last semester. When James Lasley, the other Refuge speaker from last semester,
Left to right: Buettner and Bennington serve together to teach students God’s word each week. (photo by Abby Blankenship)
graduated in December, Campus Ministries Directors James Taylor and Hannah Walker reached out to a few qualified students about applying to fill the position. Buettner was hesitant to apply at first, but couldn’t shake the feeling that she needed to. “I just kept thinking on it and thinking on it. For some reason I thought, ‘I don’t want to do it, but I need to apply,’” Buettner said. For Bennington, God began
changing his career trajectory years before he would become a Refuge speaker. Bennington attended Refuge as a freshman and loved hearing from the two speakers that year. At the time, he did not picture himself on that stage. Bennington was a communications major and aspiring sports journalist. To Bennington’s surprise, he felt a call from God to pursue ministry his sophomore year. “The Lord did a lot of good
things which led up to me deciding that ministry was what He was calling me to do,” Bennington said. After adding a Christian Studies major and resolving to pursue a career in ministry, Bennington became more interested in speaking at Refuge and was even given an opportunity to try it out one night. “I got an opportunity to speak at Refuge in the first semester [of my junior year] and it was a blast,” Bennington said. “Right after that
point is when I was like, ‘OK, I would love to be able to do this.’” When Bennington received the position as a senior, he could hardly believe it. Though it has been a reality for months, he says it still feels like a dream every week. Bennington and Buettner, along with Refuge worship leaders Lucie Shepherd, Stuart Sowerbutts and Riley Carson, chose “Rest” as the overarching theme for Refuge this year. “We know that the Spirit is moving and hopefully He is providing you with rest and with refuge,” Buettner said. “That’s kind of our goal, our hope.” For Bennington, serving as a Refuge speaker has both equipped him and increased his excitement for his future in ministry. God has used speaking at Refuge to affirm Bennington’s response to His call. Buettner believes that speaking at Refuge is a blessing that allows her to bless others. As a bonus, she formed new friendships with Bennington and the worship leaders as a result of their weekly meetings to prepare for Refuge. “Jack and I are friends, but we would never hang out once a week before this. We’re all just goofy and fun, so that’s been really awesome,” Buettner said. With each message, Buettner and Bennington learn more about teaching the word of God in a way that serves their audience. While it is hard work, each of them feel the blessing of this ministry and will continue to hold these memories dearly for years to come. “We’re not speaking to a certain group or a certain small part of Ouachita, but all of us can, at the end of the day, agree on the things that God is asking of us and that His word has shown to us,” Bennington said. “All of that and what it’s brought has been a blessing and something that I will remember and cherish forever.”
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National Nutrition Month event informs students about healthy habits BY ELIZABETH STEELY Sports Editor
National Nutrition Month serves as an annual nutrition education and information campaign in March. It focuses on the importance of making “informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.” Presenting the public with valuable, credible and scientificallybased nutrition information is the main goal of this annual campaign. This year’s theme was “Personalize your Plate,” educating the public about making smart food choices that they can also enjoy. The Ouachita Student Dietetic Association (SDA) along with the OBU dietetic interns, worked together to plan a campus event that focused on the importance of the campaign and educating their peers. They decided to host their event in the plaza outside the Evans Student Center. That way, students could easily attend it. “We celebrated by setting up games and activities,” SDA Vice President Cannon Fisher said. “This gave students a chance to have some fun, play games, learn about nutrition and win some prizes. I worked alongside the SDA president Madeline Steely and some of our professors to come up with a fun event that would help educate our peers. Then we got some students in our department involved to make the National Nutrition Month event the best it could be.” At the event, there were games like cornhole and dart toss that students were invited to participate in. The dart toss was called “pop for food knowledge.” When a student
hit a balloon, they got to answer a nutrition-related question. If they answered correctly, they were entered to win a variety of prizes like an Amazon gift card, OBU Bookstore gift card, a Ouachita cup and a Ouachita water bottle. Students Jessica Jennings, Sydney Delgado, Jamie Fowler and Devin Wyatt each won one of the four prizes. “Some students were better than others at hitting the darts, but everyone definitely seemed to have fun playing the game,” Madeline Steely said. “Most students who passed by participated. About half of the students got the questions right, and those who answered incorrectly seemed genuinely interested in learning more. This was really what the main goal of the event was: to educate students. I think we really succeeded at that.” The Student Dietetic Association also provided informational handouts filled with advice for smart grocery shopping to students who participated and those who passed by. Handouts included “Eating Right on a Budget,” “Shop Smart: Get the Facts on the New Food Labels” and “20 Health Tips.” The SDA hoped that the handouts would provide valuable information to students about how they can eat healthier diets and better understand what they are putting into their bodies. “Overall, I think the event went really well,” Fisher said. “We had a great turnout of students that came by to play games or drop off food for our food drive. Some students even won some prizes. I really had a blast setting up playing the games. Now we have ideas on how we can make it even better for next year.”
The Student Dietetic Associiation teams up with the dietetics interns to host an event for National Nutrition Month. This event was just one of several things that the dietetic association offered for students this month. (photo by Abby Blankenship)
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Theatre presents “Little Women,” classic feminist tale BY MADELINE MARTIN Staff Writer
Ouachita’s Department of Theatre Arts will present its spring musical “Little Women” from April 15-17 at 7:30 p.m. and April 18 at 2:30 p.m. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s semi-autobiographical novel, “Little Women” follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—as well as their beloved mother Marmee, who cares for them on her own while their father is fighting for the Union Army in the Civil War. The story spans four years and jumps back and forth in time. Set in Concord, Mass., and New York City, it mainly focuses on Jo and her aspirations of becoming a famous, successful writer. When it came to selecting the musical, director and Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Stephanie
Murry and music director Dr. Jon Secrest agreed on “Little Women” due to their love of the story. It also suits the department’s talent pool since the majority of theatre students are women. “We thought it would be a smart idea to highlight those women while still having enough opportunities for the males in the department as well,” Murry said. This production is unique because it is double cast. A double cast production features two casts that get an equal opportunity to perform the show. For “Little Women,” one cast will perform on Thursday and Saturday while the other cast will perform on Friday and Sunday. The decision to double cast the show came before COVID-19, but ended up working in the creative team’s favor. The musical calls for a small cast, making social distancing onstage easier. In an
educational theatre setting, a double cast production provides a team-building atmosphere while giving more students a chance to showcase their talents. “You have a collaborator to bounce ideas off of who is just as invested in the character development as you are,” Murry said. “I think that it’s a different experience to have a peer to have those conversations with.” Paige Price, a senior musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, and Payton Mixon, a sophomore musical theatre major from New Caney, Texas, share the role of Jo March, the second-eldest sister who is full of fire, passion and determination. For Price, Jo’s story is about the ups and downs that come with going from childhood into adulthood. “I think of ‘Little Women’ as one of the first coming-of-age stories in
modern literature,” Price said. “We see Jo grow up with her sisters, and we see them face the trials and tribulations of growing up.” Throughout the show, Jo fights against societal expectations of women in the late 1800s and paves her own way to achieving her dreams of being a successful writer. “Jo is very fiery, passionate and defiant for her time,” Mixon said. “I feel like she would be the head of the feminist movement if it happened that early.” Both Price and Mixon identify strongly with their character. Playing Jo provides them with a sense of self-confidence. “I like how powerful I feel while playing Jo,” Price said. “She has softer moments, too, but even those are powerful to be a part of because she just loves the people in her life so dearly and cares for them so deeply.”
The role of Jo is very demanding. The entire show is a vocal and physical marathon, and she only leaves the stage for four scenes. However, Mixon feels that sharing qualities with Jo makes it easier to portray her. “Jo and I are very similar,” Mixon said. “It’s not an easy role, but it feels very natural to play her because we have very similar personalities.” Overall, audiences can expect a heartwarming story about a group of sisters changing along with the world around them that features powerful music and strong, femaleled performances. Tickets for “Little Women” will be available through the JPAC box office or online at www.obu.edu/ boxoffice on Monday, March 29. Livestream tickets will also go on sale on March 29. Students are eligible for one free ticket with the presentation of their student ID.
Snyder’s uncut “Justice League” reframes fans’ opinions BY WYATT ASHLOCK Staff Writer
(“Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is rated R for violence and some language.) In a world where the age of heroes has fallen, a new threat unlike any other is coming. Clark Kent/ Superman (Henry Cavill), Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck) and Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) must form a team to stop the incoming invasion. Wayne and Prince recruit Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller), Victor Stone/ Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa). Together, they must stop Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), who is trying to collect the three mother boxes to form the “Unity.” Once the “Unity” is formed, the
world will fall and Steppenwolf’s master Darkseid (Ray Porter) will be Earth’s new leader. The age of heroes must come again if the team hopes to save the world in “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.” This film is significant to the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) history. Zack Snyder was the original director for the 2017 “Justice League” but had to step away from the project when his daughter, Autumn Snyder, passed away. Joss Whedon came in to finish the film, but disagreed with Snyder’s vision which was the ultimate demise of the original film. The movie was hated by actors and fans alike. Fisher spoke out against Warner Brothers, DC and Joss Whedon for ruining the character of Cyborg. Fans
immediately started campaigning for Warner Brothers to release the Snyder cut. When all hope seemed lost that the Snyder cut would ever release, the HBO Max streaming platform launch brought with it the confirmation of the Snyder Cut in the making. Snyder’s vision for “Justice League” is a cinematic masterpiece. The cinematography is the best that has come from the DCEU. Every scene is a visual masterpiece that will keep the audience entertained the entire time. Unlike the original, Snyder’s version fleshes out all of the characters, giving each of them a stronger story. Cyborg, The Flash and Aquaman all benefited the most from this new film. These characters received brand new stories with more character
development. This allowed the audience to understand these characters better. Steppenwolf’s CGI in the original film was laughable. While Snyder’s version is still obviously CGI, it is much more realistic than the last. Cyborg’s CGI is an improvement and looks as realistic as a half-man, half-robot can. Moreover, the score is excellent in this film. Each character’s score brings their individual scenes to life. Cavill does a perfect job at playing the Man of Steel. No matter the film, Gadot’s Wonder Woman is always spectacular. Miller brings a fresh take on The Flash, showing that even superheroes have anxiety and struggle to fit into society. Momoa does an excellent job at showing struggles
and insecurities, especially when the character itself has been lied to their entire life. Fisher’s version of Cyborg is empowering to anyone who has struggled with the cards that life has dealt them. The group as a whole develops a phenomenal chemistry, considering where they all individually started. “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is one of the greatest films to come from the DC lineup. While it is four hours long, the story is gripping; when the movie ended, I was wishing for more. This film shows that a director’s vision can either make the film fail or succeed, and that listening to what the fans want can assist in making a movie even better. “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is now available to stream exclusively on HBO Max. I rate this film a 5 out of 5 tiger paws.
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Seven adventurous activities for springtime in the Natural State BY MACKENZIE HALL Staff Writer
The grass is turning greener, daffodils are blooming, the honey bees are buzzing and the Southern humidity is beginning to make its appearance once again. Spring brings new excitement, a familiarity and hope that the summer months are just around the corner. Here are seven activities to enjoy the spring season. 1. Go floating on the Caddo River As we draw closer to April and May, floating season is upon us. Take a trip down the Caddo River, floating your cares away in a kayak, canoe or inner tube. For rentals, visit Caddo River Rats Kayak and Tube Rental in Caddo Valley or schedule an appointment at the CRAG by calling (870) 245-5268 or emailing seatons@obu.edu. 2. Hike and camp in the Ouachita National Forest For a quick weekend getaway, gather up your friends and take the hour and a half roadtrip to pitch a tent in the Ouachita National Forest. Eagle Rock Loop, a 26.8 mile trail, is a two- to three-day backpacking excursion that follows various streams and rivers. For a shorter trek, consider the six-mile Little Missouri Trail. Post-hike, cool off in the rolling waterfalls at Little Missouri Falls. 3. Visit the Little Rock Zoo A great activity to enjoy the spring weather is to go look at animals. Some of the animal exhibits include lions, penguins, rhinos and flamingos. After walking around the zoo, head downtown for a sweet treat at Loblolly Creamery. Try one of the ice cream shop’s new flavors such as honey lavender, cherry limeade, strawberry buttermilk or pb crunch
Tips to fight burnout, boost motivation and maintain mental health BY LANGLEY LEVERETT
Arts & Entertainment/Opinions Editor
Garvan Gardens displays 150,000 tulips during the Tulip Extravaganza event. (photo courtesy of Garven Gardens)
cup. 4. Ride horses at Degray Lake State Park Open on the weekends in April and May, guests can take a guided, one-hour horse ride around Degray Lake for $35. For more information and to schedule a reservation visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/ parks/degray-lake-resort-statepark/things-to-do. 5. Visit Daffodil Days and Tulip Extravaganza at Garvan Gardens in Hot Springs Stroll around the gardens and admire the sights and smells of spring. The grounds are blooming with hyacinths, daffodils and 150,000 tulips in radiant colors. After soaking in the sights and smells of spring, visit Kollective Coffee and Tea for an afternoon pick-me-up. Try an iced Italian Blood Orange tea. 6. Attend a painting party at The Studio on Main in Arkadelphia Every Friday and Saturday, the Studio on Main hosts painting
parties for art and painting lovers. Spots are limited, so reservations should be made through their Facebook page @thestudioonmain. arkadelphia. Social distancing and COVID-19 guidelines are followed while artists are guided through a canvas painting. 7. Walk across the Arkansas River at Two Rivers Park in Little Rock The park has a bridge over the Arkansas River for guests to cross. The paved trail also connects to Downtown Little Rock, making it great for walkers and bikers. The trail runs along the river and is covered by towering pine trees. Nearby, Rock Town River Outfitters offers kayak rentals for guests to paddle down the river. After closing your exercise ring, grab fajitas for lunch at Heights Taco & Tamale Co. Take time to soak in the last few weeks of the spring semester and enjoy moments with your friends while getting out and exploring the Natural State.
I’m in the business of being positive. After looking through my planner (and my grades), I don’t have time for a spring break, so it doesn’t matter that COVID-19 has interrupted our normal scheduled spring semester planning. That may have been sarcasm, but I am serious about the positive-business part. Although we are having another unusual semester, there are still plenty of opportunities to find rest along the way. According to the American Psychological Association, 61% of college students report that academic performance and stress are the number one causes of their anxiety. It goes without saying that finding activities or developing healthy coping mechanisms to alleviate these mental burdens are extremely important to maintaining a healthy well-being. In an effort to help, here are a few tips I find practical. 1. Accountability If you’re on a college campus, you’re probably stressed. Find a friend to confide in or create a way to collaborate. Personally, I love working out with a friend because it keeps me accountable to a routine, and it also provides a healthy outlet for unwanted anxiety. Find strength in your friends and walk together through the difficulty. 2. Daily Listing This is a simple trick, but it works wonders. Go out and buy yourself nice stationery and put it
to good use. I have a purple sticky notepad with slots for to-do’s, personal notes and markers for times of the day. Waking up and filling this sheet out, only with the day’s tasks, sets the tone for the next 12 hours. Even if I can only complete a few tasks, I get the satisfaction of crossing it off and throwing that sticky note away. 3. Do something you like While college is mainly filled with responsibilities and obligations, it should also be filled with notable memories and peaceful moments. Even if you’re drowning in papers, quizzes and projects, force yourself to do something you personally like. Whether it’s a Netflix marathon, hammocking, reading or driving around with your friends, make it a priority. Yes, those grades are important, but in order for you to do your best, you have to take care of your mental state. 4. Give yourself grace This should be the easiest one, but often it’s not. Do yourself a favor and do not talk down to yourself. I promise, there are plenty of people on this earth who will do that for you, like an unhappy boss or maybe your future in-laws. Treat yourself with respect and block out those negative thoughts; listening to your inner critic only makes you feel worse. Plus, it wastes your time. Life has looked a lot different lately, but college students are nothing if not resilient and adaptable. I hope these tips were helpful, and remember, you are not struggling alone this semester. Lean on your community and lend yourself to supporting others, too.
sports
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Head athletic trainer Ashleigh Harris checks on football player Josh Wallace during one of the scrimmages this past fall. Harris joined Ouachita’s athletics staff during the pandemic. (photo by Abby Blankenship)
Athletic training month celebrates trainers BY SAMANTHA PIPKIN Staff Writer
The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) is the professional membership association for certified athletic trainers and others who support the athletic training profession. According to NATA’s website, “National Athletic Training Month is held every March in order to spread awareness about the important work of athletic trainers. In addition to providing logos, posters, press releases, sample media alerts and PR toolkits….” NATA helps “to represent, engage and foster the continued growth and development of the
athletic training profession and athletic trainers as unique healthcare providers.” Most people do not think about the people behind the scenes of their favorite sports teams. NATA helps give recognition and support to the trainers who take care of athletes. It also gives them an opportunity to share their stories. Madison Montgomery, a senior from Cypress, Texas, is an athletic trainer for Ouachita football. “Being a trainer means being someone who can be the first responder for athletes who get injured and help them on their way back to recovery,” Montgomery said. Montgomery began her journey toward becoming a trainer in high
school and has grown in the field with her education and experience at Ouachita. “I did help in high school with the baseball, softball and soccer teams,” Montgomery said. “I lettered in this when in high school and have made great contacts for the future in the field.” Montgomery has also had the chance to help Ouachita’s head athletic trainer with a rehabilitation. “The most memorable time I’ve had here at Ouachita is getting to work more with the athletes than I got to in high school,” Montgomery said. This role means a lot to Montgomery because it provides her with a different goal to meet every time she walks into the training
room. In the past year, Ouachita hired Ashleigh Harris as its new head athletic trainer. Harris has worked for the athletics department as a trainer since 2017, but she was promoted in 2020. “My favorite part about working for OBU has been the people I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know,” Harris said. “ I remember, after my interview, feeling extremely welcome.” Harris has been working hard since sports started back up again, but she has faced some challenges. “I think the biggest challenge I’ve had thus far was transitioning from an assistant athletic trainer to the head athletic trainer, especially in the middle of a pandemic,” Har-
ris said. “It has been a wonderful experience, and I am truly blessed for the opportunity as it has made me a better clinician.” Even with the challanges that Harris has faced due to COVID-19, she continues to feel excited and grateful for her job and the future of her career. “The most exciting aspect of my career is that I am able to help student-athletes to be the best they can be and get the opportunity to watch them overcome adversity. The opportunity to watch sports daily and help people is something to get excited about,” Harris said. For more information on National Athletic Training Month, visit www.nata.org to learn more about the organization’s mission.