OBU Blogabout

Today is Ouachita's 124th Birthday. OBU has asked all OBU alumni and current students who blog to share their OBU stories (favorite memory, how you ended up at OBU, etc.) on Ouachita’s Founder’s Day this year. Then encourage your readers who are alumni to do the same or share their story in the comments section of your blog. So here it goes.....

I am not really sure how I should start. It is really hard for me to pick out even a handful of memories or experiences at OBU because I have always been apart of OBU and OBU has always been a part of me. Almost everyone in my family has attended or are attending OBU (grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles). Not only has family attended/attend OBU but I also have family who work for OBU.
Me and The Tiger (my cousin)

I practically spent my whole childhood on OBU's campus. As a kid I rode my bike around the campus, ran through every hall, stuck my gum on the gum tree, played freeze tag on the concrete slant at OBUs football field, played on the OBU tail-less tiger, checked out books at the library with help from J.B. Petty, played in the ravine where the "beast" resides, attending EVERY tiger tune show, spent many afternoons in the print shop playing with Mikes hamster Ink, and even danced alongside the cheerleaders as they danced to O-U-A-C-H-I-T-A!!


When I reached the age that it was time to think about college, I was not so excited about OBU has I had always been as a kid. Having spent so many years living in Arkadelphia had me anxious to get out! When the time came... I chose Vermont. Far away- it sounded perfect!!! After a year in vermont (which really was a great experience) I returned to OBU. I had planned to only attend for a semester and then transfer to another school. After attending for a semester, I found that OBU connection that I once had as a child. I had found myself again- running through the halls (late to class), riding my bike through campus, sticking my gum on the gum tree, sitting on the hill watching football, taking pictures next to the tail-less tiger, checking out books from the library, telling stories of the "beast" that lives in the ravine, performing in tiger tunes, visiting Mike in the print shop when I picked up papers for a professor (my mom), and still knowing EVERY move to the O-U-A-C-H-I-T-A song!!
With the Rho Sigs:
Saloon night:
My best friends today are the friends I made at OBU. They are by far the most amazing people and I am truly lucky to have such great memories with them (which we are still making)!! I did however marry a guy from across the street (but its ok... he did work for OBU in the summer;p)I graduated from OBU in May 2007 with a Bachelors Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. I went to Missouri State University for my Masters where I studied under an OBU alumni Julie Masterson and worked in the Library as a graduate assistant under J.B. Petty :) -Its a small world!
2007 Graduation:
OBU has always been a beautiful campus but I have seen OBU transform over the past 25 years into an even more magnificent place. Thank You OBU for playing such a huge role in my life. I will continue to support and love all you have given me!!!

Last years Homecoming (Becker absent from photos):
Nan, Brooke, me, annie, and Carol
Brooke, me, and Annie before Tiger toons


~emilee