ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Ouachita Baptist University recently recognized students for outstanding academic, leadership and civic achievements during the 2020-2021 academic year with its annual Academic Awards Ceremony, which was held in Jones Performing Arts Center.

Harly Dearing, an accounting, finance and business administration/management triple major from Cove, Ark., was awarded Ouachita’s highest academic honor as the university’s Overall Academic Achiever. Dearing also earned top academic achiever in the Hickingbotham School of Business and was recognized as a Carl Goodson Honors Program Blue Ribbon Finisher.

Ouachita’s Senior Outstanding Man is João Pedro Rodrigues, a finance major from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Ouachita’s Senior Outstanding Woman is Eden Crow, a kinesiology & leisure studies/teaching and education double major from Texarkana, Ark. The Senior Outstanding Man and Woman are selected by Ouachita’s faculty and staff. Rodrigues also was recognized as a Carl Goodson Honors Program Blue Ribbon Finisher.

Other top academic achievers in each school include:

• Pruet School of Christian Studies – Laura Beth Warner, a Christian studies/Christian ministries major from Benton, Ark.

• Huckabee School of Education – Emily Koonce, a secondary education and English double major from Wylie, Texas

• School of Fine Arts – Holli Barger, an instrumental music education major from Carrollton, Texas

• School of Humanities – Elizabeth Steely, a communications & media/multimedia journalism major from Conway, Ark.

• J.D. Patterson School of Natural Sciences – Emme Edmondson, a biology major from Benton, Ark.

• W.H. Sutton School of Social Sciences – Taryn Bewley, a political science and psychology double major from Conway, Ark.

The Mrs. J.R. Grant Endowed Awards for freshman and senior female students were given to Anna Kate Velasquez and Bailey Buettner, respectively. Velasquez is a Christian studies major from Pearland, Texas. Buettner is a psychology and Christian studies/Christian missions double major from Garland, Texas.

The Mrs. Betty Oliver Grant Endowed Awards for sophomore and junior female students were given to Dayja James and Madison Williamson, respectively. James is a biology major from McGehee, Ark. Williamson is a communication sciences & disorders major from Magnolia, Ark.

The Most Inspirational Professor Award was presented to Dr. Scott Duvall, J.C. and Mae Fuller Professor of Biblical Studies.

João Pedro Rodrigues (left), Eden Crow (middle) and Harly Dearing (right)