Ouachita to hold outdoor spring commencement

O uachita Baptist University will begin a new campus tradition with this week’s outdoor spring commencement.

The 2008 commencement service will be held Saturday, May 10 at 9:30 a.m., on the lawn in front of Cone-Bottoms Hall. A reception in the center of campus will be held immediately following the ceremony.

“Those involved in the ceremony have been working very hard and are excited about the change and the new traditions that will start with this commencement,” said Judy Jones, Ouachita’s registrar and director of admissions. “How special that the grads will all walk down the ‘senior sidewalk’ as they approach the commencement ceremony.”

Ouachita President Rex M. Horne, Jr., proposed the new tradition after attending an outdoor graduation ceremony elsewhere. The lawn of Cone-Bottoms was chosen because the location will provide all of the guests a good view of the ceremony and because it is considered one of the most beautiful areas of campus.

“I am excited about this year’s class beginning a new tradition with graduation being held in front of Cone-Bottoms,” Horne noted. “The ceremony will be enhanced by the beauty of the campus and by being in the center of our academic buildings.”

Those unable to attend the ceremony can watch a live Internet broadcast, or watch a recording of the ceremony posted on Ouachita’s website. Please visit www.obu.edu/broadcast for the webcast.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in OBU’s Sturgis Physical Education Center.