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SUMMER OF SUMMER
Student Life

OPPORTUNITY
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Ouachita students typically didn’t take the their guards down throughout the week, which
summer as time off. Instead, most took it as a really allowed us to totally invest in each other,” Mikala Wooley, sophomore
time to learn about life and experience adven- Weatherford said. “Camp taught me so much PHOTO MIKALA WOOLEY
tures. about showing others love and always striving to
Luke Jamison, a junior biology major from be joyful.”
Benton, coached the swim team he used to com- Meredith Ellis, a junior accounting major from
pete on in his hometown. Southlake, Texas, was able to cross the country
“I swam on the team from ages 9-18 and was from Texas to Virginia to serve as an accounting
asked to coach after. I love coaching, especially intern with the Evangelical Council for Financial
something I’m so passionate about. Swimming Accountability (ECFA), a nonprofit accredita-
is such a hard sport and at this point in my life, tion organization for evangelical nonprofits and
I would rather be coaching than actually swim- churches.
ming. I like being on the other side of things,” “Every year, member nonprofits and churches
Jamison said. “When the swimmers dropped have to send their financial statements so we
time or had a good swim, they always came up can make sure they are continuing to comply
to me smiling because they knew how proud I with the ECFA’s strict standards. I got to review
was of them. All of their hard work pays off.” hundreds of financial statements from some
Lainey Weatherford, a junior biology major of the biggest nonprofits in the nation such as
from Hot Springs, served on the Sky Ranch Compassion International, Joyce Myer Ministries, Haley Wilkerson, junior
camp staff. Weatherford served in Texas for 13 Proverbs 31 Ministries and many of the camps PHOTO HALEY WILKERSON
weeks and in Colorado for one week. Ouachita students work at each summer,” Ellis
“I got the opportunity to volunteer at the Sky said.
Ranch Ute Trail Camp in Colorado. I was asked Ellis gained valuable accounting experiences
to serve in a leadership position this summer by to aid her in future upper level accounting

Junior Emily Long

the activities directors. That one week of camp
was so much different than a normal camp expe-
rience because the parents came with the kids
classes, and built meaningful relationships with
her coworkers. She encouraged all students to
take opportunities and utilize them to their full-
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poses with her and they did everything as a family,” Weather- est potential. “I’ve visited Haiti on mission trips the
Japanese friends ford said. “We were able to become part of the “I am so glad I got out of my comfort zone past four years where I’ve worked with
her last night in the families instead of just a staff member who was and decided to live in a town I had never heard
country as a summer there to only facilitate everything for them.” of over the summer. It was seriously the best orphanages and churches throughout
missionary. The girls The families attending the Sky Ranch camp adventure of my life,” Ellis said. “There were the villages. I have experienced
spent the evening were all from a military background. times when I was lonely and wanted to go home, first-hand how our God is not just in
at the Nagoya Port “They came to camp really standoffish but looking back on it, I just want to go back
Festival enjoying food because they didn’t understand why someone right now.” Arkansas, but around the world.”
and fireworks. would let them come to camp for free and not by Abbey Little Marcus Rutherford, junior, Jake Briggs, senior TAYLOR DOOLY, SOPHOMORE
PHOTO EMILY LONG ask anything in return. They transformed and let PHOTO MARCUS RUTHERFORD

Junior Meredith Tri Chi members

Ellis overlooks the pose together at
Shenandoah Valley the end of Sky
in Virginia near Ranch staff training.
Winchester. Ellis All camp staffers
interned in Virginia were able to come
and was able to together for a
sightsee and travel banquet before
across the state to they welcomed the
various places on the campers.
weekends. PHOTO LAINEY
PHOTO MEREDITH ELLIS WEATHERFORD

Job No.: 031504 Page No. 8 Job No.: 031504 Page No. 9
School Name: Ouachita Baptist University School Name: Ouachita Baptist University

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