OBU alum to be honored at benefit
ARKADELPHIA — Mary Pat Cook Anthony, a longtime educator who holds two degrees from Ouachita Baptist University, will be honored by her alma mater at Ouachita’s eighth annual Stepping Up for Ouachita luncheon.
The event, which helps fund scholarships for female students at Ouachita, will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Benton Event Center in Benton.
“We are so proud to honor Mary Pat Anthony this year at Stepping Up for Ouachita,” said Terry Peeples, vice president for development. “Mary Pat is one of Ouachita’s best. She is a talented musician and educator and a wonderful representative for her alma mater. Everyone needs to know this talented and dedicated lady.”
“I am honored and flattered to be chosen as the honoree for this year’s Stepping Up for Ouachita fundraiser,” Anthony said. “I was blessed to attend such a special place. I love the fact that this event raises money to help other young women have the same life-changing experience I had at Ouachita.”
Anthony graduated from El Dorado High School in 1981 and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education from Ouachita. A lifelong resident of El Dorado, she has been a fourth-grade teacher at Hugh Goodwin Academy for the Arts, director of education at South Arkansas Community College, and first-grade teacher and fine arts coordinator at Southside Elementary School.
Her education career ended in 2012 after 26 years. She was also a fitness and swimming instructor.
Anthony has served since 2013 as a member of Ouachita’s Board of Trustees, including serving as secretary. She was honored in 2015 as a Ouachita Alumni Milestone Award recipient. She also has served on the South Arkansas Arts Center board of directors, South Arkansas Regional Health Center board of directors, South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra soloist, Sing for the Cure director and producer and Arkansas Girls State music director.
She was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award for El Dorado Public Schools, International Reading Association/
Arkansas Reading Association Promotion of Literacy Award, Outstanding Faculty Member of South Arkansas Community College and National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Community College Leadership Program Excellence Award.
She and her husband, Aubra Anthony Jr., live in El Dorado. She is a member of First Baptist Church, where she has been involved in the Celebration Choir, Celebration Orchestra and Handbell Choir as well as directing the children’s choir, VBS preschool music, nursery and mothers’ day out program.