2021-22 Student News
Kazim Faisal was named the leading rebounder in Kentucky, averaging 9.5 points and 13.4 rebounds per game.
Congratulations to OBI senior Madison Gritton, winner of a $1,000 WYMT Mountain Basketball Classic Scholarship! She and the other winners attended a ceremony and luncheon on December 6th.
Mark your calendars
Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Walker Athletic Complex
We are excited to announce that two separate donors have committed 1.5 million dollars to use toward an outdoor athletic complex at OBI. The pledge of one million dollars from Bob and Susan Walker in July, 2020, was designated for a brand new regulation track, elevated out of the flood plain. Bob Walker is a descendent of two Oneida Baptist Institute pioneers: John Henry Walker and Martha Bowling Coldiron Hogg. Bob wanted to do something to honor his grandfather, who he stated "gave his best years to Oneida." (Click the following link to the January/February 2021 issue of The Oneida Mountaineer for more information about Bob Walker's Oneida heritage.)
While plans for a new track were underway, Oneida received a visit from representatives of a family foundation interested in making a significant gift to the OBI ministry. Not knowing the plans for the track, $500,000 was offered with the stipulation that it be put toward the athletic program. This second gift opened the door for consideration of an upgrade to all of our outdoor athletic facilities.
To fully develop the athletic complex, we will need donors for each additional area. Any group or individual who provides funding for a specific area will have “naming rights.” (see chart)
Covid and 2020 was a setback, but God has a future and a hope for the Oneida ministry! If you know of a group, organization or individual who may wish to give to this project, please share this information with them!
Oneida's "50 year" Flood
Aerial photo by Tyler Gay
On March 1, 2021, the Oneida community woke up to the worst flood in this area in over 50 years, the fourth worst in Oneida's recorded history. Many households, the Town Market local gas station and new Post Office building had several feet of water in them. Some OBI storage/classroom buildings had over five feet of water. A few households were without power and water for several days. One house two blocks from the OBI campus burned down overnight.
Class of 2020 "Drive-In" Commencement Ceremony
On September 5, 2020 at 10:00 AM, OBI President Larry A. Gritton, Jr. opened the 112th Commencement Service on the Bob Halcomb/Joe Barnes Athletic field with the traditional "sounding of the gavel."
Despite being nearly four months postponed because of the pandemic, eleven happy graduates made it to the celebration. The names of all graduates and their honors were read during the ceremony. For those in attendance, Mr. Gritton read their list of activities, awards and excerpts from their personal testimonies about being a studenat OBI.
Dr. Price, our Campus Minister, delivered an inspirational message.
Erica Metzger delivered the Class of 2020 Salutatory Address.
Principal Trisha Frost pronounced the graduates.
Mr. Steve Young, Chairman of the OBI Board of Trustees, delivered the benediction and closing prayer.
Jen-Hsun Huang honored the OBI Class of 2020 with a special message for their graduation! This video was played during our live ceremony on 9/5/20. (Click to view the video on the OBI Facebook page.)
To view an album of photos from the ceremony, click here.
Jen-Hsun Huang Hall Dedication Ceremony
Mr Huang and his wife, Lori, graciously provided a matching grant of two million dollars toward this new facility. Huang Hall is 34,000 square feet and houses 32 dorm rooms with a capacity for 128 girls and 12 classrooms. 
OBI President, Mr. Larry A. Gritton, Jr. opened the Dedication Ceremony by recognizing our special guests which included Mr. and Mrs. Huang and their children, Spencer and Madison. Other guests included The Walker Company Project Managers Daniel Elswick and Keith Travis, CMW Architect Todd Ott, OBI Head of Construction Paul Filiatreau, and Oneida Elementary School Principal Roger Allen. Representing Governor Matt Bevin was Jason Neal, the Cabinet Project Manager for Economics and Business Development for the state of Kentucky. 
Mr. Huang shared many memories of his time as a young dorm resident and expressed appreciation for the lessons he learned during his short time at Oneida. 
Ruth Evrard, a junior from Haiti who has attended OBI since 2014, represented the girls' dormitory and joined the Huang family in the ribbon cutting. 
For more photos of the ceremony and tour of the building, visit the OBI Facebook page.
Here is a link to the 2012 NPR interview with Mr. Huang.
Congratulations OBI Class of 2019
Click here to view an album of Graduation Day photos on the OBI Facebook page:
Ag. Students Learn to Harvest Sap, Make Syrup
OBI middle school ag. students and the after school farm crew teamed up to learn about the ancient art of making maple syrup.
The project began on Friday afternoon, 2/8/19, when students met with their ag. teachers to identify and tap the sugar maple trees. Christa Bevil taught the students how to identify sugar maple trees, gauge the health of a tree and the proper way to place the tap. She also explained the science of how temperature change affects sap flow which is why they chose a relatively warm day for the project.
The students learned techniques for sap collection and safe storage until it can be boiled. The ag. crew built a fire pit for the "boil down." Students gathered early Saturday morning to boil and strain the 35 gallons of sap they had collected. This made about three quarts of maple syrup which they enjoyed on fresh pancakes at the ag. center!
Government Class Election Simulation
Beginning the week before Election Day, 2018, the senior government classes participated in a simulated election on campus.
Students participated in each step of a candidate's journey from nominations, fund raising and campaigning to the primary election, debate, general election and electoral college. There were a variety of incentives to keep everyone playing their roles and to limit the "popularity contest" aspect. Rules governing "campaign corruption" were also discussed.
After throwing their hats in the ring, nine candidates selected their campaign managers to assist them with advertising.
The first step was to appeal to donors, randomly assigned students from each class who had been given a certain amount "currency" to back the candidates
of their choice. The currency could be exchanged by the campaign managers for a variety of advertisement opportunities
like wall space in the classroom, a recorded video that would be shown to all classes or a hand-out (i.e. a flyer or treat).
The Advanced Placement Government students conducted a voter survey and compiled and analyzed the data. The results were shared with the candidates and campaign managers. AP Government students also assisted in setting up the voting booths for the primary and general elections as well as helping to plan the debate questions.
Voters were assigned randomly to either the Liberty or Justice party and voted in their party's primary. A debate between the two final candidates was held before the general election. Electoral college votes from each class determined the winner.
OBI Homecoming 2018
Beautiful autumn weather greeted returning alumni, staff and friends for OBI Homecoming 2018.
Click on the Facebook link to view an album of 2018 Homecoming pictures.
July 20, 2017 Dedication & Groundbreaking Ceremony
The groundbreaking for Huang Hall (future girls' dormitory and classroom building) and dedication for Carnahan-Daugherty Hall was held on the OBI campus on July 20, 2017. Those who attended were invited to tour the dormitory floors of Carnahan-Daugherty Hall as well as the A.B. & Irene Colvin Learning Center located on the lower floor.
Donald Price, a sophomore from Michigan, was selected to cut the ribbon for the dormitory portion.
For full-sized photos of the event, visit our Facebook page.
2015-2016 Carnahan-Daugherty Dormitory Construction
A new 200-bed boys' dormitory will replace the Carnahan dormitory which was constructed in 1968. The first Carnahan Hall was a girls’ dorm built in 1905 and made possible by a $10,000 gift from Mr. & Mrs. Robert Carnahan, one of Oneida’s greatest benefactors in early days.
The first building was demolished in 1967. The second Carnahan Hall was built in 1968 as a boys' dormitory and maintained the name to honor this early benefactor and Oneida storekeeper.
In 2013, OBI was notified that Wesley Daugherty left OBI an estate gift—the largest gift the school has ever received. According to his CPA, Mr. Daugherty came to Oneida with his church group a few times and fell in love with Oneida. It was this gift that enabled OBI president, Mr. Larry Allen Gritton, Jr. and the OBI Board of Trustees to consider this much-needed investment in our campus.
Carnahan Hall was selected for demolition over Marvin-Wheeler Hall (also a boys' dormitory), because Marvin-Wheeler had been recently remodeled. Demolition began on June 29th, 2015. The building was leveled by July 1st.
The new boys' dormitory will be named the Carnahan-Daugherty Hall to honor both the past and present donors.
To see more photos of the demolition of the old Carnahan dorm and construction of the new hall, click here.
2015-16 Lady Mountaineers Score Career Milestones
Madison Kehler, a senior at Oneida Baptist Institute, scored her 2,000th career point on her home court on February 20, 2016. Madison is the only female player to score 2000 and the all-time leading scorer at OBI. She is the leading scorer in the 13th Region for the 2015-2016 season with an average of 19 points per game. Kehler is from Lee county and has been a boarding student at OBI since the eighth grade.
OBI senior Ashley Booher scored her 1,000th career point “making her only one of a handful of OBI girls to reach that mark,” said OBI Lady Mountaineers Coach Ryan Cordle. Booher was one of the top rebounders in the region and averaged a “double-double” scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. Booher is from Arizona and has been a boarding student at OBI since the sixth grade.
Kehler (left) and Booher are pictured with OBI president Mr. Larry A. Gritton, Jr., who scored 3,000 career points during his high school career at OBI.
2017 OBI Tennis Competes at State
The OBI boys’ and girls’ teams placed first overall in the 14th region tennis tournament which included first-place wins by Choopat Suvimolstean in boys' singles, Priya Sukkanha in girls' singles, Andrew Lee and Misha Natyshak in boys' doubles and Mianna Baker and Aubrey Baker in girls’ doubles. Alvin Gibson and Seth Shockley competed at state after finishing in the region semi-finals. At the state meet, Choopat advanced to the quarter-finals, Priya finished 4th in the state at the semi-finals and both were named to the All State Team.
Front row, left to right: Andrew Lee, Choopat Suvimolstean, Priya Sukkanha, Misha Natyshak
Back row, left to right: Alvin Gibson, Seth Shockley, Aubrey Baker, Mianna Baker
2016 OBI Track and Field Competes at State
Congratulations to the OBI boys' track team who won second place at the regional track meet and advanced to state!
OBI Runner Competes at State Cross Country Meet
After placing sixth at regionals, senior cross country runner Isador Yesuf advanced to the state meet held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on November 4, 2017.
OBI AP U.S. History Class Attends Cumberland Gap National Historic Park Quarter Unveiling
The AP US History class attended the U.S. Mint unveiling of the Cumberland Gap quarter at a festival held at the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park on April 11, 2016. Congressman Hal Rogers, the U.S. Representative for Kentucky’s 5th congressional district, attended the celebration and distributed the quarters to the students.
At the festival, students observed demonstrations of life in the early days of Kentucky including trade between settlers and Cherokee natives and wood working. OBI students enjoyed the view of Tennessee and Virginia from the pinnacle overlook at the Cumberland Gap National Park. They also posed for a snapshot on the Kentucky-Virginia border.
http://www.parkquarters.com/cumberland-gap-national-historical-park-quarter
http://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2016/04/cumberland-gap-national-historical-park-quarter-dollar-release.html
OBI Choir
Each year, approximately 10 OBI vocalists participate in the Southeastern Kentucky Music Association’s annual All-Festival Choir concert which is held the third week of November at the First Baptist Church in London, Kentucky. Nearly 300 top vocalists from 20 schools in the southeastern Kentucky region are divided between the SSA and the SATB choirs. The singers work with college-level guest conductors over three days and then perform a concert.
The OBI choir & ensemble enjoyed the warm welcome, hospitality and the chance to sing at the 111th annual gathering of the Kentucky Woman's Missionary Union on April 5, 2014 at Central Baptist Church in Winchester, Kentucky. http://www.kybaptist.org/
The choir joined the congregation in opening worship time.
OBI president, Larry A. Gritton, Jr., spoke to the Kentucky WMU about the ministry of Oneida.
The choir sang a program of songs they had been performing at Kentucky Baptist churches throughout the year.
Missions and Outreach
2019 Oneida Spring Clean Up—On April 6, 2019, 64 volunteers collected 167 garbage bags of trash, a dozen tires and a sink! OBI students and staff worked alongside volunteers from the Oneida community to clean up several areas along our roads and streams. Thanks to Eastern Kentucky Pride for providing supplies, OBI staffer Susette Clark for organizing the day and the Clay County Waste Management crew for picking up the bags!
Operation Christmas Child—OBI students, student organizations, staff members and other members of the Oneida community donated enough items to fill 80 shoeboxes for the annual Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. On November 8, 2018, students and staff met for a "packing party" to fill and label the boxes. The boxes were dedicated and prayed over in a chapel service and then taken to our local Samaritan's Purse drop-off.
Manchester Salt Works—National Honor Society seniors completed one last service project before graduation on May 11,2016. They planted flowers at the historic Manchester Salt Works in Manchester, Kentucky in preparation for the annual Salt Works Festival. The flowers were donated by the “Stay in Clay” community organization.
Heart and Soul Life Center—On March 25, 2016, OBI's Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM) hosted a Silent Auction to raise funds to support the Heart and Soul Life Center in Manchester, Ky. Thanks to items donated by OBI staff and purchases by students, we raised $361 for Heart and Soul. On April 10th, BCM members presented the proceeds from the March 25th Silent Auction to representatives of the Heart and Soul Life Center who traveled to the OBI campus to attend a Baptist Campus Ministry meeting. Our students also got to hear more about this ministry and its impact in our county.
Culture Fair
The annual Culture Fair, sponsored by the OBI Student Amabassadors, gives our international students the chance to prepare the kinds of dishes they would normally eat at home and share them with their friends and teachers. American students enjoy sharing flavors from home as well or experimenting with recipes from their favorite international cuisine.
OBI Seniors Earn State Certificates for Career Pathways Program
Similar to the School-To-Work programs at other schools, the Career Pathways program at Oneida Baptist Institute is recognized by the Kentucky Department of Education. For the 2015-2016 school year, 33 OBI seniors met the requirements of completion, including 360 work hours, and received their state certificates.
Seniors may work up to two class periods per day and choose from a variety of on campus employment situations.
All student supervisors complete and submit a weekly evaluation of their employee(s). During the program, students complete various requirements including a daily work journal, a resume and a mock interview.
For more information about the Career Pathways program, contact Connie Belcher at the OBI Guidance Office: 606-847-4111 ext. 215.
OBI Drama
OBI Drama produced Ace of Diamonds by T. James Belich March 28-30, 2019.
A full photo album from the show can be found here:
OBI Drama produced "Crenshaw Family Reunion" by by Marc Holland & Michael Davis October 17-20, 2018. The performance on the 17th was a morning matinee for Oneida Elementary School, our public school neighbor, and OBI K-8.
A full photo album from the show can be found here:
OBI Students and Ministry Team at Kentucky Baptist Convention
On November 13, 2012, the entire student body and the majority of the Ministry Team of Oneida Baptist Institute traveled to Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky for a special presentation at the Annual Session of the Kentucky Baptist Convention (KBC).
After our presentation and lunch, the students enjoyed an afternoon movie before heading back to Oneida. It was a memorable, unique and blessed day! We received numerous positive comments from those in attendance at the convention, and we deeply appreciate the KBC for accommodating our visit and allowing us the opportunity to spread the word about this unique ministry for teenagers.
Christmas on Campus
After Thanksgiving, Oneida's halls are decked and many students are involved in preparing for the music department's annual Christmas program and the FFA's Walk to Bethlehem.
