Caleb Finch

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Caleb Finch, Class of 2023

Hometown: Choctaw, Oklahoma
Degree: Bachelor of English 
Minor: Biblical Studies

A classroom roll call is mundane.

Nonetheless, there’s one Caleb Finch is pretty sure he will never forget as a student at Oklahoma Baptist University.

That moment came during the spring 2023 semester in the class of Dr. Bobby Kelly, OBU Ruth Dickinson Professor of Religion.

“For me one of the biggest has been the time I have spent in the classes of Dr. Kelly,” Caleb said. “I have taken many classes with him, and he has been an amazing professor to study under. Dr. Kelly has a way of teaching in a way that is so personable and knowledgeable. He has always gone above and beyond to get to know the students in his class, and I know without a doubt that he truly cares for all of us. The moment that really confirmed this for me, was in a simple roll call this semester, where he took the time to stop and personally tell me how happy he has been to have me in his classes during my time at OBU. It was a simple thing but in the same moment it meant a lot me that he would take the time to say that.”

Caleb was born in Sand Springs, but lived much of his childhood in Blanchard, Oklahoma. His father was the senior pastor there until Caleb was 16. It was then that his father became pastor of First Baptist Choctaw.  Caleb, who has lived there since, said a factor behind his decision to go to OBU was the fact that many in his family had attended school on Bison Hill.

Caleb saw the impact it had made on both their education and their walks with Christ.

“I had considered other universities but for me there was no better choice than OBU,” he said. “The community, education, and Christian values are second to none. I have been blessed to have two parents who supported me in my pursuit of higher education. They both invested time and energy into preparing me for my time here at OBU.”

Caleb knows that without a doubt, his time at OBU will impact how he interacts with people and how he seeks to serve them in life after graduation.

“The way in which I view teamwork, leadership, and service and how I go about them in the future have been hugely impacted,” he said.

Caleb is planning to attend seminary next and wants to pursue a Ph.D. Not only does he want to become a professor, but he has a strong reason behind that goal.

“Through my career, I want to pour into students just as I have been poured into,” he said.