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JBU Invites the Community to 83rd Annual Candlelight Service

December 3, 2025

Candlelight Service Press Release

SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Dec. 4, 2025) — John Brown University invites the community to the 83rd annual Candlelight Service on Dec. 11, 12 and 13.

Since 1942, the annual Candlelight Service has ushered in the Christmas season for the JBU community, the City of Siloam Springs and visitors from across Northwest Arkansas.

Conducted by Seung-Won Cho, Ph.D., director of choral activities, the service features the prestigious Cathedral Choir, the University Chorus and a string ensemble.

This year’s program will feature movements from Vivaldi’s Gloria and Bach’s Magnificat. The service includes longstanding traditions of performing “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night,” as well as scripture readings and choral and congregational carols and anthems.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the program begins at 7 p.m.

Candlelight is free and no tickets are required, but it is recommended to arrive early to ensure a seat.

For more information, visit jbu.edu/candlelight.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. JBU was named Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university by U.S. News and No. 2 private university by The Wall Street Journal. Money 2023 College Rankings named JBU the #1 best value among private universities in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Colorado and Texas. Forbes gives JBU an A+ Financial Ranking, the same grade as Ivy League schools.

JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate programs are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity. The online undergraduate studies program offers a flexible, completely online format for students interested in degrees in business, psychology, general studies and cybersecurity.

JBU Golden Eagles' First Bucket Triggers Annual Toilet Paper Toss

October 31, 2025

SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Nov. 1, 2025) — In a wild explosion of white, thousands of John Brown University fans launched the traditional toilet paper storm after junior guard Trae Oetting netted the Golden Eagles' first bucket of the season with 19:16 remaining in the first half, marking the raucous start of the school's 43rd annual Toilet Paper Game.

What began as a spontaneous celebration in 1984 has evolved into a nationally recognized spectacle, with USA Today, ESPN, CBS Sports and Bleacher Report all hailing it as one of college basketball's premier fan traditions. The first basket of the season's home opener triggers thousands of fans to shower the court with toilet paper, drawing an automatic — and worth it — technical foul.

“We've got a lot of new guys who haven't experienced this,” said head coach Jason Beschta.

Oetting, a true junior from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, not only scored the TP toss-inducing basket, but tallied 21 points and collected six rebounds.

“He's a really great one to coach. He's a special player. He's a special young man. I gotta say, we've got a lot of those. We know he (Trae) is a warrior. He's been hitting big shots since his freshman year. He's done so many good things for us, but he sets a standard,” Head Coach Jason Beschta said. “You've got some guys who will just do it by how they play, but then you've got guys like Trae who will even enforce it with his words. And that's one of the special things about him as he's grown, he's an upperclassman now. His growth over the summer in that way, as a leader, that he's really found and developed confidence to have a voice and he's earned that. I think the more that that develops in him, along with those other couple guys, I think we have a chance to do some really special things.”

Kimberly-Clark continued its partnership with the Golden Eagles for the eighth year, donating 4,000 rolls of toilet paper. Fans exchanged canned food items for half the rolls, with all donations and remaining toilet paper benefiting the Manna Center, a local food bank in Siloam Springs.

The Ecclesia College Royals returned to Bill George Arena for their third appearance in the crowd-favorite matchup. The first two matchups were in 2017 and 2018.

The Golden Eagles defeated the Royals with a final score of 94–68.

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