Naval test pilot Captain Scott Kelly headlined the second annual Farmers Bank Distinguished Speaker Series.
The event was held on April 7th in the Texarkana Convention Center.
It was designed to raise scholarship money for students who graduate from Texarkana College and The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana - who also wish to complete their bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University Texarkana.
Captain Kelly is a retired naval test pilot and astronaut who made history by spending more than 340 consecutive days onboard the International Space Station.
Kelly participated in a study to research the effects of prolonged space travel on the human body, considered essential in enabling future long-term space missions to the moon or Mars.
The event featured a private meet and greet at Farmers Bank & Trust, followed by a dinner and Kelly’s lecture at the Texarkana Convention center.
There were 430 tickets to the lecture sold, and the event raised $51,100 for scholarships.
“Wow!” said Farmers Bank & Trust Texarkana Market President James Bramlett when asked about the event's success. “Thank you to the community for the support that made this possible. We raised over $50,000 for scholarships that will go directly back into educating the future of Texarkana.”
A&M Texarkana president Emily Cutrer said: “We are so thankful for the support we get from our community partners like Farmers Bank.”
She said Farmers is helping graduates of Texarkana College and UA Hope-Texarkana fulfill their dream of completing a bachelor’s degree.
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