TEXARKANA, Texas – Farmers Bank & Trust is bringing NASA’s history-making Astronaut, Captain Scott Kelly to Texarkana as a part of its Distinguished Speaker Series. The event, scheduled for April 2nd, raises scholarship funds for students at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) and Texarkana College (TC) who wish to transition to Texas A&M University-Texarkana to complete their 4-year degree.

Scott Kelly is a former military fighter pilot and test pilot, an engineer, a retired astronaut, and a retired U.S. Navy Captain. A veteran of four space flights, Kelly commanded the International Space Station (ISS) on three expeditions and was a member of the yearlong mission to the ISS. In October 2015, he set the record for the total number of accumulated days in space and was the first person to complete a year-long mission in space, the single longest space mission by an American Astronaut. His memoir, Endurance: My Year in Space and Our Journey to Mars, is a New York Times Best Seller and has been optioned as a film by Sony Pictures. Captain Kelly resides in Houston, Texas.

“We are delighted to again partner with Farmers Bank & Trust for the annual Distinguished Speaker Series,” said A&M-Texarkana President Dr. Emily Cutrer. “The scholarships this event provides to area students are vital to them being able to continue their education and attain their bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.”

This is the second Farmers Bank & Trust Distinguished Speaker Series event in Texarkana. 2019’s inaugural event featured economist and Hollywood personality Ben Stein, and raised in excess of $23,000 for transfer scholarships to A&M-Texarkana.

“UAHT is honored to be a partner with Farmers Bank & Trust for the Distinguished Speakers Series, said UAHT Chancellor Chris Thomason. “This event is a tremendous opportunity to engage our greater community in a thoughtful and active conversation while supporting UAHT graduates in continuing their education with Texas A&M University-Texarkana. It advances our students’ success locally while strengthening the partnerships between the three institutions of higher education that call Texarkana home.” 

Texarkana College President Dr. Jason Smith echoed his appreciation of the Farmers Distinguished Speaker Series, stating “Farmers Bank & Trust is leading the charge of investing in our next generation through their signature speaker series, believing that our community will support students in their pursuit of higher education. We are so grateful for their legacy.”

“Education is a significant part of the Farmers Bank & Trust giving mission,” added James Bramlett, Texarkana Market President for Farmers Bank & Trust. “We are proud to provide once again the opportunity to bring a world-class speaker to Texarkana and to provide life-changing scholarships to transfer students from Texarkana College and the University of Arkansas at Hope-Texarkana to Texas A&M University-Texarkana. We invite other businesses and organizations in the community to join us in our goal to provide opportunities for higher education in our region.”

The dinner and lecture portion of the event will be held on April 2nd, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. at The Hilton Garden Inn Texarkana Convention Center, 2910 South Cowhorn Creek Loop, Texarkana, Texas. There is also a private cocktail reception to meet Captain Scott Kelly at 5:00 p.m. in the Farmers Bank & Trust Main Branch located at 2900 St. Michael Drive in Texarkana, Texas. Reservations for the dinner and lecture are $100 each, while reservations for the private reception and the dinner/lecture are $200. Reservations may be made online at www.tamut.edu/farmers or in person in the Business Office on the TAMUT Campus, located in the Building for Academic and Student Services at 7101 University Drive, Texarkana, Texas.

About Texas A&M University-Texarkana:

As a member of The Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M University-Texarkana is a comprehensive regional university that provides students with academically challenging, engaging and rewarding educational experiences through quality teaching, scholarship, student support services, co-curricular programming, research and service.