'students At The Center' Campaign Receives $50k Donation

First National Banking Company has committed $50,000 to the Ozarka College Student Services Center Capital Campaign.The contribution will pay to furnish the Student Commons Area, an open area to be used for student and community events, studying, dining and student activities."We very much believe in Ozarka College and the opportunity it provides our local community to receive an education they might not otherwise have access to at an affordable cost," said Martin Carpenter, CEO and chairman of the board of FNBC. "We have supported the College for a long time and we plan to continue that support into the future."Ozarka College held a ceremonial groundbreaking on its Melbourne campus on Sept. 18 for the new building. The two-story 18,560 square-foot building will house all student services, various individual and group study areas, community meeting rooms, a video conferencing center, additional banquet space for college and community use, and a state of the art culinary learning lab."This substantial commitment to higher education provided by our friends at FNBC will have a powerful influence on future generations of Ozarka College students," said Dr. Richard Dawe, president of Ozarka College. "We are grateful for their generosity and proud of the FNBC commitment to our college and shared communities we serve."The "Students at the Center" capital campaign is a bold step to raise the quality of educational and student support services at Ozarka College to new heights. The campaign will help ensure student success and will enhance the campus to create a more community-centered learning environment.Mike Watson of Ash Flat and Connie Moser of Calico Rock, both Ozarka College Foundation Board members, are serving as co-chairs of the campaign. Donation levels range from $2,500 to furnish an office space up to $250,000 for building naming rights. The Ozarka College Foundation, a non-profit organization, as well as the Ozarka College Board of Trustees, will ensure the funds are used for expressed purposes.For more information about giving opportunities to the "Students at the Center" capital campaign, please contact Carol Langston, executive assistant to the president and development officer, at 870-368-2006 or carol.langston@ozarka.edu. The Ozarka College Foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization and all donations are tax deductible on itemized tax forms.