FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — First National Bank of Fort Smith has pledged $100,000 for scholarship support in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas.

The purpose of the First National Bank of Fort Smith Scholarship Fund will be to attract and retain freshman and transfer students from Arkansas who demonstrate financial need and academic potential required for success in the Walton College.

“Recruiting outstanding freshman and transfer students is one of our top five priorities,” said Walton College Dean Doyle Z. Williams. “With this help from First National Bank of Fort Smith, we will be able to offer these students much needed scholarships.”

Sam Sicard, Walton College alumnus and president and CEO of First National Bank of Fort Smith, said: “Having an educated workforce will be instrumental to the economic growth and prosperity of our state and the communities we serve. We are pleased to provide the opportunity for deserving people to continue their education at an outstanding university.”

The First National Bank of Fort Smith was organized Feb. 29, 1872, as “The National Bank of Western Arkansas.” A charter was issued by the Comptroller of the Currency, authorizing the bank to commence business on March 22, 1872. The bank has grown to be the largest in Fort Smith and one of the largest in the state of Arkansas. In 1989, First Bank Corp. was formed as the parent holding company of First National Bank. Since that time, National Bank of Sallisaw, Citizens Bank & Trust in Van Buren, Bank of Rogers, Brown-Hiller-Clark & Associates, and Realty Appraisals have been added to the First Bank Corp. financial family.

This gift counts toward the Walton College’s Campaign for the Twenty-First Century goal of $100 million. This gift counts toward the campaign-within-a-campaign to raise $300 million for academic purposes to match the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation’s $300 million gift. The $300 Million Challenge must raise funds between Jan. 1, 2002, and June 30, 2005, the end of the Campaign.