Williams Baptist University has announced a gift of $7,500 from the First National Bank of Lawrence County aimed at bolstering the Williams Works program. The check was presented to WBU President Dr. Stan Norman by Lorra Whitmire, Senior Vice President and Senior Loan Officer of the Walnut Ridge branch of the bank.

The Williams Works program is entering its fourth year and continues to assist students in funding their education. With an ever-growing number of participants, the program currently supports over 80 students and has successfully formed partnerships with organizations like Bosch Tools, WatersEdge church accounting and Lawrence Health. These companies serve as workstations, providing practical experience. 

WBU also offers students an opportunity to work on Eagle Farms, learning to grow and cultivate vegetables and flowers in greenhouses and fields for purchase at Williams Corner, a retail space run by Williams Works students. The school also operates Hotel Rhea, a boutique-style hotel in downtown Walnut Ridge and recently started a lawn service that operates in Lawrence and Randolph Counties.

Students in the program dedicate 16 hours per week during both the fall and spring semesters and in exchange for their commitment, their tuition and student service fees are fully covered for each semester they work. Additionally, they have the opportunity to work full-time during the summer, with their room and board expenses also covered. This arrangement provides students with the opportunity to graduate debt-free.

WBU is a private, Christian university in Walnut Ridge.