Williams Baptist University has received a $7,500 donation from the First National Bank of Lawrence County, aimed at enhancing the Williams Works program. The check was presented to WBU President Dr. Stan Norman by Cooper Smith, Vice President & Loan Officer.

The Williams Works program, which celebrated its first graduating class on May 4, continues to significantly support students in their educational pursuits. The program has seen impressive growth and has formed partnerships with organizations such as Bosch Tools, WatersEdge Church Accounting, and Lawrence Health, among others. These collaborations provide students with valuable hands-on experience at various workstations.

One innovative aspect of the program is Eagle Farms, where students engage in cultivating vegetables and flowers in greenhouses and fields. The produce is sold at Williams Corner, a retail space operated by Williams Works students. Additionally, the university runs Hotel Rhea, a boutique-style hotel in downtown Walnut Ridge, and has recently launched a lawn service operating in Lawrence and Randolph Counties.

Students in the Williams Works program work 16 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. In return, their tuition and student service fees are fully covered for each semester they participate. Moreover, students have the opportunity to work full-time during the summer, with their room and board expenses also covered. This unique model allows students to graduate debt-free.

Williams Baptist University is a private, Christian university located in Walnut Ridge.