Benghazi survivor to speak at SAU
The private security contractor who is recognized as the hero of the Benghazi attack will speak at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia in October.
Kris "Tanto" Paronto will speak at the 12th annual Farmers Bank and Trust Distinguished Speakers Series on Oct. 27. He was a part of the CIA annex team that was deployed to the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012, according to a news release. The former Army Ranger helped save many lives while fighting terrorists, the news release states. He was co-author of a book about the attack, 13 Hours.
Paronto will sign books at 6 p.m. at the Reynolds Center. The dinner and lecture will start at 7 p.m. at the center's Grand Hall.
The university has started selling tickets, which start at $100 for the dinner and lecture. For $200, attendees will also be able to attend a private reception, which starts at 5:15 p.m. at the Farmers Bank & Trust main branch in Magnolia. Those attending the reception will also receive an autographed photo with Paronto.
For $800 -- the Blue Sponsorship -- attendees will receive eight tickets for the dinner and lecture, two tickets for the private reception and a table in the Blue Section with the sponsor's name on the table and in the program. The Gold Sponsorship goes for $2,000 and includes eight to 10 tickets for the dinner, lecture and private reception, along with premium seating and name displays on the table and program.
Tickets are available from the SAU Office of Development at (870) 235-4321 or online at www.saufoundation.org and clicking on the "Make-A-Gift" button.
Scholarship set up to honor professor
Nursing students at Arkansas State University have a new scholarship opportunity.
Arkansas State University's College of Nursing and Health Professions is offering its first-ever scholarship -- named for a late professor -- for the accelerated nursing program, according to a news release.
The endowed scholarship is named for Rebecca Matthews, an associate professor for nursing at the Jonesboro school for nine years. Students in the nursing program are eligible if they have a financial need.
Matthews resigned from ASU last year for health reasons and died in January, the release states. Her husband, David, started the endowed scholarship because of her passion for helping nursing students.
"I have written many things about Rebecca Matthews while she served our college and since her death," Susan Hanrahan, the college dean, said in a prepared statement. "She was an excellent role model for both students and faculty. The college is better now because of her work but we miss her immensely. We are thankful to David for this lasting tribute."
Exhibit will recall Sept. 11 attacks
The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith will display an exhibit commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The exhibit runs from Sept. 2 through Sept. 12 and will be near the fireplace in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, 5210 Grand Ave. It will show the attacks, emergency response and recovery efforts, along with the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, according to a news release.
The commemoration will complement an arts initiative in downtown Fort Smith coordinated by 64.6 Downtown, a nonprofit wanting to revitalize the city's downtown. The arts initiative, called the Unexpected, seeks to bring "world-class art" to the city, according to the nonprofit group's website.
The Sept. 11 exhibit will be open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Fridays.
Metro on 08/28/2016