Dr. Judy Rhoads and Madisonville Community College have announced that Farmers Bank & Trust of Marion have pledged a $50,000 scholarship gift to the Fulfilling the Promise Gifts Campaign, specifically for the Crittenden County Endowment for Excellence.

This endowment supports the tuition, transportation and/or book costs for students from Crittenden County who attend MCC. The gift will be paid over a five-year period, and was approved unanimously by the Bank's Board of Directors during their May meeting.

In making the gift announcement, Farmers Bank's President & CEO Gareth Hardin noted the already strong working relationship between Farmers and the college. "Everyone associated with Farmers Bank is committed to the growth and development of Crittenden County, and we feel strongly that Madisonville Community College is also committed to our county. A quality education means a greater opportunity for a quality job. This endowment creates a wonderful, permanent education resource for our families."

The gift is the largest MCC has ever received from a Crittenden benefactor, and one of the twenty largest scholarship gifts the college has ever received. Dr. Rhoads stated that "Farmers Bank has always supported the college in its off-campus endeavors, and this gift will support Crittenden students on a permanent basis through interest income. Individual board members have also been very generous with multi-year pledges, so the whole Farmers organization has created a wonderful example of generosity for all of us to follow."