Left to right: Kyle D. Parker, JD (ACHE President & CEO), Les Smith (ACHE Senior VP & Chief of Staff), Sam T. Sicard (President & CEO, First National Bank of Fort Smith), Jarred Rego (ACHE Director of Advancement), Malea Hendrickson (VP Community Relations Officer, First National Bank of Fort Smith)
FORT SMITH, AR – The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Adopt a Scholar program, an innovative $100,000 recruiting scholarship initiative designed to attract top-tier talent to the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM).
First National Bank of Fort Smith proudly joins as the inaugural Adopt a Scholar partner. ACHE deeply appreciates the generosity, leadership, and partnership of Sam T. Sicard, First National Bank of Fort Smith President and CEO and member of the ACHE Board of Advocates, and the entire First National Bank leadership team. Adopt a Scholar ensures ACHE remains at the forefront of student recruiting in this highly competitive field.
This $100,000 recruitment scholarship will help cover four years of tuition for incoming ARCOM students from Western Arkansas or Eastern Oklahoma, helping to alleviate financial burdens while promoting academic excellence.
According to Sicard, “First National Bank of Fort Smith is grateful to have the opportunity to financially support ACHE students from the local Fort Smith region who aspire to be primary care physicians. This is not just an investment in these students; it’s an investment in the future healthcare of families in the communities we serve.”
ACHE Director of Advancement Jarred Rego says, “This scholarship has the potential to benefit not only ARCOM students but also future ACHE Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy students from within our region. Together, we can build a brighter future for healthcare in our communities.”
Details on how eligible incoming ARCOM students can apply for the Fall 2025 Adopt a Scholar scholarship will be released soon.
ACHE encourages organizations and individuals interested in becoming an Adopt a Scholar partner to contact Rego at (479) 308-2282 or jarred.rego@achehealth.edu.