Author, physician Ben Carson to speak, raise funds for scholarships

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Each ticket purchased to hear Dr. Ben Carson speak at the Sikeston Field House on Feb. 22 provides not only the chance to hear his story, but also an opportunity to contribute to a new success story.

"His story will give inspiration hopefully to all of us and raise some money to help kids who might not go to college otherwise," said John McMillen of the Dr. Ben Carson Event Committee.

McMillen explained the committee was formed to create a communitywide event free of any political or partisan biases.

"The primary purpose of this is to raise scholarship funds to help local kids," he said. Proceeds will go to the Bootheel Scholarship Fund thanks to a partnership with the not-for-profit Restoration Center, according to McMillen.

Carson will share his story of rising above circumstance to become a world's most successful surgeons; he has already inspired countless people to rise above their current situation, McMillen said.

"He came from a very poor, disadvantaged circumstance in life," McMillen said.

"Dr. Carson and his brother were raised by a single mom and he overcame all the obstacles of being a poor, black person and went on to succeed as a doctor," said Sue Arnold, a committee member.

Arnold said Carson will speak at the public event, and will have an additional engagement with more than 70 students.

"Dr. Carson will speak with these students 30 minutes before the program begins," she said. "These students are from Charleston, East Prairie, New Madrid, Jackson -- all over the Southeast Missouri area. They will be admitted free and have a half-hour that they can visit with Dr. Carson, who will share some of his life story and let them know their self worth and that they can succeed no matter what their circumstances are."

Carson grew up in Detroit, in poverty, a student with low grades and low self-esteem to match. But his mother encouraged him to read -- and to dream.

Pursuing the dream to become a physician first took Carson to Yale University. After graduating, Carson earned his medical degree from Michigan Medical School.

At age 33, he became the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins and in doing so also became the youngest major division director in the hospital's history.

Before retiring as a neurosurgeon, Carson carved out a place in medical history by being the first to successfully separate twins conjoined at the head.

The author of numerous books and the subject of the 2009 award-winning film "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story" in which he was portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr., Carson is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to civilians by the U.S. government.

Scholarships from the newly formed Bootheel Scholarship Committee, which was formed in conjunction with this event, will be presented after Carson's remarks.

"We are giving out three $5,000 scholarships," Arnold said. "We are going to try to continue this each year, to make this an ongoing program."

Doors open for the event at 4:30 p.m. with no admission after 5:30 p.m.

Ticket costs $25 each and can be purchased online at drbencarsonevent.com.

Pertinent address:

200 Pine St., Sikeston, Mo.