Laura Bush helps raise funds for Faulkner University, video excerpt included | News

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA)- Former First Lady Laura Bush spoke at the annual Faulkner University Benefit Dinner at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Downtown Montgomery.

She took the stage in front of a crowd of close to 2,000 people.  On a night that focused on education, Bush talked about her inspiration to get into the field.

"We just can't think our teachers enough, and it was so sweet to see all of that," Bush said. "So I just wanted to tell you that my favorite teacher was my second grade teacher, Ms. Nagy, and I wanted to grow up to be just like her, and I did."

Bush also discussed her time as First Lady, sharing anecdotes from 9/11, and how her husband's presidency was forced to change course.

It took hundreds of workers and volunteers from both the Renaissance and Faulkner University to put on the event.  Included in that number were Dalton Rabun and Rachel Reiswig, two of the very students that the benefit dinner is intended to help.

"Some people can get more academic, which we didn't use to have until we started getting the bigger people and we can raise more money, and different things like that," Rabun said.

"I personally have a scholarship and it's helped me so much with school," Reiswig said.  "I'm paying my way through school, so really the scholarship is helping me."

Faulkner University officials said a final estimate of the money raised will take a few days to compute, but it could be anywhere from $750,000 - $1 million.  

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