Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to speak April 24 at West Texas A&M University as part of its Distinguished Lecture Series.

James Calvi, a political science professor and head of the Distinguished Lecture Series committee, said Clinton agreed to come because the university decided to make a $100,000 donation toward the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Penn.

"The main thing (Clinton will talk about) is the Clinton Global Initiative and the Clinton Foundation," Calvi said. "He raises money for Third-World nations and helps out Third-World nations with his initiative. And he will talk a little about his role in raising money for the 9/11 memorial in Pennsylvania."

Oceanographer Robert Ballard, who discovered the wreck of the Titanic in 1985, also will speak as part of the lecture series on April 23.

Previous guests of the Distinguished Lecture Series include Pulitzer Prize winner and Poet Maya Angelou and political strategist Karl Rove.

Matt Maples, a member of the Distinguished Lecture Series committee, said the group got the idea to ask Clinton to visit the campus after the former president visited the Flight 93 memorial in September. During the visit, Clinton mentioned he was surprised the memorial had yet to be done, Maples said.

"So, we proposed that the university could make a donation to the Pennsylvania 9/11 memorial," Maples said, adding WT will send the donation some time during the next few weeks.

Calvi said the Distinguished Lecture Series uses money from student fees to cover the costs of bringing well-known people who are also "distinguished," or have an array of academic credentials, to speak at WT.

The program this year received nearly $200,000 and will receive $130,000 next year, Calvi said.

WT requested Ballard partly because of the centennial anniversary of the Titanic's sinking, Calvi said.

"But he also discovered the Bismarck and Yorktown," he said, referring to the two World War II-era vessels. "We thought he would be of interest. Plus, they're re-releasing 'Titanic' in 3-D. So, we thought there would be a lot of buzz."

Calvi said he's interested in inviting documentary filmmaker Ken Burns for the next Distinguished Lecture Series event. The committee seriously considered bringing former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow to speak but backed off because of the demand that the guests have a strong academic background, Calvi said.

"Top priority is given to speakers who have the most universal appeal and whose presence will enhance the intellectual and creative atmosphere of the university," WT President J. Patrick O'Brien said. "The program is designed, first and foremost, to enhance the educational experience of WT students."