Auburn defensive assistant coach Willie Martinez will be the keynote speaker for the Marengo County Auburn Club when it holds its annual banquet next month.

The club has committed to fund an endowed scholarship aimed at helping send a local student to Auburn University.

The club committed to raising $12,500 over a five year period, which Auburn will match to have a $25,000 scholarship in the club’s name that will go to send a local student to Auburn University.

The banquet, which includes an auction, is the local club’s primary fundraiser with other revenue brought in through donations, bus trips to away games and smaller gatherings.

Club president Sean Parker said the group intends to put together a bus trip to Starkville this coming season along with several watch parties for other games.

“It’s a lot of fun to meet and socialize with people who love Auburn but our main purpose is to help get a local student a scholarship to Auburn,” Parker said.

Tickets for this year’s event, which is set for May 2 at 6 p.m. at the Demopolis Country Club, are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Admission covers dues into the club and includes a barbecue dinner at the banquet.

They are available at Robertson Bank downtown and Papa’s Foods in Linden.

Martinez spent the previous two seasons as the secondary coach at Oklahoma after spending nine seasons at Georgia, where he was the secondary coach from 2001-04 and defensive coordinator and secondary coach from 2005-09.

In his two seasons at Oklahoma, Martinez helped the program to a 22-5 record and a Big 12 championship in 2010. He will coach defensive backs at Auburn.