Record Number of 

Joe Francis Haircare Scholarships Awarded

              Minneapolis, MN – November 10, 2010 – Twenty one students across the United States each received $1,000.00 Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship awards to aid in their pursuit of a cosmetology career.  The scholarship recipients and their schools of choice are: 

Alyssa Bartes, Claire's Beauty College, Washington

Tiffany Davis, Roggler-Moler Hair College, Georgia

 Ronald Dessellier, Moler Barber College, Minnesota

Marvin Dildy, Moler Barber College, Minnesota

Katherine Driskill, IBS Cosmetology, Oregon

Julie Eshenroder, House of Heavilin Beauty College, Missouri

Sheila Fields, Empire Beauty School, Wisconsin

Nina Francis, Marinello School of Beauty, Utah

Leah Franks, Aveda Institute, Minnesota

Maya Gray, Moler Hollywood Academy, Ohio

Courtney Martine, Model College of Hair, Minnesota

Karen Meece, Concept College of Cosmetology, Illinois

Heather Nedich, Aveda Institute, Florida

Brenda Palaez, Paul Mitchell the School, North Carolina

Brandi Peterson, VICI Beauty School, Wisconsin

Christina Quinn, The School Paul Mitchell, Utah

Rene Stelitano, Pueblo Community College, Utah

Gina Stoops, Sunstate Academy, Florida

Joseph Szozda, VICI Aveda Institute, Wisconsin

Tiffany Tossos, Empire Beauty School, Michigan

Aaron Wilkins, Regency Beauty School, Minnesota

   Each recipient demonstrated financial need along with a strong desire and commitment to complete their cosmetology education. 

Photos not available: Alyssa Bates, Julie Eshenroder , and Gina Stoops

  The Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship Foundation was established in 1994 to memorialize the life and achievements of Joe Francis, founder of The Barbers Corporation and the franchise systems: Cost Cutters, City Looks Salons, and We Care Hair, now Regis Corporation subsidiaries. 

  Joe Francis’ story is literally one of rags to riches, beginning his first job as a shoeshine boy for a local barber school.  His labors eventually led him to enroll as a barber student where his entrepreneurial spirit flourished and his lifelong career in the industry took off. He built state of the art hair salons and began franchising first as The Barbers Hairstyling for M en and Women, Inc. 

  He eventually took his company public and enjoyed great success in establishing over 700 hair salons throughout the United States , Europe , and Russia by the time he died of cancer in 1994. From the very beginning of owning his one chair barbershop, Francis was the quintessential self-made man who never forgot his early struggles and continuously looked for ways to help others find opportunities in the cosmetology industry.

 “The Scholarship Foundation was Joe’s dream and we are thrilled to increase the number of scholarships awarded.  We have tripled the scholarships given since our first award year in 1997, with the 2010 recipients we have awarded nearly $150,000 in scholarships,” announced Florence Francis, widow of Joe Francis, Chairwoman and Co-Founder of the Foundation.

  Joe’s daughter and President of the Foundation, Barbara Francis, remarked, “My Father worked tirelessly to strengthen the industry as a whole and elevate the hairstylist profession.  He believed it offered a path to self-fulfillment and reward.  He was determined to help deserving individuals launch their career in cosmetology and to give them a chance to succeed in life.  He wanted to give back to an industry that gave him so much.” 

  Applications for future scholarships are accepted from January through June 1^st of each year, with award notifications made in September.  For more information visit the Foundation’s web site:  www.joefrancis.com or contact Kim Larson at kimlarsonmn@gmail.com.