Joe Francis Haircare 2012 Scholarships Awarded
Categories: The FoundationMinneapolis, MN – November 6, 2012 – 26 students across the United States each received a $1,000 Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship toward tuition costs. Since its inception 16 years ago, the Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship Foundation has given $196,000 in scholarship awards. Growing from 7 awards in the Foundation’s early years, to a record 26 scholarships this year. The 2012 recipients and their schools of choice are:
Kalen Bay, All Beauty College in Fort Mohave, AZ
Omagbitse Bellamy, Paul Mitchell the School in Columbia, SC
Carmen Bryson, Steven Papageorge Hair in Chicago, IL
Tashia Childers, JF Drake Technical College in Huntsville, AL
Tonya Collins, Empire Beauty School in Virginia Beach, VA
Ilma Dizdarevic, Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City, UT
Kaylee Engle, Callas Beauty Institute in Rio Rancho, NM
Amanda Erickson, Paul Mitchell the School in Escanaba, MI
Orsolya Feher, Regency Beauty Institute in Westminster, OH
Kenyada Francis, K&G Five Star Beauty College in Texas City, TX
Lau Gallico, Aveda Institute NYC in New York, NY
Kelsey Kuntz, La James Beauty School in Davenport, IA
Joyanne Livell, Marinello Beauty School in Chico, CA
Shelley Louis, Adonai’s Beauty School in Palm Bay, FL
Trena Miller, Capri College in Dubuque, IA
Courtney Mitchell, JF Drake Technical College in Huntsville, AL
Kayla Mitchell, Elite School of Beauty in Vancouver, WA
Brittany Mulari, Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, MI
Phuong Nguyen, Paul Mitchell the School in Houston, TX
Ulysses Orozco, HP Hair Professionals in Sycamore, IL
Shannon Powers, Iowa School of Beauty in Ottumwa, IA
Bethany Roholt, Bridgerland Applied Technical in Brigham City, UT
Timothy VonItter, Moler Barber College in Minneapolis, MN
Ciera Wood, Rudy & Kelly Academy in Virginia Beach, VA
Adrian Young, Harris Barber College in Raleigh, NC
Emiliano Zermeno, Associated Barber College in San Diego, CA
Each scholarship recipient demonstrated financial need along with a strong commitment to complete his or her barber/cosmetology education.
The Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship Foundation memorializes 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 Men and Women, Inc.
He took his company public and established The Barbers Corporation. The Barbers grew to 1200 franchise hair salons in the United States and Europe. Joe began with a one chair barbershop, he was a self-made man who never forgot his early struggles and continuously looked for ways to help others find opportunities in the hair industry.
“The Scholarship Foundation was Joe’s dream. We have helped educate 196 talented hairstylists and we look forward to continuing to increase the number of scholarships awarded each year,” 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 and elevate the hairstyling profession. He believed it offered a path to self-fulfillment and reward. He was determined to help deserving individuals launch their career. He wanted to give back to an industry that gave him so much.”
This year on September 19th, 2012 Joe Francis was inducted posthumously into the National Barbers Hall of Fame at the National Association of Barber Boards of America, during its Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
Applications for future scholarships are accepted from January through June 1st 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.
Photos not available: Carmen Bryson, Orsolya Feher, Kenyada Francis, Kelsey Kuntz, Shelley Louis, Emilliano Zermeno
