Recipients
Record Number of Joe Francis Haircare Scholarships Awarded
Minneapolis, 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, AZ Omagbitse Bellamy,Paul Mitchell the School, SC Carmen Bryson, Steven Papageorge Hair, IL Tashia Childers, JF Drake Tech College, AL Tonya Collins, Empire Beauty School, VA Ilma Dizdarevic, Salt Lake Community College, UT Kaylee Engle, Callas Beauty Institute, NM Amanda Erickson,Paul Mitchell the School, MI Orsolya Feher, Regency Beauty Institute, CO Kenyada Francis, K&G 5 Star Barber College, TX Lau Gallico, Aveda Institute NYC, NY Kelsey Kuntz, LaJames, IA Joyanne Livell, Marinello Beauty School, CA Trena Miller, Capri College, IA Courtney Mitchell, JF Drake Technical College, AL Kayla Mitchell, Elite School of Beauty, WA Brittany Mulari, Gogebic Community College, MI Phuong Nguyen, Paul Mitchell the School, TX Ulysses Orozco, HP Hair Professionals, IL Shannon Powers, Iowa School of Beauty, IA Bethany Roholt, Bridgerland Applied Tech, UT Timothy VanItter, Moler Barber School, MN Ciera Wood, Rudy & Kelly Academy, VA Adrian Young, Harris Barber College, NC Emiliano Zermeno, Associated Barber College, 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
Shelley Louis, Adonai’s Beauty School, FL
