Record number of annual Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship awards are announced.
Minneapolis, MN – November 15, 2018 – This year, 34 students from across the United States received
a $1,200 from the Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship Foundation. The scholarships are awarded directly toward tuition costs for cosmetology education. Over the past 21 years the Foundation has awarded 384 scholarships and given close to a half million dollars in scholarships. Congratulations to the 2018 recipients and to their schools! This year’s scholarship recipients are:
Zakeya Batteast, Panache Academy, Baraboo, WI
Brenna Bingham, Avalon School of Cosmetology, Layton, UT
Kennedy Bolden, Schuler School of Cosmetology, Greenville, SC
Kelsey Brack, Hays Academy of Hair, Salina, KS
Annie Bromberg, Summit Salon Academy, Tacoma, WA
Lisa Buchhalter, Creative Images, Dayton, OH
Mackenzie Castro, Elite Academy of Hair Design, Bellaire, OH
Camille Clancy, Paul Mitchell School, Lakewood, CO
Tracy Clark, Urban Barber College, Concord, CA
Janelle Daley, American Barbering College, Louisville, KY
Sarah Dilallo, Shearego, Rochester, NY
Inga Evans, Academy of Cosmetology, Bozeman, MT
Blessings Fandi, Bella Capelli Academy, Pittsburgh, PA
Mariah Fowlkes, Long Island Beauty School, Hauppauge, NY
Tiffany Gess, Empire Beauty, Flagstaff, AZ
Dalel, Gonzalez, Savanah Tech College, Hinesville, GA
Addison Hiatt, Toni & Guy, Albuquerque
Brittany Hollis, Summit Salon Academy, Lexington, KY
Joy Khoury, Kaizen Beauty Academy, Pembroke Pines, FL
Gabrielle Kreider, Rudaes School of Beauty Culture, Fort Wayne, IN
Courtney Learned, Paul Mitchell, Normal, IL
Yvette Leija, LaJames Beauty School, Davenport, IA
Carolyn Lutz, Century College, White Bear Lake, MN
Janelle Daley, American Barbering College, Louisville, KY
Sarah Dilallo, Shearego, Rochester, NY
Inga Evans, Academy of Cosmetology, Bozeman, MT
Blessings Fandi, Bella Capelli Academy, Pittsburgh, PA
Mariah Fowlkes, Long Island Beauty School, Hauppauge, NY
Tiffany Gess, Empire Beauty, Flagstaff, AZ
Dalel, Gonzalez, Savanah Tech College, Hinesville, GA
Addison Hiatt, Toni & Guy, Albuquerque
Brittany Hollis, Summit Salon Academy, Lexington, KY
Joy Khoury, Kaizen Beauty Academy, Pembroke Pines, FL
Gabrielle Kreider, Rudaes School of Beauty Culture, Fort Wayne, IN
Courtney Learned, Paul Mitchell, Normal, IL
Yvette Leija, LaJames Beauty School, Davenport, IA
Carolyn Lutz, Century College, White Bear Lake, MN
Amber McWeay, Paul Mitchell, Roswell, GA
Stevie Milbridge-Scott, WI Indianhead Tech School, Superior, WI
Michael Owens, Rudy & Kelly Academy, Virginia Beach, VA
Barbara Palomares, Paul Mitchell, Arlington, TX
James Puertas, Paul Mitchell, Provo, UT
Martha Rodriguez, Houston Training School, Houston, TX
Lindsey Schiro, Paul Mitchell, Tampa, FL
Crystal Scott, Paul Mitchell School, Jacksonville, FL
Tarneda Seals, Chanell Ardor School of Beauty, Madison, WI
Leah Smothers, Toni & Guy Academy, Shoreline, WA
Crystal Stevens-Benson, Rocky Mountain Academy, Glenrock, WY
Each scholarship recipient demonstrated a strong commitment to complete his or her
barber/cosmetology education, as well as financial need. 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 1,200 franchise hair salons in the United States and Europe. Joe began with a one-chair barbershop, a self-made man who never forgot his early struggles and continuously looked for ways to help others find opportunities in the hair industry.
Joe Francis was inducted posthumously into the National Barbers Hall of Fame. “The Scholarship Foundation was Joe’s dream. We have awarded 384 talented hairstylists and barbers with scholarships and we look forward to continuing our support of careers in the industry,” explained Florence Francis, widow of Joe Francis, Chairwoman, and Co-Founder of the Foundation. Joe’s daughter, and President of the Foundation, Barbara Francis, announced, “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.”
Applications for future scholarships are accepted from January through June 1st of each year, with
award notifications made each September. For more information, visit the Foundation’s web site:
www.joefrancis.com or email: contact@joefrancis.com
