Minneapolis, MN – September 23, 2011 – Twenty two 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:

Dominque Adam, Palm Beach State College, FL
Nicole Atkinson, Micahel’s School of Hair Design, NH
Karisa Darrow, Aveda Institute, IA
LoClar DeLoatch, Fayette Beauty Academy, GA
Janie Donahue, Meridian Career Institute, FL
Colleen Fallon, Empire Beauty School, MA
Starlyn Howell, Pivot Point Academy, IL
Taylor Johnson, Capri College, IA
Nicole Keezer, Continental Academy of Hair Design, NH
Amanda Larson, Capri College, IA
Amber Lee, Marinello School of Beauty, UT

Abby Leopold, Aveda Institute, TX
Mireya Luna, Fullerton Community College, CA
Maxwell McCormack, Rob Roy Academy, MA
Emily Melfi, Empire Beauty School, IL
Sherryann Niles, Empire Beauty School, PA
Niya Thomas, Minnesota School of Cosmetology, MN
Jamie Wall, Olympian University of Hair, NM
Brandalynn White, Everett Community College, WA
Danielle Walton, Regency Beauty Institute, AR
Kenya Wilbert, Velvatex Cosmetology School, AR
Catina Woods, Southern Union State Community College, AL

Each recipient demonstrated financial need along with a strong desire and commitment to complete their cosmetology education.
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 Men and Women, Inc.
He 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 more than tripled the scholarships given since our first award year in 1997, with the 2011 recipients we have awarded $167,000 in cosmetology 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 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.