Recipients
Record Number of Scholarships Awarded in 2018!
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 BatteastPanache Academy, Barboo, WI |
 | Brenna BinghamAvalon School of Cosmetology, Layton, UT |
 | Kennedy BoldenShuler School of Cosmetology, Greenville, SC |
 | Kelsey BrackHays Academy of Hair, Salina, KS |
 | Annie BrombergSummit Salon Academy, Tacoma, WA |
 | Lisa BuchhalterCreative Images, Dayton, OH |
 | Mackenzie CastroElite Academy of Hair Design, Bellaire, OH |
 | Camille ClancyPaul Mitchell School, Lakewood, CO |
 | Tracy ClarkUrban Barber College, Concord, CA |
 | Janelle DaleyAmerican Barbering College, Louisville, KY |
 | Sarah DilalloShearego, Rochester, NY |
 | Inga EvansAcademy of Cosmetology, Bozeman, MT |
 | Blessings FandiBella Capelli Academy, Pittsburgh, PA |
 | Mariah FowlkesLong Island Beauty School, Hauppauge, NY |
 | Tiffany GessEmpire Beauty School, Flagstaff, AZ |
 | Dalel GonzalezSavanah Technical College, Hinesville, GA |
 | Addison HiattToni & Guy Academy, Albuquerque, NM |
 | Brittany HollisSummit Salon Academy, Lexington, KY |
 | Gabrielle KriederRudaes School of Beauty Culture, Fort Wayne, IN |
 | Joy KhouryKaizen Beauty Academy, Pembroke Pines, FL |
 | Courtney LearnedPaul Mitchell School, Normal, IL |
 | Yvette LeijaLaJames Beauty School |
 | Carolyn LutzCentury College, White Bear Lake, MN |
| No Image Available | Amber McweayPaul Mitchell School, Roswell, GA |
 | Stevie Milbridge-ScottWI Indianhead Technical School, Superior, WI |
 | Michael OwensRudy & Kelly Academy, Virginia Beach, VA |
 | Barbara PalomaresPaul Mitchell School, Arlington, TX |
 | James PuertasPaul Mitchell School, Provo, UT |
| No Image Available | Martha RodriguezHouston Training School, Houston, TX |
| No Image Available | Lindsey SchiroPaul Mitchell School, Tampa, FL |
 | Crystal ScottPaul Mitchell School, Jacksonville, FL |
 | Tarneda SealsChanell Ardor School of Beauty, Madison, WI |
 | Leah SmothersToni & Guy Academy, Shoreline, WA |
 | Crystal Stevens-BensonRocky 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
Our Mission: To help deserving students receive financial assistance for the professional training necessary to build successful, long-term careers in the cosmetology industry. In honor of the life, work, and memory of Joseph Francis, 1933-1994, born into poverty, who achieved worldwide success through sacrifice, hard work, and determination.