Recipients

$25,500 in Scholarships Awarded to

Cosmetology Students Nationwide

Minneapolis, MN – November 9, 2020 Seventeen deserving students from across the United States each received $1,500 scholarships from the Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship Foundation. 

The scholarships are awarded directly toward tuition costs for cosmetology and barber education.  Over the past 23 years the Foundation has awarded 427 scholarships totaling $456,300 given to students enrolled in cosmetology and barber programs. Congratulations to our 2020 recipients and their schools!  This year's scholarship recipients are:

	Gracie Alicia Summit Salon Academy, Anderson, IN
	Zachary Allen Aveda Institute, Augusta, ME
No Image Available	Alexis Arkanoff Rudy & Kelly Academy, Viriginia Beach, VA
	Jerrika Bircher Toni & Guy Academy, Coeur d'Alene, ID
No Image Available	Keely Chrispin Bella Capelli, Monroeville, PA
	Cecelia Clutter Capitol School of Hairstyling, Omaha, NE
	Jessica Demars Continental Academie, Hudson, NH
	Elizabeth Dornian Vida Sassoon Academy, Santa Monica, CA
	Chloe Figgins Salon Professional Academy, Maplewood, MN
No Image Available	Adella Getine Empire Beauty School, Cherry Hill, NJ
	Byron James Blade Craft Barber Academy, Dallas, TX
No Image Available	Hannah Lazarin The Studio Academy of Beauty, Gilbert, AZ
	Anthony MadPlume Montana Academy of Salons, Great Falls, MT
	Crystal Orr Savanah Technical College, Savanah, GA
No Image Available	Erika Rivera VICI Beauty School, Milwaukee, WI
No Image Available	Rosalina Rodriguez Hair Professionals College, Sycamore, IL
No Image Available	Taurus Wilson Brown Beauty Barber School, Bressemer, AL

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 427 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.”