THE VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIPS

The journey to college often starts with a dream—a vision of the future for young students, eager to learn and grow, discover new areas of knowledge, and achieve lifelong goals. However, that dream comes at a cost that is often more than what students or their families can afford. As tuition, fees, and expenses are a top concern when considering attending college, students are forced to get creative with how they are going to pay for their education. Many work while they pursue their degrees. However, that also means less time to focus on their studies. This is where scholarship support and assistance make a world of difference for students and enable greater success.

Support for scholarships provides access that helps to lift the burden of worry and financial barriers students face. It also provides the invaluable resource of time; time to learn, study, fully engage in programs, and immerse themselves in all that the college experience has to offer. And finally, scholarships (especially those that offer renewable awards) can sustain students throughout their educational journey so that colleges can retain students, allowing them to successfully graduate. “Education has been critical to our family's success. A quality education provides opportunities and options for life. Learning to think critically is a powerful tool that can be leveraged across one’s life," said Dave Franke. The Franke Family recently named the Honors College and created the W.A. Franke Honors College Endowed Scholarship Fund supporting Franke Scholars. “Too many students are challenged in their journey to achieving a college degree. With the Franke Scholars, we want to provide opportunity and remove barriers for motivated students looking to harness the power of the Honors College experience at Arizona.”

The story of one Franke Honors Scholar, Emma Collette Harbour, highlights the very real impact scholarships have on our students.

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Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

Hi! I am Emma, I am a junior at the University of Arizona Franke Honors College and I am majoring in physiology and medical sciences and minoring in biochemistry. Before moving to Tucson for school, I lived in Austin, Texas with my four younger siblings and mom. There, I attended high school where I was a part of the student council, taught special needs gymnastics, and was valedictorian. This would not all be possible without the support of my mother. My mother is an elementary school teacher as well as my idol. It is her passion and dedication to her kids, as well as every person in her life, that has inspired me to dream big and continue my education here at the university as the first in my family. Currently, I am volunteering for the Arizona Emergency Medical Research Center where I help with ongoing clinical trials in the emergency department. Getting to meet patients and work with the premier medical staff at Banner has been an amazing opportunity and has solidified my passion for healthcare.

You were selected as one of the inaugural Franke Honors Scholars. Congratulations! What has receiving this award meant to you?

Being selected as a Franke Honors Scholar and receiving this scholarship has meant so much to me as well as my family. My mother has worked tirelessly to help support my dreams from a young age and has done everything in her power to be my biggest supporter along the way. This remained true when I decided to attend the University of Arizona. However, with four other siblings, two with medical conditions, on a teacher's salary, supporting me financially with the steep prices of a college education is not entirely possible for our family. Being chosen for this scholarship was beyond helpful to me as it has allowed me to free much of the financial burden school ensues, continue to study physiology, as well as follow my passions such as volunteering for Arizona Emergency Medical Research Center. Not only has it relieved much of the financial stress and allowed me to continue my path to my goals, but it has also inspired my siblings to attend college in the future. As the first in my family to continue my education, seeing me succeed and seeing that people recognize my determination and are generous enough to support me has been a giant source of hope for my family. Being able to inspire this hope and encourage my siblings to pursue an education means more than words could describe. I hope that my story can inspire others to take the steps and be the first in their families to attend college.

What are your current goals for the future (or after graduation)?

From as early as I can remember I have always been very interested in the healthcare field. Growing up with a lot of siblings, helping my mom in her elementary classes, and teaching children’s gymnastics, I decided that I wanted to help and support the pediatric community. Thanks to this scholarship I will graduate in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science and get to continue to make this goal of working in healthcare a reality. After graduation, I hope to get my master's in anesthesiology and become an anesthesiologist's assistant with a focus on pediatrics. As an anesthesiologist assistant, I would like to work with children and help inspire them to chase their goals as well as provide the compassion and support my siblings and I have received from healthcare workers in our times of need.

Would you like to share anything else about being a Franke Scholar?

I would like to say a huge thank you to Mr. Franke and his entire family for their generosity. I am beyond grateful that I was chosen for this award. Being one of the inaugural Franke Honors scholars has been a true honor and I am so thankful to have been chosen. I cannot thank everyone who has made this possible enough, not only for their generosity, but their kind words, faith in me, and support. I also wanted to thank the faculty who made this possible. Their continuous support of students is much appreciated. This award has truly changed my life and having the Franke’s and the university's support has meant the world to me. I hope to one day be able to support future students just as much as this award has helped me!

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You can make a difference. 

The Franke Honor College is dedicated to making the college experience accessible to all students and offering a variety of scholarships is a top priority. All gifts make a difference and can have a life-changing impact on a student. Learn more about the many scholarship opportunities we have available to Franke Honors students, and consider giving back by supporting an existing scholarship fund or working with the Franke Honors College to create a scholarship that supports a passion that you have.