UArizona Honors College

From left – William A. “Bill” Franke; Front Row – Clara Franke, Carolyn Franke, Stephanie Franke, Paige Franke; Back Row – Brian Franke, Bill Franke, Dave Franke, Jeff Okey.

A $25 million gift to the University of Arizona Honors College will provide students with scholarships, stipends for costs to attend the college, and funding for study-abroad opportunities.

The gift also gives the college a new name − W.A. Franke Honors College − in recognition of the gift made by William A. “Bill” Franke, his wife, Carolyn, and the Franke family.

The Frankes made the announcement at a Family Weekend event the weekend of October 8 with UArizona President Robert C. Robbins and Terry Hunt, the inaugural Franke Honors College Dean.

“I want the students from the Honors College to feel they have the leadership skill set to take their natural ability, which has been fine-tuned, and make a difference,” Bill Franke said. “Whether they’re going into science, education or business, there will be opportunities for them to provide a point of view and to help develop perspective with the communities they’re engaged with.”

The Frankes’ gift will fund scholarships for Honors College students, stipends to defray the cost of living in the Honors Village, and financial assistance for students who want to participate in study-abroad programs.

The gift also establishes an endowed chair for the college’s dean and a new Honors Faculty Academy. The academy will provide top faculty members with financial rewards for research and teaching purposes, giving the college a recruitment and retention tool, and ensuring honors students can work closely with mentors on research projects.

“We’re at an important juncture,” Hunt said. “We’re in a new building, and the W.A. Franke Honors College is poised to become a top honors college in the country. This support means we can serve our students well, and they will indeed be very successful.”

“We are very proud of what we have built at the Honors Village and this investment from the Franke family will ensure that finances are not an obstacle for bright students who choose to begin their journey in higher education at the University of Arizona,” Robbins said.

“This will impact a lot of students like me, who are first-generation and lowincome,” said Honors student Jennifer Garnica, who spoke at the announcement event. Garnica is a senior majoring in nutritional sciences who plans to become a doctor. “I know it will bring happy tears to them. I was lucky to be part of this journey and to have the honor to meet with the Franke family on multiple occasions.” Biz