Gratitude in Action
Hard work and investing in others have been two consistent themes for John and Judy Frank. Following serving as a hospital corpsman in the Navy and a deployment to Iraq, John wanted to finish his college education. He enrolled at Tarrant County College’s Trinity River Campus and with the support of the GI bill, his wife and a lot of hard work, he was able to graduate with an associate degree.
John attributes his success in college to a several instructors at TCC. One in particular was an algebra professor he had at the Trinity River Campus.
Upon completing his classes at TCC, John transferred to Texas Wesleyan University where he completed 76 credit hours in a year and a half. In order to accomplish what seemed to be an impossible challenge, he took 24 credit hours in one semester. John finished all of his classes with a 4.0 GPA and received a bachelor’s degree in business management. After graduation, he accepted a position at BNSF Railway and now works as a fuel supply manager.
Between work and raising two children, Caleb, 6, and Olivia, 2, John and Judy still make time to volunteer and invest their resources at their church,Tarrant County Food Bank and Junior Achievement. This year, they decided to expand their giving to include Tarrant County College. John is grateful for the strong foundation TCC provided. He says, “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Tarrant County College.”
Higher education is very important to John and Judy, so they decided to help others achieve their educational goals by starting a scholarship. John and Judy contacted the TCC Foundation and learned that creating a scholarship was easier than they expected. In April of this year, they established the Frank Family Scholarship to benefit students attending Tarrant County College who wish to continue their education and complete a four-year degree. To receive this scholarship the recipient must be enrolled in at least 15 credit hours and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. “I was impressed by the faculty and military support I received while I was a student at TCC,” John said. “Being able to help students achieve their dreams through this scholarship is very rewarding.”
John and Judy are also leveraging their respective companies’ matching gift programs, allowing them to triple their initial contribution. Is your company a matchmaker? With matching gifts, individuals may be able to double or even triple their gift like the Franks have. To see what companies match gifts to the TCC Foundation, visit the corporate matching section of the Foundation’s website.