The Community Foundation for Crawford County is pleased to introduce Ashley Franks, a 2026 recipient of the Blake Robert Fleure Memorial Scholarship award and one of the three Marvis Schaaf Scholarship awards.
Ashley, the daughter of Kristina Renee Franks and Jeremiah Charles Franks, is a 2026 graduate of Galion High School. She is attending Baldwin Wallace University and studying Psychology.
What inspired you to choose your intended major?
"I decided to major in Psychology because I have seen how mental illnesses can affect those close to me. Watching family members and friends struggle made me want to better understand what they are going through and how to help them in any way I can. My junior year, I took a college psychology class that made me even more fascinated by not only mental illnesses, but also the everyday processes of the brain and nervous system that influence human behavior."
What are your career and life goals after you graduate?
"After graduation, I plan to use my master's degree in Psychology to pursue a career as a therapist. While I am still exploring the specific path I would like to take, I am especially interested in incorporating art therapy into my career as my passion for art often explores various themes of mental health, and I would love to use art as a way to help heal others."
Congratulations and good luck in the future, Ashley!
To learn more about scholarships offered through the Foundation, visit www.cfcrawford.org/scholarships
