The late Hughlene Bostian Frank ’68, left, and her late husband, William “Bill” Frank, were longtime friends and supporters of Appalachian State University. Their estate recently provided funding for approximately 75% tuition for 12 full-time App State students from North Carolina’s Piedmont region, where the Franks lived. Photo by Marie Freeman
BOONE, N.C. — Twelve full-time Appalachian State University students from the state’s Piedmont region are beneficiaries of the Frank Scholars Program, funded by the late Hughlene Bostian Frank ’68 and William “Bill” Frank, who were longtime friends and supporters of App State.
In their estate plans, Hughlene and Bill made a provision for a significant scholarship for App State students. Their gift will provide scholarships for students who are graduates of a high school located in Guilford County — the Franks’ home county.
“Hughlene and Bill were beloved friends of the university and have left a lasting legacy that reflects how important App State was to them throughout their lives,” said Chancellor Sheri Everts. “Their gift speaks to the value the couple placed on education and to their deep and abiding love for App State and the young people who are drawn here.”
The inaugural group of Frank Scholars includes 12 students. The scholarship, which covers approximately 75% of the students’ tuition, is renewable annually.
“The couple’s lives were marked by their passions — education, community and creating opportunities,” said App State Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Jane Barghothi.
Giving back to a beloved institution
During Hughlene’s senior year at the university, in 1968, Appalachian State Teachers College became Appalachian State University, and she was extremely proud to be a member of the university’s first graduating class.
Over her lifetime, she served the university as a member of the Board of Trustees, the Appalachian State University Foundation Board and the Beaver College of Health Sciences Advisory Council.
She was a 2013 recipient of the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Service Award. In her video interview for the award, Hughlene said, “I wanted to be somebody, and I feel like that’s what Appalachian gave me the opportunity to be.”
She also encouraged others to give back to the university: “You do it because you care,” she shared. “I want Appalachian students to be able to go anywhere in life they dream of going.”
Bill was aligned with his wife’s love for the university. Together, the couple served on the College of Arts and Sciences Advancement Council for a combined 39 years. They also established the university’s first nursing scholarship for nontraditional students, in the RN to BSN degree program.
In 2004, the Franks established the lead endowment for the university’s annual fall and spring Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series. They were also supportive of the following at App State:
- A wide variety of scholarships.
- The College of Arts and Sciences — in which Hughlene studied mathematics.
- Athletics.
- University Libraries.
- The Turchin Center for Visual Arts.
- An Appalachian Summer Festival.
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About Scholarships at App State
Appalachian State University offers students the opportunity to receive a world-class education at an affordable rate, with an average of $25 million awarded to incoming, current and transfer students each year based on need, as well as academic and athletic achievement. On average, about $4.9 million in outside aid is awarded to App State students annually. App State’s Office of Student Financial Aid and University Scholarships assists students in learning about and applying for these university scholarship opportunities and also shares information about non-App State scholarships. Learn more at https://scholarships.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
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