Auburn Alumni Association
Black Alumni Council Dr. Harold A. Franklin Annual Scholarship

In an effort to increase scholarship offerings for current and future undergraduate students, the Black Alumni Council is proud to create a new scholarship to support Auburn University’s goal of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion among its student body, which is key to its education mission.

This scholarship honors Dr. Harold A. Franklin. Dr. Franklin was the first African American admitted to Auburn University in 1964. Franklin was admitted under heavy guard and was kept isolated from other students in campus housing. Although obstacles of the era prevented Dr. Franklin from completing his degree at Auburn, he went on to earn a master’s degree in history at the University of Denver, and later pursue a renowned career in Higher Education at many institutions. In 2020, after 56 years Auburn awarded Dr. Franklin his master’s degree.

The Auburn Alumni Association’s Black Alumni Council is comprised of 10 alumni representing a variety of colleges/schools, graduation years and geographical locations. The council’s primary mission is to facilitate the engagement of black alumni and friends with the Auburn Alumni Association and Auburn University while supporting the goals and mission of the Auburn Alumni Association on matters pertaining to Black alumni.

This scholarship is awarded to current students by the Office of University Scholarships among current students with demonstrated financial need that are actively involved with one of the following Auburn University student organizations: Black Student Union; National Society of Black Engineers; African Student Association; The National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers . Students must complete the scholarship application through the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM) by 4:45 p.m. CST on February 1 to receive consideration.

Please contact the Office of University Scholarships at scholar@auburn.edu or 334-844-7570 with questions.