Give to the Dr. Harold A. Franklin Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Help underrepresented students attend Auburn — regardless of their financial standing — and honor the legacy of Auburn’s first black student by supporting the Dr. Harold A Franklin Memorial Endowed Scholarship.

The Black Alumni Council Dr. Harold A. Franklin Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established in 2021 to provide financial support for students from historically underrepresented communities.

A pioneer and trailblazer, Harold Franklin became the first black student at Auburn University when he began classes on January 4, 1964, breaking down barriers and integrating the university.

Franklin left Auburn in 1965 and completed his master’s degree in international studies from the University of Denver. In 2001, Auburn honored Franklin as its first black student by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Arts and in 2015 erected a historic marker in Franklin’s honor near the Ralph Brown Draughon Library, where he first registered for classes.

In February 2020, Auburn righted a wrong by allowing Franklin to defend his thesis, a graduation requirement he was denied in 1965. He successfully defended and was finally able to walk across the stage on December 12, 2020, to receive his master’s degree from Auburn University. Franklin passed away on Thursday, September 9, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. He was 88.

Help us meet our goal to establish this scholarship by donating on this special day. Your donation to this scholarship is more than just a gift – it’s a chance for a new generation of Auburn men and women to belong and continue to make the world a better place.  

In addition, the Auburn Alumni Association and the F. Allen & Louise K. Turner Charitable Foundation will increase the impact of your contribution by providing up to $37,500 in matching gifts.