ASU Student receives Katherine Franzen scholarship

Layne Turner, a plant and soil science major at Arkansas State University, is the recipient of the Katherine Franzen Memorial Scholarship for the spring semester.

Franzen was a farmer and businesswoman from Arkansas County. Each spring, the Franzen family selects an ASU student for the award. Turner is from Gillett.

Scholarship recipients must be from Arkansas County and a full-time student at Arkansas State majoring in an agriculture-related field. Recipients must maintain a minimum 2.25 grade point average and must exhibit leadership qualities.

The Katherine Franzen privately-funded scholarship was established in 1992 by her grandson, Tom W. Franzen, to honor his grandmother who lived in Stuttgart.

The scholarship, which goes to a full-time second semester freshman, was founded to help students advance their education in the agricultural field.

Katherine E. Franzen (1914-2001) was a lifelong resident who contributed to a number of causes in the Stuttgart area. She was especially known for presenting anonymous gifts and sought no personal recognition, university officials said.

Turner is the son of Jammy and Laura Turner of Gillett.