University of North Texas 
The Frank C. Spencer Scholarship awards between $4,000 and $5,000 to multiple recipients.
Frank Cole Spencer was born in a country farmhouse in west Texas in 1925. The Spencer family's work ethic, instilled in Dr. Spencer at a young age, enabled him to excel in his studies when enrolled as a chemistry major at the University of North Texas at the age of 15. According to Dr. Spencer, "My good fortune evolved from very modest circumstances in the farming country of Western Texas. It resulted from the combination of access to good education, good teachers, and a lot of hard work."
Distinguished Career Highlights
- Completed bachelor's degree in chemistry at UNT in two and a half years
- Was accepted at Vanderbilt School of Medicine in Nashville at the age of 17
- Served as a surgeon in the Korean War and earned the Legion of Merit Award for his work with arterial injuries
- Joined the John Hopkins faculty
- Launched University of Kentucky Medical School
- Served as chair of surgery at New York University, launched the NYU cardiac surgery program
- Retired as chair in 1998 and remained active as a NYU faculty.
Recipient of scholarship will be chosen based on overall achievement.
To be considered for the Frank C. Spencer Rural Scholarship, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
- Maintain full time enrollment in a program of the College of Science at the University, unless they have fewer than twice the number of semester hours required to be full time remaining in their degree program.
- Demonstrate financial need by submitting FAFSA to UNT and qualifying for financial support
- Applicants must apply and be accepted to UNT.
- Applicants must meet minimum and continuing academic performance standards of the College of Science in effect at the time of any award.
- Preference will be given to applicants who come from a "highly rural" Texas county defined by population density; or in the event no applicant meets this criteria the students who are graduates from any Texas public high school in a county outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex will be eligible
The following must be submitted to the scholarship committee for consideration by the DEADLINE DATE:
1. Two letters of recommendation: one academic and one personal (not related)
2. A 500 word essay addressing your qualifications, your career aspirations, and how
this scholarship will help you achieve your career goals.
Any questions can be sent to amymarie.ashmore@unt.edu.