Haley Franklin, a native of Scott, graduated debt-free from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in May 2024 with a bachelor of science in nursing and a 3.74 grade point average.
Franklin also began her legacy of giving back by launching the Heart to Heal Nursing Scholarship, awarding it to junior nursing student Jaylia Knight recently.
The goal of the award is to present it to a deserving nursing student in Arkansas. Franklin and her parents, Eric and Erika Franklin, came to UAPB in September to present $500 to Knight.
During the presentation, Knight was joined by other junior nursing students, including Marc William Guelache, Dennis Joshua Samuel, Cherish Hampton, and Inertia Mugethi. Prior to the selection, each was anxiously waiting to see who would win the scholarship, according to a news release.
Knight is from Grady and wanted to become a nurse after helping a family member who was ill, she said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“My inspiration comes from my father,” Knight said. “He was sick the majority of my life, and I helped my mother take care of him during covid. He passed in 2021. He has inspired me to become a geriatrics nurse.”
Knight says she’s grateful to have earned the scholarship.
“Me receiving this scholarship was very helpful and meaningful. It’s good to know that we have wonderful upcoming nurses from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff that are looking forward to giving back. I would like to thank Miss Haley again for the opportunity,” Knight said.
Haley Franklin said that choosing the recipient was a “hard decision because everyone’s story was touching.” She shared that her goal was to provide a bit of help because “nursing school is expensive.”
A psychiatric nurse at Baptist Health in Little Rock, Franklin, provides care while advocating for mental health awareness. Her nursing path was shaped by prior work at Arkansas Children’s Hospital as a patient care technician and a traveling certified nursing assistant (CNA) for A Place at Home, both located in Little Rock. Going into the medical field is a family tradition. Franklin’s grandmothers were CNAs. Her older sister is a nurse in Houston, and her younger sister is pursuing her nursing degree at Grambling State University. In addition to her professional journey, Franklin served in Chi Alpha, a Christian student ministry.
She was a key member of SWAG (Students Working Achieving Goals) – an organization founded by her mother to support and mentor high school students in Central Arkansas. Through SWAG, she continues mentoring future healthcare scholars.
The Haley Franklin Legacy of Care Endowment was created in partnership with SWAG. The endowment awarded two one-time annual scholarships to a high school junior and senior pursuing a healthcare career.
Her community impact has been recognized. Franklin is a two-time recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, which was honored by then-President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump for her outstanding dedication to service, according to a news release.