Texas Teen Honored by Glamour Magazine
New Braunfels, Tx (PRWEB) November 11, 2014 -- A South Central Texas teen who overcame personal obstacles to become a successful student with college ambitions was honored Monday night as part of Glamour’s 2014 Women of the Year awards gala.
Katelyn (Kat) Franzen, a high school senior in Cibolo, Texas, was among 10 young women from around the world who was honored last night at Glamour’s annual Women of the Year awards gala at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Franzen and the other young women were recognized part of Glamour’s new effort to recognize girls everywhere who defy the odds to go to school.
At home, Franzen endured years of a traumatic home life, a bitter divorce and a long custody battle that left her with extreme depression and a loss of self-confidence. She mustered the courage to move out of her home and in with friends so she could bring stability to her own life and continue her education. Thanks to the ongoing support of Communities In Schools (CIS), she is now preparing to finish high school this spring and go on to study veterinary medicine.
“I am so proud to stand among other young women from around the world who have overcome incredible barriers and persevered to follow their dreams,” said Franzen. “So much of my life has been marked by experiences and personal problems that left me humbled and defeated. But no more. Today I feel empowered.”
Franzen says her success would not have been possible without the support of Amanda Tribble, her Communities In Schools site coordinator at Byron P. Steele II High School outside San Antonio.
“Ms. Tribble was a caring adult I felt I could trust and depend on,” added Franzen. “Her advice and the support of Communities In Schools helped change the picture for me. I hope that I can use the platform provided by Glamour to help inspire other girls, just as Ms. Tribble inspired me.”
“Kat’s story is an example of how CIS does whatever it takes to help kids succeed in school and achieve in life,” said Tribble. “But she and the other young women are the true heroes, and I am so proud that Glamour is shining the light on their stories.”
Communities In Schools is partnering with Glamour on the launch of The Girl Project, a global initiative championing girls’ education, launching today. The Girl Project will raise funds and awareness to help address obstacles that prevent girls from attending secondary school by allowing women in the U.S. to help support the actual schooling of girls around the globe. You can learn more at Thegirlproject.com.
About Communities In Schools
Communities In Schools of South Central Texas is part of the national Communities In Schools network which operates in more than 2,200 schools in the most challenged communities of 26 states and the District of Columbia. Working closely with school districts and partner organizations, Communities In Schools serves 1.3 million young people and their families each year. Based directly inside schools throughout the country, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to basic and critical educational and community-based resources, tailored to each student’s specific needs. Learn more about Communities In Schools and Communities In Schools of South Central Texas at http://www.cis-sct.org/
About Glamour:
Glamour is the biggest fashion and beauty magazine brand in its competitive set, reaching an all-time high of 1 out of every 8 American women, with 12.2 million print readers and 8.5 million unique users online. Glamour was the first women’s magazine with an iPad edition and has launched popular special editions, apps, and books—including two New York Times best-sellers—and received a record number of National Magazine Awards, including Magazine of the Year, honoring print and digital excellence. In 2013, Glamour launched its video channel, which now boasts 37 video series, 770 videos, more than 179,000 subscribers, and 39 million views, and has received substantial critical accolades including a 2014 National Magazine Award for Video and a Television Academy honor for the Glamour digital video series Screw You Cancer. In 2014, Glamour launched Lipstick.com, Glamour’s stand-alone beauty site and Condé Nast’s first-ever digital spin-off. With a robust social strategy across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, and Tumblr, Glamour’s total social media amplification is at a record high of 48 million. For more information, visit Glamour.com.
Steve Majors, Communities In Schools, +1 (703) 518-2554, [email protected]
Share this article