The College of Fine Arts congratulates our John V. Roach Honors College 2020 Senior Scholars! Selected by faculty consensus in their respective schools and departments, these exceptional seniors represent academic excellence and outstanding achievement.
While Senior Scholars are typically honored at the Convocation of Academic Excellence in April each year, we are proud to recognize this year’s students virtually. Learn more about 2020 Fine Arts Senior Scholar, Alli Franken, and her future plans below.
Alli Franken, Department of Theatre
Senior Scholar Alli Franken
Degree: BFA in Theatre with an emphasis in acting
Hometown: Overland Park, Kan.
Why did you want to attend TCU?
TCU quickly proved itself to be a university where I would not only grow in my craft, but also as a human being. The TCU culture is unlike any other, always going the extra mile for their students and community. Theatre TCU cares about bringing forth the best in each student through intentional mentorship and excellent training, and I knew I wanted to be a part of the family.
Why did you choose to pursue a degree in acting?
Theatre creates compassion, empathy and authenticity in individuals and communities. I love collaboration and being a part of a vision bigger than myself. Acting gives me a creative outlet to impact people in profound and unique ways. I’ve learned more about myself, others and the world we live in through my time studying acting, and I’m so excited to go into that world so more stories can be told.
Tell us about some of the activities you were involved in at TCU.
In my time at TCU, I was able to house manage the Trinity Shakespeare Festival; build a leadership program for a summer theatre camp in Kansas City; choreograph a musical; perform in two main stage shows; spend a year with the comedy team, Senseless Acts of Comedy; co-direct a benefit concert for BCEFA; and partake in many more of the awesome opportunities that Theatre TCU has available to their students.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
In the fall of my senior year, the Theatre TCU faculty was generous enough to give me the opportunity to choreograph the main stage musical Sister Act as my departmental honors thesis. It was by far the largest project I had ever taken on. Getting to work side by side with the faculty and collaborate to create this magnificent production was so exciting.
What will you miss about TCU?
I’m going to miss walking down the hallway on the second floor of Ed Landreth Hall, greeting professors through their open doors. I know those doors will remain open to me as an alum, but I would have loved to walk that hallway one last time as a student and said my farewells.
What’s next?
I plan to pursue a career as a professional actress and choreographer!