The Joel Frankel Scholarship Fund is named in honor of Joel Frankel, Class of 1979, a Politics major with a strong interest in Latin America and Third World Studies who was co-founder and coordinator of the World Studies Table. Joel was an active member of the Merrill community. He firmly believed in the emphasis that UCSC placed on experiential learning and utilized many of the unique programs and facilities Merrill and UCSC had to offer. Joel was particularly concerned about humanitarian struggles in Central America and South Africa.
He traveled extensively in Latin America. While on a field study in Colombia, he wrote many letters to the Merrill Field Program which communicated the richness and depth of his experiences. He also gathered resource materials for the Merrill College Third World Teaching Resource Center. Upon his return to the University he met with students to share information with them about his field study and helped to create the World Studies Table which for several years was a place where students, faculty and guest lecturers would talk of their travels and research.
Joel died of leukemia on March 31, 1982 at the age of 24. He lived a relatively short amount of time, yet his involvement, concern, and compassion had an impact on all of those who knew him and can serve to encourage others to take more responsibility for their own lives and for the well-being of others.
Awards from the Joel Frankel Fund are made annually. Both the quality of the project proposal and financial need will be considered. Recipients of the Fund will be expected to make a presentation to the Merrill community, to contribute any written work and/or place any audio/visual material in the offices of the Latin American and Latino Studies Department. The student is also expected to prepare a summary describing the outcome of the field study.