Tanisha Tanis of Leominster knew that paying for college was likely going to mean taking on a fair amount of debt. To reduce the impact on her and her family, she started searching far and wide for scholarship opportunities when she found the Mancuso Scholarship at Framingham State University. 

Now, she has the chance to earn her degree for free.

"It means so much to have this opportunity to be able to study and not have to worry about the cost," says Tanis. "It's a blessing."

Tanis and Wendy Pierre, of Malden, are the third pair of recipients of the Mancuso English Humanities and Social & Behavioral Sciences Scholarships. They will enroll at Framingham State this fall with 100 percent of their tuition, fees, room and board covered by the scholarship.

Tanis will major in Psychology at FSU and is considering a minor in entrepreneurship. Her ultimate goal is to become a mental health counselor for young adults after obtaining a master's degree.

"Mental health is something I'm very passionate about," she says. "It's not discussed enough, particularly in the black community. I want to be able to advocate for people going through mental health issues."

The two students will have the opportunity to take all four years at Framingham State at no cost, but must meet certain scholarship requirements in order to have it renewed each year. English Professor Halcyon Mancuso created the scholarships through a $2.5 million financial commitment to Framingham State that was announced in 2018. She is also the inspiration, benefactor and director of FSU's Mancuso Humanities Workforce Preparation Center, which promotes the value of the humanities for creating vibrant thinkers, engaged citizens, and skilled professionals.

Pierre will major in English at FSU and is considering a minor in secondary education. He has strong interpersonal skills and is looking forward to developing his communication abilities into a future career.

"When the admissions counselor called me to deliver the news, I was stunned," Pierre says. "It's an enormous opportunity and it's like a financial weight has been lifted. I'm really appreciative."

There are two Mancuso Scholarships awarded at Framingham State every year. Mancuso designed the scholarship opportunity with an emphasis on career-readiness.

Mancuso scholars will be required to participate in at least two meaningful internships prior to graduation and also will need to complete a curriculum offered by the Office of Career Services and Employer Relations.

The students must also maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, participate in at least one extracurricular activity each semester, and write a paper at the end of each academic year reflecting on their career and academic growth.