Profiles from the Pack: Wendy Franczak

Wendy Franczak’s Madison College story starts with the kindness of people who helped her become a student. Sixteen years into her career as an employee, Wendy helps others find their way at the college, connects people across campus and reminds us that sometimes the best meetings come with a surprise feline appearance. 

How did an act of generosity help you start at Madison College? 
Immediately after high school, I got a full-time job and lived on my own. I worked at Christmas Mountain Village, and all the ladies there were Madison College students, so I picked up a paper catalog, went through it page by page, and eventually picked an interior design program. I’m a first-generation student, and I felt Madison College was a realistic and accessible option. The application wasn't free at the time, and I only made $10 an hour and lived on my own. My friend's mom paid my application fee, and my co-workers chipped in and bought me a printer so I could do my schoolwork. I couldn’t believe they would do that for me.  

What led you to choose a program? 
I’ve always wanted to be an artist, but I worried about making a living, so interior design felt like a practical way to be creative and have a career—and if I didn’t find a job, at least I would have a cool apartment! Around that same time, my dad was sick, and I told him I was going back to college. After he passed away, I knew I had to follow through.

You and your husband set up the Matt & Wendy Franczak Scholarship Fund for Madison College students in 2019. What inspired that decision?
One winter break, Matt and I looked at our finances and wanted to do something that would make a difference for students, so we created a scholarship with as few restrictions as possible; I envisioned somebody like me who was just “middle-of-the-road” but had a lot of potential. I didn’t even realize scholarships were for people like me when I was a student. There were times in college when I had $30 a week to live on after paying the bills.  Looking back, even a small scholarship would have made an enormous difference to me.

What does it mean to see the impact of that scholarship?
It makes me emotional when I go to the scholarship breakfast every year and see how students are helped. In my current role, I don’t interact with many students, but hearing scholarship recipients’ stories reminds me why I started the scholarship: It’s pretty cool!

As a Madison College web content specialist, why is your work so important?
The website is our No. 1 recruiting tool. Choosing a college is a huge, expensive decision, and students deserve honest, understandable information. "If we do that well, we save people time, money and students are more likely to complete a credential. That gives me a sense of purpose in my work."

What’s your superpower? 
I have worked at Madison College for 16+ years and know almost everyone here, so I am a connector. If someone has a problem or questions, I almost always know who to go to or how to figure it out.