Providence School senior Joshua Frankenfield has been named a Commended Student in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. Frankenfield is one of about 34,000 students throughout the nation being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.
“Joshua has demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,”said Rodney Meadth, Providence Upper School principal. “We are delighted to see him recognized for his individual accomplishments, and we are grateful for the institutional recognition for the key role Providence has played in his academic development.”
“Joshua’s work is outstanding, both in its quality and its consistency,” said Meadth. “We’re so proud of him for achieving this national recognition, knowing that such accomplishments are always the result of long-term diligence. It’s a privilege to have him as a Providence senior.”
Frankenfield is already well on his way to a career in national service. The Santa Barbara resident has had a desire to serve in the Army National Guard since the time of the Thomas Fire.
As his family and numerous other residents drove north to find respite from the smoke, Frankenfield watched National Guard vehicles driving south, toward the flames. The National Guard had been activated to assist during the fire and provided rescue and relief during the subsequent mudslide that devastated Montecito.
Frankenfield began researching ways he could get involved and found he could enlist as a high school student through the National Guard’s Split Training Option. He attended basic combat training this past summer, and as he completes his senior year at Providence he continues to train with his local unit one weekend each month.
After graduation, Frankenfield will be trained as a petroleum laboratory specialist, his enlisted specialty.
Frankenfield said he believes Providence has prepared and equipped him for success in his future academic pursuits. He plans to major in biochemistry, psychology or neuroscience in college.
He credits his Providence science teacher Taylor Randle Hurt with instilling in him a love of biology, chemistry and physics, ultimately inspiring his desire to pursue a chemistry-based military occupational specialty.
In addition to his love of science, Frankenfield’s academic interests include engineering, literature, economics and theology. Outside of academics, he enjoys athletics, studying human behavior, creative writing, and staying active through self-defense training. Eventually, he would like to become a novelist.