Ridgeline's Sam Frandsen is First in Utah to Win $40,000 BigFuture Scholarship
Millville, Utah – October 29, 2025
On October 29, 2025, Ridgeline High School senior Sam Frandsen was Utah’s first recipient of the $40,000 BigFuture (College Board’s college and career planning tool for students) Scholarship. Frandsen won the award by engaging in college and career planning through the BigFuture platform and intends to use the funds for medical school. BigFuture awards two $40,000 and hundreds of $500 scholarships every month.
The surprise was a collaborative effort between the College Board’s BigFuture program, Cache County School District administrators, and the Ridgeline High School Counseling Office. A visibly shocked Frandsen accepted the award with humility, stating, "This is so cool. Thank you so much! I’m lost for words." Frandsen earned the scholarship by engaging with the BigFuture platform, the College Board’s free college and career planning tool, which simplifies the path to life after high school. He plans to use the substantial funds to pursue his goal of attending medical school.
For Frandsen’s family, the scholarship represents far more than financial aid—it's the realization of a future they feared was out of reach. Laura Frandsen, Sam’s mother, shared the immense relief the award brings: “Paying for all of our children to go through college has never been something our family has been able to do. This helps greatly.” His father, David Frandsen, echoed that sentiment, saying, “Thanks for promoting education and helping the young people achieve all that they can.”
Frandsen is one of more than 24,000 students nationwide to have received a BigFuture Scholarship from the College Board since the program began in 2019. The program is designed to simplify the college search process by recommending small, actionable steps students can take at the right time—such as exploring career interests, identifying potential majors and colleges, and accessing financial aid.
Jesse Schmid, Frandsen’s school counselor, emphasized the importance of seeking out scholarship and other grant opportunities.
“We encourage students to apply to as many scholarships as they can,” Schmid said. “We have a district scholarship page that all counselors use to help students in all grades explore scholarship options—from local to national scholarships. Scholarships breed hope and encouragement– they truly open the door of possibilities for students.”
Sam Frandsen’s achievement serves as an inspiring example for his peers, demonstrating how engaging in college and career planning can lead to life-altering rewards. Students who wish to follow in his footsteps can learn more and begin their planning steps using the CCSD Scholarship Page.
