The GLAMom’s Meet a Mom this week is honoring Frances Nambi Kaneene.
Frances was an Academic Advisor at Michigan State University for over 30 years and was called “mama” by many of her students! She fostered confidence and encouraged the pursuit of dreams while advising how to achieve academic goals. “Though she had three kids by blood, she was a mother to so many others,” her daughter Tessa Kaneene once said.
While Frances succumbed to a hard fought battle with cancer in 2020, her community – made up of her family, friends, students, colleagues and her employer – are working together to continue Frances’ impact. And the Greater Lansing community is invited.
The Frances Kaneene 5k and Festival is on her heavenly birthday – Sunday, September 12. The race and celebration will take place at Hawk Island trails where Frances herself ran for over two decades – even while undergoing treatment. There is also a virtual option available for those who would like to participate virtually and wear your race t-shirt while you walk or run in spirit.
Just before Frances passed, Michigan State University created the Frances Kaneene Study Abroad Scholarship in her honor. Co-creators Kim Chung and John Kerr, Kaneene’s longtime colleagues and friends, created this fund with hopes it will build in perpetuity to help Kaneene’s legacy continue forever.
All race proceeds will benefit the Frances Kaneene Study Abroad Scholarship. A scholarship created to assist students win her department with opportunities to study abroad. “It’s beautifully full circle, she herself received similar Scholarships: born in Uganda, she first had the opportunity to study in Paris before receiving a Scholarship to study in the United States.” her daughter Tessa shared when we recently spoke and learned about her mom.
Frances and Tessa
We did not have the opportunity to meet Frances yet we are humbled to have been asked to share her story and the celebration of her life with GLAMoms. GLAMom’s is honored to join a long list of Greater Lansing area businesses as a sponsor of this incredible event celebrating Frances!
If you are interested in participating, volunteering or learning more about Frances Nambi Kaneene, please visit the Frances 5k + Festival website HERE.
Other area news segments and articles about Frances Kaneene 5k & Festival
- The Lansing State Journal
- The Detroit Free Press
- The State News
- The City Pulse
- WILX
- Fox 47
- Mateen Cleaves
Photo credit: Tessa Kaneene
Frances 5k + Festival website HERE
