A pioneering comedian, singer and writer, Carol Burnett was a trailblazer for women in entertainment. Her love affair with performance began on UCLA’s campus. After being awarded a scholarship to attend, Burnett began studying journalism, then switched to theater arts and English with the intention of becoming a playwright. She found she had to take an acting class to enter the playwright program, which forever changed her course. During her junior year, a professor invited Burnett to perform at a black-tie party. There, Burnett was approached by a man and his wife who were particularly impressed. In fact, he offered her a $1000 interest-free loan to pursue her acting career. The conditions were she had to pay it back in five years, never reveal his name, and if she became a success, she would help others attain their dreams. She took the offer. Burnett went on to become the first woman to host a variety show, The Carol Burnett Show, running for 11 seasons and winning 27 prime time Emmys and being named one of “The 100 Best Shows of All Time” by TIME magazine. In 1975, Burnett’s place in entertainment was made permanent when she received her spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.