At first glance it almost seem your artist is more Japanese rather than Chinese because although the phrases are Chinese origin they're not necessarily the first Chinese expression one uses in your situation, but they do work nonetheless. (I couldn't come up with examples of what the Chinese would use though, just a gut feeling)
志在千理 really should be 志在千里, this is why google was giving you a funny translation. Notice the last character is different. Please check the character with her. 理 is 'reason or logic' where as 里 is a mile. The phrase is from the poem 《龟虽寿》 by 曹操 Cao Cao (Romance of Three Kingdoms)- 老骥伏枥，志在千里。here he was referring to having the aspiration of the 千里马, a horse that can gallop for a thousand miles a day. In context, the writer expresses that though one may be advanced in years, their ambitions should see no limit. It also has the double meaning that your ambition is not the here and now, not even in the close vicinity, but to have the expanse and ambition of a thousand miles. If you search the phrase under google images you should see a number of scrolls. Personally I think this is the best one for your friend and the easiest to understand.
報恩感謝- means to repay kindness and have a grateful heart. It has a religious tone (especially Christianity) but works also as a general state of being. It's an unusual expression to write in a scroll and an unusual one to suggest.
進徳修業 is from I ching 《周易·乾卦》 with the original phrase being 子曰：君子進德修業. It's not easy to translate but as you described means the mark of a scholar is to constantly improve oneself, to grow in knowledge and understanding but at the same time become virtuous with their actions. It's knowledge that is practical and applied, implying an enlightenment that is expressed through noble actions and deeds. This phrase is also a suitable one for your friend.
The phrase your friend mentioned is more like something from Sun Tzu's Art of War, however most of those phrases are rather specific to warfare and not always applicable out of context. Anyway, hope that helps somewhat.