Pioneers Club
Tradition. Courage. Success.
A PROUD HISTORY
In the fall of 1946, Dr. Sumner Bohee ’50, Franklin & Marshall’s first African American
student, began his undergraduate studies at the College. More pioneering Black students
soon joined him, among them Sydney Bridgett ’51; Grant Means ’51; Dr. Henry Wiggins
’55; and the Rogers brothers, Richard Rogers, Esq., ’57, P’90, Lemuel A. Rogers Jr.,
M.D., '59 and Peter Rogers ’69. In the decades since, a growing body of African American
students has contributed significantly to the College in and out of the classroom
and beyond campus; more than 800 African American alumni strengthen our communities,
lead industries and defend our nation.
Learn more about pioneering Black students and faculty at F&M by visiting the F&M Black History Timeline.
THE PIONEERS CLUB
In 2016, in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the first Black student’s admission
to Franklin & Marshall, the African American Alumni Council (AAAC) launched the Pioneers
Club - a philanthropic initiative dedicated to fostering an inclusive, equitable,
and supportive environment for all students. It is not enough for students of color
to exist on campus; they must be included. This means creating a space where every
student feels they belong and recognizes that our differences serve as our greatest
teachers.
Excellence is inseparable from diversity. By investing in the Pioneers Club, you are helping to build a campus ecosystem where unique perspectives are valued, sparking the kind of rigorous dialogue and empathy that prepares every student to lead in a global society. Our goal is to enrich the educational journey for the entire campus through cross-cultural learning, ensuring that every graduate leaves with the perspective and empathy required to thrive in a diverse world.
We invite you to participate in building this legacy. Thank you for your partnership.
CONTRIBUTE TODAY
To contribute online, use the button below, and write “Pioneers Club” in the notes
section.
Student Spotlights
Curtis Mark ’23
As an aspiring anesthesiologist, junior Curtis Mark had been searching for Franklin & Marshall College alumni in the field. After connecting with Dr. Michael Fishman ’05, M.D., on the True Blue Network, he embarked on an internship with the Center for Interventional Pain and Spine (CIPS), Since onboarding, Mark has been shadowing patient visits and surgeries, learning about patient charts and how to include notes, learning how to read medications, and getting insight into CIPS studies on chronic pain. He even began his own research study on a topic he always found fascinating: phantom limb pain, which is when patients report feeling pain in a limb even after it has been removed. “All these things I’ve never experienced before I’m getting to learn about,” Mark said. “Being submerged in this environment is really giving me that other component of a liberal arts education I came to F&M for.”
Read more of his story »Join the Pioneers Club
The African American Alumni Council firmly believes that any efforts to honor and celebrate our pioneering students and alumni of color must include a concerted effort to elevate, through our philanthropy, students of color at F&M. It is in this spirit that the council has created the Pioneers Club.
The AAAC hopes you, also, will be touched, moved and inspired to give generously to this investment in the future of African Americans and all people of color at the College.
We invite you to participate. Thank you for your partnership.
Note: When making your gift online, be sure to write "Pioneers Club" in the notes section.
