F&M Stories

Home / Commencement / Commencement Archive / Commencement 2017 / Franklin & Marshall – Senior Spotlight: Keeping to the Beat of His Passion

Senior Spotlight: Keeping to the Beat of His Passion

As they prepare for their May 13 Commencement Ceremony, Franklin & Marshall seniors look back at their four years on campus—and what's next.

Name: Zachary Ezickson

Major: Music, with a film studies minor

Hometown: I moved to London when I was 12 and graduated high school there, but now my family lives in Washington, D.C.

Activities at F&M: Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, Music Honor Society, Catastrophic Relief Alliance, Jazz Big Band

What has been your most memorable moment or time here at F&M? I'll always remember playing with my band, Culture Blue, at the 2017 Spring Arts Weekend. I play trumpet and piano and plan to continue with the band after I graduate, so playing our last show at Franklin & Marshall was particularly special. That day also showed me how F&M's smaller and more intimate community can affect my life outside the classroom. We were able to advertise our performance around campus and had a great turnout, selling all of our Culture Blue T-shirts!

What did you enjoy most about your time at the College? F&M gave me many incredible opportunities. Most notably, during the summer after my junior year, I was given a grant from the Office of Student and Post-Graduate Development to live in New York City and intern at an interactive audio production startup. I was able to live and work in New York for three months, and made connections that could potentially land me a job after graduation.

What are your plans for after graduation? During my sophomore year at F&M, I met Hannibal Robinson, a junior at the time, and we formed the band Culture Blue. After I graduate, Hannibal and I plan on moving to Brooklyn, N.Y., to begin a long, but exciting journey with our band! Even though this isn't necessarily the normal path for a Franklin & Marshall graduate, I'm happy to say that being a student here has given me the confidence and motivation to follow something that I've wanted to do for my entire life.

Related Articles

April 28, 2026

The Subtle Strength of Leading Through Connection

When Ella Peeples ’26 arrived at Franklin & Marshall College, she was looking for the same close-knit mentorship she had cherished in high school. What she found was a platform to become that mentor for others.

April 27, 2026

College Celebrates Arbor Day with Three New Trees

More than 40 members of the Franklin & Marshall community gathered in Stutzman Memorial Garden April 24 to celebrate the College’s 12th annual Arbor Day tree planting.

April 27, 2026

F&M Launches Partnership with Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College for Scholarship Program in Policy, Tech, and Arts Graduate Programs

Franklin & Marshall College and Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy announced a new partnership to provide pathways for F&M students into high-demand graduate programs in public policy, technology, and the arts, offering a meaningful tuition support and access to industries including government, technology, cybersecurity, and entertainment.