Over the course of 2025 True Blue Weekend events, the Franklin & Marshall community gathered to honor alumni whose philanthropy, service and achievement have shaped our College and the world. Their generosity, commitment and influence serve as a powerful example for today’s and tomorrow’s Diplomats.

The Nevonian Medal

Franklin & Marshall College awards the Nevonian Medal annually to a member of the Nevonian Society who has demonstrated extraordinary service and sustained dedication to the College. Honorees demonstrate their commitments in many ways, including but not limited to: leadership on behalf of College committees, councils and other volunteer groups, philanthropic support, mentorship of students and fellow alumni, and personal advocacy on behalf of F&M. 

Robert H. Smith ’60, P’89, G’25 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in government. Smith built his career at Time Inc., ultimately serving as president of Time Life Education. A Franklin & Marshall College Emeritus Trustee, he served on numerous Board committees during his terms, which spanned three College presidents. Smith has served his alma mater as a regional volunteer, a reunion volunteer and a class agent. Smith and his wife, Annelise, are members of the Tow’r & Bell and William A. Schnader giving societies, and their philanthropic support includes gifts to The Robert H. ’60 and Annelise Smith Endowment in Theater; the Franklin & Marshall Fund; the Barbara K. Altmann Endowed Scholarship; Diplomat Athletics; capital building projects; and financial aid. They are the parents of Kristina Smith Nebel ’89 and the grandparents of Eva Smith ’25.

Alumni Medal

The Alumni Medal, the Alumni Association Board’s oldest and most prestigious award, is presented annually by the Franklin & Marshall College Alumni Association Board of Directors to an alumnus or alumna in recognition of sustained, distinguished and outstanding service to the College.

Paul W. Ware ’72, P’99 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a major in special studies with business. Ware is an Emeritus Trustee of Franklin & Marshall College following his Board service from 1995 to 2010. He has also served his alma mater as a campaign leader and volunteer. In 1994, he was named F&M’s Volunteer of the Year. With his wife, Judy, he established the Ware Institute for Civic Engagement and Ware College House as well as the Ware College House Programs Endowed Fund, which provides yearly funding for leadership of the House to support diverse student programming. The Wares are also staunch advocates and significant annual donors to the Benjamin Franklin Fund and have been lead donors on a number of capital projects that include academic buildings and athletic facilities. Paul and Judy are members of the College’s Founders Society, William A. Schnader Society, Benjamin Franklin Society and 1787 Society. 

Alumni Development Volunteer Award

The Alumni Development Volunteer Award is presented by the Franklin & Marshall College Alumni Association Board of Directors to alumni who have excelled in raising funds and obtaining pledges for the College.

Katherine Quick Rosa ’92, P’25 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in government. Rosa is the managing director at Velvet Sea Ventures with more than 30 years in investment leadership. She is a member of the College’s Board of Trustees and is the former chair of F&M’s Leadership Council. She previously served as a member of the Franklin & Marshall Fund Global Steering Committee and as a reunion class volunteer. Along with Kathy Hay Stine ’85, she co-founded and is a charter member of F&M Women & Philanthropy. Rosa is a member of the John Marshall Society, Benjamin Franklin Society and 1787 Society. Her philanthropy includes gifts to the Rosa Diplomat Leadership Scholarship, the Center for Career & Professional Development and the Franklin & Marshall Fund. Rosa is married to Carlos Rosa, and they have four children: Andrew, Caroline, Douglas ’25 and Evan.

Kathy Hay Stine ’85 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in economics and earned her MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. Stine is a financial advisor with Northeast Private Client Group with extensive experience in finance and investment. Stine is a member of the College’s Board of Trustees, serves as chair of the Board’s investment committee and is a reunion class volunteer. She previously served as a member of F&M’s Leadership Council and as an admission volunteer. With Kathy Quick Rosa ’92, she co-founded and is a charter member of F&M Women & Philanthropy. She and her husband Craig are members of the College’s Tow’r & Bell Society, Benjamin Franklin Society and 1787 Society. They established the Stine Franklin & Marshall Fund Scholarship and have supported numerous College initiatives, including the Jack Hay Memorial Covenant Fund for Study Abroad, COVID-19 relief, the Franklin & Marshall Fund, community & belonging priorities and financial aid.

Alumni Citation

The Alumni Citation is presented annually by the Franklin & Marshall College Alumni Association Board of Directors to an alumna or alumnus who is distinguished in a particular profession, has provided dedicated leadership and service to the community and has established an exemplary record of accomplishment in a specific field of endeavor.

Lawrence G. Braitman, Esq. ’80 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in psychology. Braitman began his career in business law before becoming a pioneering tech entrepreneur. He co-founded Flycast Communications and Adify, both of which were later acquired. Today, he invests in companies such as Udemy, Flixster and TRM Labs. A former member of the College’s Board of Trustees and F&M’s Leadership Council, Braitman is a member of the College’s Founders Society, William A. Schnader Society, Benjamin Franklin Society and 1787 Society. His support for F&M includes philanthropy for strategic initiatives, capital building projects, financial aid and the Franklin & Marshall Fund.

Mary Little ’75 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in geology and earned a master’s degree in earth sciences from the University of California-Santa Cruz and an MBA from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Little is the founder of Mirasol Resources Ltd., a metals exploration company in Chile and Argentina, and formerly held leadership positions at Newmont, WMC Ltd., and Cyprus Amax. She has also served on the boards of several international mining companies and professional organizations. Little is a member of the Benjamin Franklin and 1787 giving societies. As an alumna, she has supported F&M through gifts to the Geoscience Founders Society and financial aid as well as service on the F&M Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Peter Svarzbein ’02 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in English and earned a master of fine arts degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Svarzbein is a photographer, artist, and community engagement and communication strategy consultant. He is a former El Paso city councilman and mayor pro tempore, and in those roles, he championed transit-oriented development initiatives. He also served as the first Latino national chairman of Sister Cities International, where he led three successful U.S.-Mexico Sister Cities mayors’ summits. His art and civic leadership will be highlighted in an upcoming book from Harvard University Press.

Graduates of the Last Decade Award

The GOLD Award is presented by the Franklin & Marshall College Alumni Association Board of Directors to an alumna or alumnus who graduated within the last 10 years and who has contributed significant service and support to the College.

Keiran Miller ’15 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in English and earned a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. Miller is director of college prep programs at Cooperman College Scholars, overseeing recruitment, advising and pre-college programming. He previously counseled students in Greece as a U.S. College Counseling Fellow. He serves his alma mater as a reunion volunteer and admission network member, and his philanthropic support of the College includes gifts to the Black Student Union, the Franklin & Marshall Fund, the Pioneers Club and financial aid. He is a member of the 1787 Giving Society.

Sydney N. Bridgett ’51 Award

The Sydney N. Bridgett ’51 Awards are presented by the African American Alumni Council of Franklin & Marshall College to alumni of African descent for outstanding achievement in a chosen profession or endeavor.

Madaline Evans Haigentz, CPA, CGMA ’74 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in accounting. Haigentz is chief financial officer for Thomas Windows and Thomas Contractors, Inc. and has more than 40 years of corporate and nonprofit finance experience. She previously held senior roles at PwC, Hoffman La Roche, ITT Defense and NJ Transit, and was the chief financial officer for New York City Church of Christ. Haigentz is a member of the College’s 1787 Giving Society and supports F&M through gifts to the Franklin & Marshall Fund, financial aid and the Pioneers Club.

G. Christopher Cosby ’82 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in government. He earned his law degree from University of Maryland’s Carey School of Law and a master’s of law (taxation) and an employee benefits certificate from the Georgetown University Law Center. Cosby is director of the Office of Exemptions Determinations at the U.S. Department of Labor. His career includes former roles in regulatory policy leadership at the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), where he served for many years as chief of regulatory policy analysis. A member of the College’s 1787 Giving Society, he has supported F&M through philanthropy support for the Franklin & Marshall Fund, Community & Belonging Priorities and financial aid.

Steven Ragland ’87 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in economics. He earned his MBA from Temple University and his law degree from the James E. Beasley School of Law at Temple. Ragland later founded his own law firm focused on litigation and bankruptcy. He now serves as assistant deputy with the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, overseeing parental rights cases, clemency applications and appeals.

Marja Brown Humphrey, Ph.D. ’99 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in biological foundations (neuroscience) and completed minors in dance and Africana studies. She earned her master’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and doctorate in counselor education and supervision from the University of Maryland, College Park. Humphrey is associate professor of counseling at Bowie State University, training graduate students for careers in urban communities. As an alumna, she has served as a regional volunteer and supported F&M philanthropically through gifts to the Franklin & Marshall Fund, financial aid, the Pioneers Club, the Black Student Union and Africana studies.

Aviel “A.V.” Ayoung ’06 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in Africana studies and a minor in film and media studies. Ayoung is a SAG-AFTRA fight coordinator, fight choreographer and stunt performer for film and television whose credits include “Black Panther,” “Free Guy,” “The Harder They Fall” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” He studied under “John Wick” director Chad Stahelski and has studied judo, muay thai and boxing, in addition to the skills he developed as a member of F&M’s varsity wrestling team.

Ibrahim Kamara ’15 graduated from Franklin & Marshall cum laude with majors in government and Spanish. Kamara was a varsity soccer and track athlete, as well as a Writing Center tutor and house adviser. Starting his career as a legal assistant, he joined Google as a legal policy specialist before transitioning to a role as a software engineer. Kamara remains an active alumni volunteer through the True Blue Corps.

Mariama Barry ’20 graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a joint major in government and international studies. Mariama recently earned her law degree from Penn State Dickinson Law, where she was active in moot court, mock trial and the Black Law Students Association. At F&M, she led the Black Student Union, joined the Academic Life Committee and studied abroad in Chile, Nepal and Jordan. She will begin her legal career at Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, a plaintiffs’ firm focused on corporate accountability.

Charlene S. Hopper ’76 is a posthumous recipient of the Sydney N. Bridgett ’51 Award. Hopper graduated from Franklin & Marshall with a degree in mathematics. Aged 16 at the time of her matriculation, she was believed to be the youngest African American student to enroll at F&M at that time. Despite chronic asthma, she excelled academically and hoped to attend medical school. After graduation, she began work in insurance before passing away from complications of an asthma attack. Her peers remember her intelligence, humor, and advocacy for education and medical equity.