As the fifth member of his family to attend Franklin & Marshall, Ben Lockey ’26 has made his own distinct splash on campus as a swimmer and scholar. 

“There are a ton of family ties,” said Lockey, a double major in economics and philosophy. “But even more importantly, it was the community that attracted me. The environment here is so welcoming.”

A member of the men’s swim team, Lockey dove right into the role of student-athlete at F&M. He earned NCAA All-American status in the 200-yard freestyle relay (2024) and is a second-team All-Centennial Conference honoree in the 200-yard medley relay (2024), 400-yard medley relay (2024), 200-yard freestyle relay (2025), and 400-yard freestyle relay (2025).

Lockey was also named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team in 2025 and 2026, and the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Ben Lockey '26 is a member of the men’s swim team, head economics and business tutor, Class of 2026 treasurer, Benjamin Franklin Financial Honor Society member, John Newman Association member, and vice president of The Hidden Opponent campus chapter. (Photo by Dave Sinclair)

“You can really make a name for yourself at F&M,” said Lockey, of Edison, N.J. “The 9-to-1 [student-to-faculty] ratio is amazing. You can establish relationships with professors here. I've done it in both economics and philosophy, and even business.”

He comes from an accomplished line of Lockeys who chose to don the title of Diplomat.

His older sister, Olivia Lockey ’23, also swam for the Diplomats. Ben and Olivia’s great-grandfather, Stephen Lockey II (Class of 1928), played football at F&M. His son, Stephen Lockey III ’58 (uncle to Ben and Olivia), attended F&M and went on to found the Allergy & Asthma Center of Lancaster. 

The son of Stephen Lockey III, Stephen Lockey IV ’11 (cousin to Ben and Olivia), is now assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at University of Virginia. He and his wife, Deanna (Ross) Lockey ’12, were married in F&M’s Nevin Chapel in 2014.

Lockey’s first year on campus overlapped with sister Olivia. A previous Fulbright teaching fellow in Albania, she is now a research assistant for the Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development in Italy, a research partnership between the School of Law of the University of Bologna and the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.

"You can really make a name for yourself at F&M. The 9-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio is amazing. You can establish relationships with professors here."

Ben Lockey '26

Outside of the pool, Lockey has established himself as a versatile scholar. He is the recipient of the College’s Minnie Zeid Memorial Prize, awarded to a graduating economics major who achieved the highest cumulative grade average. He will graduate with honors in philosophy after successfully defending his thesis on April 30. 

Lockey credits philosophy courses for strengthening his economic studies. “That critical thinking aspect is so valuable. Everything is really connected in college. Most of the philosophers that I read are also huge names in economics,” he said.

Lockey is most proud of his work with The Hidden Opponent, an athlete mental health advocacy organization. He pioneered several self-care nights, handing out goodie bags and informational pamphlets to the campus community. 

“I thought there would be benefits in an event directed not just toward athletes, but to all students. Mental health is so valuable in college,” Lockey said.

Over the past four years, Lockey has grown to love Lancaster – so much that he accepted a job not far from campus as a public equity research analyst at Gardner Russo & Quinn, where he has interned for the past two summers. Partner Timothy Quinn ’99 is the firm's director of research.

“I want to establish myself as an analyst and someone who can succeed in the field, and ultimately go to business school,” Lockey said.  

A member of the men’s swim team, Lockey dove right into the role of student-athlete at F&M. He earned NCAA All-American status in the 200-yard freestyle relay in 2024. (Photo by Dave Sinclair)

Academic and Athletic Excellence at F&M

F&M is among an elite group of liberal arts colleges that maintain exceptional academic standards while also competing in athletics at a highly successful level. Our historic mission of educational excellence and deep commitment to the holistic development of our students gives us a distinct perspective on intercollegiate athletics.

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