F&M Stories
Incoming Class Encouraged to Chart New Paths at Convocation
Lined up under a cerulean sky, members of the Franklin & Marshall College Class of 2026 began their F&M journeys by walking into Convocation Aug. 30.
The time-honored event signifies not only the start of those journeys, but also the beginning of the College's academic year. Watch the recorded ceremony.
Faculty and professional staff gathered outside the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center to applaud the 495 first-year and transfer students proceeding toward the ceremony.
"Stretch in every possible way— right now, in your first days and weeks here, and then throughout your career at F&M," President Barbara Altmann said to the incoming class.
"You can stretch intellectually, socially, physically, to reach far beyond what you already know, and it will make you a wiser, better, more effective citizen of the world," she added.
Senior Kyra Caffrey, president of Diplomatic Congress and the student body, shared a similar sentiment.
"Three years ago, I was sitting in your seat. I had my whole life planned out," she said.
Exploring various academic disciplines "provided me with the opportunity to engage in new ways of thinking," said Caffrey, who added government to her existing biology major after a chance encounter with the subject.
Caffrey shared the stage with Professor of Chemistry Jennifer Morford, who urged students to embrace the unknown in their time at F&M.
"In discomfort, there is a spark," Morford said.
Class of 2026 at a Glance:
- 495 enrolled
- 34% admit rate
- 30 states represented
- 34 countries of citizenship
- 17% first-generation college students
- 11% PELL grant eligible
Related Articles
September 2, 2026
‘I Find It Important and Necessary’: Uncovering Lancaster's Hidden History
For Frances Taylor ’27, the Lancaster Vice project checked all the right boxes: collaborating with a faculty mentor, exploring how their two majors converge in the real world, and unearthing stories the city had forgotten. “I enjoy learning about hidden history that popular culture often overlooks,” Taylor said.
August 31, 2026
Fulfilling a Dream: A Diplomat’s Forensic Internship
For Kayla McCrea ’27, the path to forensic science began with a high school tour of the New Jersey State Police. Emboldened by that early glimpse into the field, she came to F&M to build the expertise and skills necessary to return as a toxicology unit intern — a feat she accomplished this summer.
August 28, 2026
Building the Impossible: An F&M Alum’s Mission to Create the World’s Fastest Aircraft
As chief executive officer of high-speed aircraft company Hermeus, Zach Shore ’06 leads the effort to push the boundaries of what’s possible by building the world’s fastest autonomous aircraft.