F&M Stories
2025 Graduate and Dedicated Diplomat is Conference Finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year
A Diplomat athlete’s reach extends beyond their impact on scoreboards and win-loss records.
Kennedy Wilburn ’25 is a prime example. Wilburn recently was named one of two Centennial Conference nominees for the NCAA's prestigious Woman of the Year Award. Now in its 35th year, the Woman of the Year award recognizes graduating female college athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service, and leadership.
A forward and team captain for the F&M women's basketball team, Wilburn was widely known for creating a positive impact on campus and in the Lancaster community.
Wilburn was a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree (2023 and 2024). As a student, Wilburn was a psychology and public health major with a minor in Africana Studies. She served on the Student-Athlete Leadership Council; mentored first-year students in the African Americans in Paris course; served as a teaching assistant and mentor for a Design & Statistics class; was a public relations officer for S.I.S.T.E.R.S., a female empowerment group; and volunteered as a peer health educator, teaching fellow students about topics such as bystander intervention, consent, healthy relationships, and sexual assault awareness.
Off campus, Wilburn volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster, tutored math and read to children at local elementary schools, and served as a partner runner for Girls on the Run, a nonprofit that combines exercise and mentorship to ensure that “every girl can know and activate their limitless potential.”
Wilburn is now pursuing a master’s degree in public health at the University of Pennsylvania.
Of course, Wilburn excelled on the basketball court, too. She earned All-Centennial Honorable Mention in 2024-25, averaging 12.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest. The Marlton, N.J., resident ranked third in the conference in rebounding and seventh in points while logging 28.2 minutes per game.
Read more about Kennedy Wilburn
Kennedy Wilburn ’25 Leads on and off the Court
Kennedy Wilburn ’25 wanted a college where she could excel on the basketball court and in the classroom. She found that and more at F&M, where she became women’s basketball co-captain, a member of the Student-Athlete Leadership Council, and an active participant in other student organizations on campus.
Read more »Related Articles
May 7, 2026
Fulbright-Bound Senior Sparks Campus-Wide AI Conversation
Zaeem Zia ’26 made the most of his four years at F&M, from joining the rowing team to organizing a campus conversation centered on ethical, economic, and policy-driven approaches to AI. What’s next? A Fulbright scholarship in Finland to study data analytics.
May 6, 2026
‘F&M Will Change How You See the World,’ Senior Says
For Anna Purchase ’26, Franklin & Marshall did more than provide an education. It shaped her worldview. “You get four years to try and enter in as a different person and rebuild the way you see the world,” she said. “F&M is going to change how you see the world, but you have a say in that.”
May 5, 2026
Senior Swimmer Makes a Splash as 5th Family Member to Attend F&M
As the fifth member of his family to attend Franklin & Marshall, Ben Lockey ’26 made his own distinct splash on campus as a swimmer and scholar. He received NCAA All-American honors while balancing a double major and promoting mental health awareness on campus.