F&M Stories
Our Most Inspiring Stories of 2025
Through the ebb and flow of a calendar year on campus, there was no shortage of inspiration at Franklin & Marshall. The College warmly welcomed Andrew Rich as the College’s 17th president and Sunita Gupta Kramer ’92 as new provost, both in July.
Below, explore some of the many stories that helped shape 2025.
Stories are listed chronologically.
Diplomats Give and Receive Through The Seeing Eye
For a host of F&M alumni, raising service dogs is more than a passion – it’s part of life. Learn how their work enhances the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people.
Art History Student Explores Portraiture Through a New Lens
Mary Wade ’25 was interning with the Phillips Museum of Art when a particular set of photographs caught her eye. This launched an independent study researching portraiture’s evolution.
Michael Vasquez ’25 Found a Campus that Felt Like Home
Michael Vasquez ’25 was drawn to F&M’s liberal arts approach to academics, but it was the sense of community on and off campus that shaped his decision to become a Diplomat.
'The Door is Inside You,’ Speaker Tells Class of 2025 at Commencement
As F&M graduates find their footing beyond campus, they need only to look inward. “The door is inside you,” said author Sandra Cisneros, addressing members of the Class of 2025.
Students Study AI Ethics and Implications
As artificial intelligence systems accelerate at a rapid pace, the urgent need for a new generation of machine moderators is emerging. That generation starts in a classroom at F&M.
“We Ought to be Leading the Charge”: A Family's Gift in Support of Financial Aid
Supporting F&M is a deeply personal investment for Cheryl and Fred Scarboro P’26 – one rooted in their son’s experience and a shared belief that an F&M education transforms lives.
The (Diplomat) Way of St. James
Completing the Camino de Santiago is a once-in-a-lifetime experience – but student leaders Johansen Vargas ’26 and David Nieves ’27 have accomplished this feat twice.
Young Alumni Share Law School Journeys
Follow a friendship that began at F&M and followed Robert Suite ’17 and Matthew Thomas ’19 to Drexel School of Law.
F&M Students Launch Global Nutrition Nonprofit
F&M’s global community brought together an economics major from South Africa and a public health major from New York to tackle the issue of food access in South African schools.
F&M Welcomes Class of 2029
Members of F&M’s Class of 2029 took their first steps as Diplomats at Convocation Aug. 21. The time-honored event signifies the beginning of the College’s academic year.
‘My Magical Summer in Bath’: Junior Shares U.K. Study Experience
Eleanor Metz ’27 did more than study Roman history. She lived it in the 18th-century city of Bath – one of England’s most significant cultural sites – through F&M’s Advanced Studies in England program.
True Blue Weekend Celebrates Traditions Old & New
More than 2,000 students, parents and alumni filled campus Sept. 19-21 for True Blue Weekend. Find your favorite photos from the weekend.
Starstruck in the Land of the Rising Sun
A group of astrophysics majors and their professor enjoyed a two-week trip to Japan as part of the NANOStars program at F&M.
Alumni Coaches Shape New Generation of Diplomats
Approximately 40% of F&M students compete in varsity sports. Some like it so much they return to lead the next generation of Diplomats.
Math with Meaning: F&M Students Combat Food Insecurity
Two F&M seniors turned a passion for math into meaningful solutions for the Power Packs Project, a nonprofit combating food insecurity in Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties.
F&M Announces Commonwealth Commitment To Open Doors for More Pennsylvania Students
F&M’s newly launched Commonwealth Commitment ensures that Pennsylvania residents with household incomes below $75,000 attend tuition-free.
Ken Mehlman ’88 Makes Historic $7.5 Million Gift to Power F&M Athletics and Wellness
A new $7.5 million gift from Ken Mehlman ’88, F&M Trustee and Board Vice Chair, is the College’s largest gift in support of athletics and wellness.
Art Clark, Jr. Reaches $10 Million in Support for Financial Aid at F&M
Arthur R. “Art” Clark, Jr.’s philanthropy, intended to honor his father’s experience at F&M, has resulted in $10 million in cumulative gifts to support student scholarships and financial aid.
Related Articles
January 28, 2026
A Landmark Investment in Geosciences: Honoring Professor Robert C. Walter
A transformative $2.1 million gift from an anonymous donor celebrates Franklin & Marshall’s renowned Department of Earth & Environment and the impact of its esteemed faculty. The gift establishes the Distinguished Professorship of Geosciences in honor of Robert C. Walter, Ph.D. ’75, and creates the Earth & Environment Instrument Support Endowment.
January 28, 2026
Virtual Cadaver Lab to Redefine & Accelerate Health Professions Training at F&M
Franklin & Marshall College is set to transform its pre-health and science curriculum thanks to a generous grant from the George I. Alden Trust. The funding will support the development of a state-of-the-art virtual cadaver lab, bringing high-tech, immersive anatomical study to F&M’s campus.
January 27, 2026
F&M To Honor Three Extraordinary Community Leaders at 2026 Commencement
Franklin & Marshall College is proud to bestow honorary degrees upon three extraordinary individuals whose contributions to one of the oldest cities in the U.S. exemplify the civic spirit at the heart of the College’s mission. F&M will recognize John Fry, Susan Eckert, and Maryann Robins, awarding each an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for their commitment to education and community in the City of Lancaster.