F&M Stories
Why Give? Six Inspiring Diplomat Stories
One financial gift can change the academic trajectory for Franklin & Marshall students and those who follow them. As the 2024-2025 fiscal year comes to a close, explore six recent stories that showcase the philanthropic spirit of Diplomats worldwide.
1. Preparing to Make Real Change in Public Health Advocacy
Anaya Peguero ’25 aspires to become a public health lawyer in New York City. F&M equipped her with the foundation to pursue this dream, made possible through the generosity of those who believe in the power of education. “Going to F&M and not having financial stress as a part of my academic and everyday life has helped me focus on my studies and on the future,” she said.
2. From Classroom to Published Research: Seizing Every Opportunity at F&M
Jackson Milone ’25 knew he wanted a college that would prepare him well for medical school. He also wanted to build strong connections with peers and professors who saw the value in both STEM fields and the liberal arts. “Financial aid and scholarships make going to a school like F&M possible for me,” he said.
3. Ensuring the Success of the College That Brought Them Together
Katja Seim ’95 and John Parapatt ’95 count many reasons for being grateful to F&M, but most importantly for bringing them together for the first time. Today, they live in Connecticut and have two teenage children. “Our giving is motivated by a desire for other students to have the opportunities that we had, including financial support,” Parapatt said.
4. Turning College Dreams Into Global Goals
Financial aid has “given me the ability to really grow into myself, meet other people and have that effect of touching the lives of other people that I want to have,” said April Rump ’25. Rump studied abroad in Denmark, built lasting connections and fully immersed herself in the F&M experience.
5. Humanizing Medicine by Embracing the Liberal Arts
Jocelyn Chow ’26, a public health major on the biology track, has explored all that F&M has to offer, from athletics to the College orchestra. “I love being able to pursue all the things that I want, including the amazing public health program and all these opportunities through the tennis team. And financial aid has made that all possible for me,” she said.
6. ‘We Ought to be Leading the Charge’: A Family's Gift in Support of Financial Aid
Supporting F&M became a deeply personal investment for Cheryl and Fred Scarboro P’26, rooted in their son Alex’s experience. “We know that there are so many people who couldn't attend the schools of their dreams without help,” Cheryl said. “We felt a sense of urgency to do our part and to ease that burden for talented students who otherwise couldn’t afford to go to F&M.”
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