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鈥檚 17th president and Sunita Gupta Kramer 鈥�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 鈥� it鈥檚 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 鈥�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鈥檚 evolution.
Michael Vasquez 鈥�25 Found a Campus that Felt Like Home
Michael Vasquez 鈥�25 was drawn to F&M鈥檚 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,鈥� Speaker Tells Class of 2025 at Commencement
As F&M graduates find their footing beyond campus, they need only to look inward. 鈥淭he door is inside you,鈥� 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.
鈥淲e Ought to be Leading the Charge鈥�: A Family's Gift in Support of Financial Aid
Supporting F&M is a deeply personal investment for Cheryl and Fred Scarboro P鈥�26 鈥� one rooted in their son鈥檚 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 鈥� but student leaders Johansen Vargas 鈥�26 and David Nieves 鈥�27 have accomplished this feat twice.
Young Alumni Share Law School Journeys
Follow a friendship that began at F&M and followed Robert Suite 鈥�17 and Matthew Thomas 鈥�19 to Drexel School of Law.
F&M Students Launch Global Nutrition Nonprofit
F&M鈥檚 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鈥檚 Class of 2029 took their first steps as Diplomats at Convocation Aug. 21. The time-honored event signifies the beginning of the College鈥檚 academic year.
鈥楳y Magical Summer in Bath鈥�: Junior Shares U.K. Study Experience
Eleanor Metz 鈥�27 did more than study Roman history. She lived it in the 18th-century city of Bath 鈥� one of England鈥檚 most significant cultural sites 鈥� through F&M鈥檚 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鈥檚 newly launched Commonwealth Commitment ensures that Pennsylvania residents with household incomes below $75,000 attend tuition-free.
Ken Mehlman 鈥�88 Makes Historic $7.5 Million Gift to Power F&M Athletics and Wellness
A new $7.5 million gift from Ken Mehlman 鈥�88, F&M Trustee and Board Vice Chair, is the College鈥檚 largest gift in support of athletics and wellness.
Art Clark, Jr. Reaches $10 Million in Support for Financial Aid at F&M
Arthur R. 鈥淎rt鈥� Clark, Jr.鈥檚 philanthropy, intended to honor his father鈥檚 experience at F&M, has resulted in $10 million in cumulative gifts to support student scholarships and financial aid.
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May 14, 2026
Student-Run Magazine Showcases Cultural Criticism
At Franklin & Marshall, your ideas may start in the classroom, but they won鈥檛 be contained there. For students in Associate Professor of English Erik Anderson鈥檚 Pop Culture Writing course, this meant putting what they learned into practice by creating an online magazine, Touch Grass.
May 14, 2026
Reflections on Leadership: Board Chair Eric Noll 鈥�83, P鈥�09
Eric Noll鈥檚 relationship with F&M began on a gorgeous spring day in 1978. Almost 50 years later, the alumnus will complete his role as Chair of the Board of Trustees on June 30. 鈥淔&M continues to evolve, but its core values have remained the same,鈥� Noll says. 鈥淚鈥檇 say, without apologies, that serving as Board Chair for this college is one of the great honors of my life.鈥�
May 14, 2026
Three F&M Students Honored with Prestigious Rouse Scholarship
The Andrew M. Rouse Class of 1949 Endowed Fund provides full tuition, books, and fees to 糖心 students in their junior and senior years. The highly competitive scholarship is granted to recipients who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and character, and who are consistently recognized as some of F&M鈥檚 most engaged and committed students.