F&M Stories
Student-Designed Map Shows Best Spots in Lancaster City
With so much to explore in the City of Lancaster, where do students start?
Franklin & Marshall student An Bach 鈥�26 has the answer. The senior from Hanoi, Vietnam, illustrated a digital and print map spotlighting favorite student spots 鈥� all within walking distance from campus.
鈥淚 wanted to leave something memorable for F&M,鈥� said Bach, a triple major in business, economics, and studio art.
Gabe Rodriguez 鈥�26 provided support, gathering student poll responses and organizing them by proximity to campus.
鈥淚 wanted to share a few Lancaster spots that I genuinely love. That personal connection
is what inspired the project.鈥�
Using Procreate, a digital illustration app, Bach sketched a grid of downtown Lancaster. She then illustrated specific storefronts selected by F&M students. Fulton Theatre, Pocket Books Shop, and a variety of restaurants and coffee shops made the cut. The design moved to print production in January and can now be found at various campus buildings. A downloadable map PDF is also available.
鈥淚鈥檝e always enjoyed digital drawing, especially when it鈥檚 something practical that people can actually use,鈥� Bach said. 鈥淚 wanted to share a few Lancaster spots that I genuinely love, like Lancaster Central Market. That personal connection is what inspired the project.鈥�
Below, learn Bach鈥檚 favorite things about Lancaster and F&M.
What are your favorite places in Lancaster?
I love nature and taking photos outdoors, so my favorite place is Buchanan Park or Long鈥檚 Park 鈥� especially in the fall, when the red and yellow leaves are coming down. The atmosphere feels very 鈥淔&M鈥� to me with the quietness, beauty, and seasonal change. I really enjoy the calm feeling I get whenever I walk there; it鈥檚 one of the places that helps me reset.
What is your favorite place on F&M鈥檚 campus?
The first floor of Shadek [Fackenthal Library]. I study there all the time. It鈥檚 the perfect spot to really lock in when exams are coming up: quiet, focused, and motivating.
Why did you choose to attend F&M?
The biggest reason was flexibility. Coming into my first year, I honestly wasn鈥檛 sure what I wanted to major in. F&M鈥檚 flexibility, both in academics and in opportunities, was what drew me in and ultimately helped me explore and commit to what I care about.
What鈥檚 the best way to start exploring Lancaster?
Start at Central Market. There's a lot of great food in there, and the environment feels like a market in Vietnam. Explore some of the shops around it. Even just walking around downtown has a nice feel to it.
Explore Lancaster
F&M's extraordinary home city is an urban oasis. Lancaster offers arts, culture, and experiences for every taste and preference and is full of extraordinary opportunities 鈥� all within safe walking distance of campus.
Plan Your Visit 禄
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