F&M Stories

Students Turn Wrenches at The Common Wheel

Franklin & Marshall students are rolling up their sleeves to refurbish bikes at .

Through F&M's Ware Institute for Civic Engagement, students volunteer weekly to help the nonprofit gear up for their annual Maryann Caldwell Spring Bike Fling slated for May 15. The event provides free bikes, helmets and accessories to 150 youth in the School District of Lancaster.

Leading the helm at The Common Wheel is F&M alumna Adriana Atencio '10.

"The Common Wheel has been lucky to partner with F&M for years," she said.

Prior to Common Wheel, Atencio worked as the F&M Works program manager. In 2021, she was selected as a This prestigious 18-month program through The Lancaster County Community Foundation works to build strong community leaders.

See what Atencio has to say about her F&M experience, and view a slideshow of current students turning wrenches at The Common Wheel.

F&M: Can you talk about your path from F&M to The Common Wheel?

Atencio: F&M prepared me to tackle just about anything, which is what I handle here at The Common Wheel. As co-executive director, I have myriad duties which draw on my F&M background. Grant writing utilizes the writing skills I gained through the hours of reading and writing in my comparative literary studies minor (Atencio majored in European studies). Then, as the former F&M Works Program Manager, I made invaluable connections through the nonprofit community here in Lancaster that I still rely on today. F&M has been essential in my development as a nonprofit leader.

 

“F&M has been essential in my development as a nonprofit leader.”

— Adriana Atencio '10

Related Articles

June 22, 2026

A Career in Emergency Care Comes Full Circle

John Allison ’25 discovered his true calling in emergency medicine at F&M. Today, as an advanced EMT with Lancaster EMS, he mentors student volunteers through the same hands-on training that shaped his own career.

June 9, 2026

Innovation Fund Transforms Pioneering Spirit into Action at

The F&M Innovation Fund announces its inaugural cohort of funded projects: four bold community initiatives that capture the pioneering spirit of .

June 8, 2026

Careers Beyond Borders: A Diplomat’s Path to International Relations

Julianna Marton ’25 always knew exactly where she was headed: around the world. After graduating from F&M, she followed this dream to Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). “I think if my first-year self could see me now, she would be very impressed and proud that I stayed on this path, and that I’ve only grown more passionate about it,” she said.