Dear F&M Community,
Commencement was last weekend, and it was pure joy to celebrate the Class of 2026. Troy Vincent, former NFL cornerback and current Executive Vice President of the NFL, was our commencement speaker, and he joined John Fry, who was F&M's 14th president; Susan Eckert, who led the Lancaster County United Way for 25 years; and MaryAnn Robins, director of the Circle Legacy Center and advocate for Indigenous communities in Lancaster County, in receiving honorary degrees. Menelaos Raptis was our 2026 Williamson Medalist and mesmerized the 2,000 people in attendance with his remarks. The best part of the morning for me was shaking hands with every graduate as they crossed the stage. Please enjoy the photos and videos in this week's newsletter.
Today, we also celebrate Eric Noll '83, Chairman of the Franklin & Marshall College Board of Trustees, who finishes his term as board chair next month. One of the greatest privileges that I have had in my first year at F&M has been the chance to work closely with Eric. He knows our history, he knows our people, he knows our values, he knows our aspirations, and he has been an extraordinary mentor and guide for me in learning a place that has meant so much to him over the course of his life. I extend my deepest thanks to Eric for his leadership on behalf of everyone at F&M.
Wishing everyone a good start to the summer.
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Reflections on Leadership: Board Chair Eric Noll ’83, P’09
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Decades after wondering if he’d ever make it to graduation, Eric Noll ’83, P’09 returned to F&M not just as an alumnus, but as Chair of the Board of Trustees — a role he completes on June 30. Over the past six years, his fellow Trustees and two F&M Presidents have appreciated his guidance, professionalism and dedication to the College even in the most challenging of times.
"I'd say, without apologies or reservations, that serving as Board Chair is one of the greatest honors of my life," Noll said.
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Commencement Weekend Celebrates Class of 2026
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The 411 members of Franklin & Marshall’s Class of 2026 were honored during Commencement on May 9. Families, friends, faculty, and the College community gathered to celebrate the graduating cohort, who have emerged as leaders, scholars, and humanitarians during their time on campus.
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This year’s Williamson Medal — the highest student award for character, leadership and scholarship — was awarded to Menelaos Raptis, an astrophysics major who will start a PhD program at Princeton University this fall.
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F&M Launches Partnership with Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College for a Scholarship Program in Policy, Tech, and Arts Graduate Programs
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Franklin & Marshall College and Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy announced a new partnership to provide pathways for F&M students into high-demand graduate programs in public policy, technology, and the arts, offering meaningful tuition support and access to industries including government, technology, cybersecurity, the arts, and entertainment.
“This exciting new partnership strengthens postgraduate options for Franklin & Marshall alumni, expanding access to the top-ranked master’s degree programs offered by Heinz College,” said Sunita Gupta Kramer ’92, F&M provost and dean of the faculty.
The collaboration expands postgraduate pathways for F&M students seeking advanced degrees and adds to F&M’s growing list of participating degree partner institutions.
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Three F&M Students Honored with Prestigious
Rouse Scholarship
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Emeritus Trustee Andrew “Andy” Rouse ’49, President Andrew Rich and Rouse Scholar alumni gathered on May 2 to congratulate the new recipients of one of F&M’s most prestigious scholarships, which provides full tuition, books, and fees to students in their junior and senior years. A new $1 million gift from a family foundation established the Friends of Andy Rouse Scholarship Fund and Friends of Andy Rouse Scholarship Endowment, which allowed F&M to select three Scholars this year and in years to come. The new Rouse Scholars are Joy Giramahoro ’28, Madeline Bonhomme ’28, and Sara Smith ’28.
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New Wrestling Scholarship Honors Diplomat
James Conway
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A $360,000 gift from Franklin & Marshall College Trustee Vice Chair Ken Mehlman ’88 establishes the James Conway ’26 Wrestling Scholarship, providing recruiting support for F&M’s Division I wrestling program.
The scholarship, which comes at the conclusion of Conway’s incredible season and NCAA championship run, will help recruit and retain high-achieving student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional academic and athletic potential as well as a history of leadership and perseverance.
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Recognizing Outstanding Professional Staff Contributions
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The Richard Kneedler Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions and a commitment to the mission of the College, was awarded to Lillian Basom ’08 and Richelle Wagner for their work at the College Vivarium. Basom, director of operations, and Wagner, assistant director of operations, were recognized at the Distinguished Service Ceremony on April 27.
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Meghan Kelly has been named director of the Franklin & Marshall College Library, following a year of service in the interim role and more than a decade of leadership within the library. She oversees operations at the College Library’s two locations: Shadek-Fackenthal Library and Martin Library of the Sciences.
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Christian Perry was named executive director of community and belonging at Franklin & Marshall. Perry joined F&M in 2021 as inaugural director, a role established in direct response to student advocacy and the demand for a dedicated leader to support the College’s diverse student community.
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The College appointed Matt Thomas ’10 as executive director of the Ware Institute for Civic Engagement. Thomas will provide strategic leadership for the Ware Institute as it evolves into an integrated hub connecting co-curricular service and leadership programs with community-based learning.
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New Documentary Explores the Science and Impact Behind F&M’s Leading Environmental Research Efforts
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On April 30, the Franklin & Marshall and Lancaster communities gathered on campus to view the premier of a new documentary that showcases the work that F&M faculty and students are leading to better understand and mitigate water quality and erosion issues affecting the Chesapeake Bay.
Lancaster filmmakers Mary Haverstick ’82 and Michele Mercure spent months with F&M faculty, students, landowners, and community partners to document the discovery, process, and results of floodplain restoration along Indian Run, a tributary of the Conestoga River that eventually flows to the Chesapeake Bay.
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