Dear F&M Community,
History was made for F&M football on Saturday when we became the Centennial Conference Champions and earned our first ever invitation to the NCAA tournament in football. The energy and joy in the stadium was unforgettable. Watch highlights here, and mark your calendar for Saturday, November 29, at 12 p.m., when we will play our first tournament game in Shadek Stadium. You won’t want to miss it.
The win follows our announcement on November 6 of the largest gift in F&M history to Diplomat athletics from Ken Mehlman '88. Ken’s gift will support the construction of the Mehlman Center for Strength, Conditioning, Wellness and Performance. Read about the new facility below. The gift launches a new era of athletics and wellness at F&M. Huge thanks to Ken for his vision, leadership, and generosity.
There's much more in this edition of the newsletter, including our announcement of the Commonwealth Commitment, which makes F&M affordable for all Pennsylvanians. It has been a very good fall for Diplomat athletics, including for our volleyball team – also heading to the NCAA tournament – along with the field hockey, golf and cross country teams. I want to conclude by congratulating Dave Lehman '68 on his induction into the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Hall of Fame. Read about Dave below. He has been a stalwart supporter of DI wrestling at F&M for decades, and this recognition is fitting tribute to his talent and leadership.
Best wishes,
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Historic Gift Powers F&M Athletics and Wellness
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A new $7.5 million gift from Ken Mehlman ’88, Franklin & Marshall College Trustee and Board Vice Chair, is the College’s largest gift in support of athletics and wellness. It will be used to begin construction of the Mehlman Center for Strength, Conditioning, Wellness and Performance, an innovative new facility that will be home to strength training, fitness and performance-centered growth.
“This new facility is fundamentally about leadership, high performance and the nexus that exists between a strong body, a strong mind and strong professional success,” says Mehlman.
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F&M Announces Commonwealth Commitment to Open Doors for More Pennsylvania Students
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Through the newly launched Commonwealth Commitment, Franklin & Marshall College will support even more students through need-based financial aid beginning this admissions cycle.
The Commonwealth Commitment makes an exceptional education accessible for Pennsylvania families with the following criteria:
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- Tuition-free for households earning $75,000 or less.
- Capped costs—no higher than Penn State’s in-state tuition—for families earning $75,000–$150,000.
- Financial aid package that meets household’s determined need for families earning above $150,000.
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The launch of the Commonwealth Commitment ensures that our home state’s best students have the opportunity to become world-ready leaders through a personalized college experience.
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Dave Lehman ’68 Selected for EIWA Wrestling Hall of Fame
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F&M is proud to announce that Dave Lehman ’68, P’01 has been selected as a 2026 inductee to the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Hall of Fame. Dave is the most generous champion of F&M Wrestling, and his historic gift in 2014 provided perpetual support for the program's operations. This is only the latest accolade for Dave: Listed among his many honors are a 2023 induction to the Franklin & Marshall College Athletic Hall of Fame and a 2018 induction to the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Roy Phillips ’34 Wrestling Coach Mike Rogers extended a note of congratulations to Dave that he asked me to share in this newsletter: “Dave Lehman’s impact goes far beyond the mat; his belief in people, his loyalty and his love for this program have shaped so many of us. I’m honored to call him a friend and grateful for all he’s done to keep the Diplomat spirit alive and thriving. Congratulations, Dave — no one deserves it more.”
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F&M Football Achieves First-Ever Tournament Bid
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The Diplomats took on Johns Hopkins in the Centennial Conference Championship on Saturday, earning the first ever invitation to the NCAA tournament in football. The victory followed a monumental season that saw the F&M football team ranked in the national top 25 and included a seven-game winning streak.
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More Highlights from Diplomat Athletics
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F&M’s teams have achieved remarkable heights this fall.
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- Women’s cross country placed 5th at the Centennial Conference Championship
- Women’s golf won medalist honors three times this season
- Men’s golf won two tournaments
- Field hockey ranked as high as no. 13 in the country
- Men's Cross Country finished 7th at Centennial Conference Championship
- Women's soccer advanced to Centennial Conference semifinals
- Men's soccer reclaimed the Smith-Herr Boot trophy
- Volleyball received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament
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Diplomat Leadership Program Provides Connection and Inspiration
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F&M student leaders recently gathered for an event at West Art, a new Lancaster community arts and events space steps from campus. The event was part of the Diplomat Leadership Program, a four-year experience made possible by The Steinman Foundation and designed to shape and inspire the next generation of student leaders. Bob Krasne, The Steinman Foundation’s co-chair and an F&M trustee, was the event’s keynote speaker. Krasne talked about his many leadership experiences and shared career advice for Diplomats ready to shape the future.
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F&M Dancers Grow as Artists and Leaders
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While preparing for the F&M Dance Company Fall Concert, students found opportunities for self-expression, leadership, and connection. Over three nights of shows, members of the F&M Dance Company performed choreography by College faculty and guest artists, the culmination of a semester’s worth of work.
“I’ve been able to grow exponentially as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher,” said Liam McEwan ’27, president of the Dance Company.
(Photography Credit: Melissa Engle Photography)
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Trailblazing Research Examines Cigarette Label Efficacy
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F&M students helped conduct a groundbreaking pilot study in Lancaster under the tutelage of Hollie Tripp, assistant professor of government and public health. The study collected qualitative data and biospecimens, which students were trained to handle and analyze in a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory on campus.
“Public health students—and even our pre-med students—interested in doing human studies research can get that experience,” Tripp said. “That’s pretty rare at a small liberal arts college.”
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F&M Nationally Recognized for Wellness Education & Violence Prevention
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F&M’s Office of Wellness Education and Violence Prevention has gained national recognition for Know Your Power, a bystander intervention marketing campaign providing effective sexual and relationship violence prevention strategies. A driving force behind this is a dedicated group of student peer health educators who provide advocacy and education on campus regarding mental health and other wellness concerns.
“Students often feel more comfortable asking peers a health-related question rather than approaching staff,” said Sam Thiry, director of wellness programs at F&M. “Peer health educators are able to be that bridge.”
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Diplomats’ Women’s Golf Team Partners with Lancaster Country Club
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Franklin & Marshall College and the Lancaster Country Club have entered into an agreement that will allow the Diplomats’ Women’s Golf Team to practice and host multiple Centennial Conference tournaments throughout the season. Lancaster Country Club is ranked by Golf Magazine as one of the Top 100 Classic Design Courses, and is among the top 8 in PA.
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Value of F&M Recognized in College Rankings
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An F&M education ranks among the best investments a family can make in terms of reputation and value, according to the experts. Discover where F&M landed on some prestigious lists of top colleges.
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