Martha Sanders Hoover, J.D., delivered the 2026 commencement address at Franklin College on Saturday, May 23, 2026, and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Hoover is a restauranteur, philanthropist and founder of Patachou, Inc. and the Patachou Foundation in Indianapolis.

The College conferred 164 undergraduate degrees and 28 graduate degrees.

The ceremony was held in Spurlock Center Gymnasium and was live streamed on the College’s website.

Franklin College President Kerry N. Prather offered remarks to the Class of 2026. “Among you are first-generation college graduates, an achievement that will shape your families’ stories for generations to come. Some of you have completed rigorous graduate programs in the health sciences, preparing you to meet critical needs in patient care. Some of you are serving our country through military service. Several of you have earned academic honors, and many of you already have been accepted into graduate programs or received employment offers. Together, your accomplishments reflect an impressive breadth of talent, commitment and promise. And we have had the privilege of witnessing your growth and development every step of the way.”

“From this day forward, you carry the legacy of Franklin College with you, an honor you have earned. In return, we ask that you leverage your education in service of something greater than yourselves: to always continue learning, to engage thoughtfully with the world, to speak with honesty and humility, and to act and lead with courage and integrity.”

Hoover’s keynote address was titled “Everything You Think.” She also offered advice to the graduating class. “In a world full of noise and distraction, faced with uncertainty and continuous change, the ability to think for yourself is the most transferable skill of all.”

The senior class speaker was Nicholas Whitecotton, a resident of Newburgh. He graduated with double majors in accounting and business finance, along with double minors in data science and quantitative methods.

The top five majors in the graduating class were exercise science, business, biology, psychology and public relations.

Preceding commencement, on Friday, May 22, the Rev. Dr. David P. Gushee gave the baccalaureate address and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the College. He is widely regarded as one of the most important Christian ethicists of the past 30 years, distinguished by both his prolific scholarship and his global influence.

For more information, contact the Franklin College Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.