Orfard Mugonda ’26 grew up in Zimbabwe never planning to go to college. School felt hard, and he didn’t think it was for him.

Then his sister, Munashe Mugonda ’18, changed everything. A Franklin College graduate herself, she believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself. Thanks to scholarships and donor support, Franklin became an option.

Orfard works two campus jobs and has built friendships with students from around the world. He is applying to graduate schools to continue his studies — with his sights set on a future in robotics and mechanics—a dream FC donors helped make possible.

“Because of Franklin College, I have an opportunity to make something of myself here in America,” Orfard said.

Did You Know? Your #GivetoGRIZ Community, Belonging, Diversity and Inclusion gift helps students from every background find their place — and their future — at Franklin.

Alecia Perkins ’26 grew up just a few minutes from Franklin College’s campus. She chose it for its affordability and close-knit community. Now she’s one of FC’s most accomplished students.

Alecia is a biomedical science major, a student instructor and a leader in Alpha Lambda Delta honor society. She is also the first-ever B2S Fellow at Franklin. Through a recent partnership, B2S Life Sciences selects Franklin students to conduct real research — and guarantees them a career after graduation.

This past January, she traveled to Belize for Immersive Term, exploring ecosystems, culture and history through hands-on learning. She will finish her Franklin College education a full year early, graduating in May.

Did You Know? Your #GivetoGRIZ Academic Programs gift supports the courses, partnerships and programs that help students like Alecia go further — and faster.

Monioluwa Asekunowo ’28 used to think he had two options: become a strength coach or an exercise physiologist. Then he found Franklin College — and a whole new world opened up. “I really wanted more for myself,” Monioluwa said.

Now he’s a student in Franklin’s Physician Assistant Studies program, which puts learning into action from day one. Monioluwa gets to explore all areas of health care — not just one. He’s building the future he always wanted, one hands-on experience at a time.

Did You Know? Your #GivetoGRIZ Experiential Learning gift opens doors just like Monioluwa’s. It supports hands-on programs, real-world training and student opportunities that turn curiosity into careers.

Nathan Jones ’27 came to Franklin College to carry on a family tradition. His grandfather, William P. Jones ’50, walked these same halls. Now Nathan is writing his own chapter of that legacy.

He’s a triple major in political science, Spanish and accounting — and he doesn’t stop there. Nathan is active in Student Government Association, Student Foundation, Alpha Lambda Delta, FC Singers and Men’s Chorus. He calls Franklin’s “small, friendly atmosphere” one of his favorite things about it.

Donor-funded scholarships have made all the difference. “They’ve eased financial stress and helped me embrace every opportunity,” he said. His goal: become a corporate tax attorney and keep the Grizzly tradition going for generations to come.

Did You Know? Your #GivetoGRIZ Scholarships gift helps students like Nathan say yes to every opportunity Franklin has to offer.

Breaking into political journalism takes grit — and freshman Grace Wilson ’28 just proved she’s got it. As a Franklin College TheStatehouseFile.com reporter, she landed an exclusive interview with Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith on her first day covering the legislative session.
As the nation’s premier student-powered statehouse reporting program, TheStatehouseFile.com offers Indiana newsrooms unparalleled access to raw, on-the-ground political reporting through immersive, professional-level training for emerging journalists.
Diving into the intense world of state politics, Grace’s exclusive hands-on experience reveals a budding journalist ready to uncover Indiana's most compelling stories.
Did You Know? 100% of FC students complete an internship or undergraduate research experience. Your #GivetoGRIZ Experiential Learning gift benefits study abroad, student research, internships, student programming, career planning and much more!

Public Relations and Spanish major Clay Shull ’25 chose Franklin College for its strong public relations program and quickly found a place to belong. Thanks to donor support, he lived in the Modern Language House, enriching his language studies and campus experience. As president of student government and a brother of Kappa Delta Rho, he was honored to receive the Jason Coo Memorial Scholarship, which makes college affordable and connects him to the fraternity’s legacy. Clay especially enjoys Homecoming; from chatting with alumni to the privy burn, it’s his favorite week of the year.