Franklin College’s 2025 Commencement took place on Saturday, May 24 in Spurlock Center Gymnasium on the Franklin College campus. The top five majors of the graduating class were business, exercise science, biology, psychology and sports communications. The college conferred 195 undergraduate degrees and 25 graduate degrees.
The Honorable Kip Tom, a former U.S. Ambassador to the United States Mission to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, Italy, and current Chairman of Tom Farms, delivered the commencement address, and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree during the ceremony. His speech was titled “Keep Learning – The World Needs Your Ideas and Your Vision.” He advised the graduates to “take risks, knowing failure isn’t the opposite of success – it is part of it.”
The senior class speaker was Celeste A. Edwards, a resident of Indianapolis and a graduate of Warren Central High School, who majored in chemistry. She was selected by her classmates to address the audience on their behalf.
Preceding commencement, on Friday, May 23, Rev. Dr. Adrian M. Brooks Sr., gave the baccalaureate address and received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from the College. Rev. Brooks is the pastor at the Memorial Baptist Church in Evansville, Indiana.
Taylor Cooney of Greensburg, Lucas Densford of Sellersburg and Isabella Neilling of Cicero were all recipients of the Scholarship Cup, signifying the best scholastic record during their time at Franklin College. They each graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Many graduates earned academic distinction and were recognized for their hard work during the ceremony with the ringing of the Liberty Bell, once for cum laude (GPA of 3.50 or higher), twice for magna cum laude (GPA of 3.75 or higher) and three times for summa cum laude (GPA of 3.90 or higher).
Graduates from South Central Indiana earning masters’ degrees include:
- Sidney Taylor Drum, of Columbus, earned a Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies.
- Nicholas Christian Foster, of Gosport, earned a Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies.
Graduates from South Central Indiana earning undergraduate degrees include:
- John Patrick Asplund, of Bloomington, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in multimedia journalism.
- Gage Alexander Bayne, of Columbus, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in exercise science. He graduated cum laude.
- Elliott Raymond Gough, of Ellettsville, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology (ecology/conservation). He graduated summa cum laude.
- Brooke Lauren Grinstead, of Bloomington, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in exercise science. She graduated summa cum laude.
- Jance Holmes Hunt, of Bloomington, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports communications.
- Stephanni Ann Kleber, of Seymour, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business (finance & marketing) and in economics. She graduated magna cum laude.
- Jenna Brooke Louden, of Bedford, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations.
- Emma Claire Mills, of Columbus, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in art studio (digital fine arts photography).
- Genesis Abigail Munoz, of Columbus, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology.
- Savannah Elizabeth Root, of Columbus, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology (biomedical sciences). She graduated cum laude.
- Brooke Kailyn Stephens, of Columbus, earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in business (finance & marketing) and in economics. She graduated magna cum laude.
