Seven local students graduate from Franklin College

Franklin College’s 2025 Commencement took place Saturday, May 24 in Spurlock Center Gymnasium on the Franklin College campus. The event was also live-streamed on the college’s website.

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.

Details about graduates from Hamilton County follow:

Master’s degree recipients

• Zachary Marshall Penley, Sheridan, earned a Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies.

Undergraduate degree recipients

• Noah Logan Bennington, Noblesville, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports communications.
• William Alexander Cummings, Westfield, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in exercise science.
• Jonathan Roger Hicks, Westfield, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology. He graduated cum laude.
• Makenna Marie Mundy, Noblesville, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and in sociology (criminal justice). She graduated magna cum laude.
• Isabella Sarina Neiling, Cicero, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. She graduated summa cum laude and earned the esteemed Scholarship Cup for the highest GPA, an honor she shared with two fellow graduates.
• Anthony Reeves Rivera, Fishers, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.

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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, Ind.

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 grade-point average.

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).