April 2025

Dear Franklin Cummings Tech Supporters:

It’s spring in Boston, and while that may bring to mind spring cleaning, we are focused on spring planning. We’re currently juggling strategic planning, new campus move logistics, as well as commencement, admissions, and budgeting season. Indeed, it’s an exciting time for Franklin Cummings Tech.

In a time of new beginnings, it has been a pleasure to reflect on the accomplishments of the last calendar year. In that spirit, we are sharing our 2024 Impact Report in this issue of The Spark. This report chronicles important milestones we are meeting and exceeding as we build momentum toward laying claim to our new campus. There are many highlights of our impact, such as enrollment being at an all-time high, waiting lists for our programs, launching new associate degree and certificate programs, expanding our early college program into more schools, and launching a world-class co-op program.

While we are currently experiencing record enrollment, we are eager to welcome more students. Our Admissions and Marketing teams do an excellent job of spreading the word about our high-quality, transformative technical and trade education, and so can you. More than half of our students tell us that, more than any other factor, word-of-mouth validation from a trusted individual influences their decision to attend FC Tech. This means readers like you can help spread the word on FC Tech as a place to learn or work. We ask that you send this link to prospective students in your sphere of influence.

Finally, we’re mere days away from Commencement 2025, with all the excitement and pride this occasion brings to our graduates and their families. Read below for much more to celebrate thanks to the commitment of this special community. It’s all worth it!

Sincerely,

Aisha Francis, PhD

President & CEO

Meet our 2025 Commencement Speaker

We are pleased to announce that electric vehicle guru, entrepreneur, and YouTuber Rich “Rebuilds” Benoit will serve as our 2025 commencement speaker. Born and raised in Mattapan and now a Salem resident, the self-described “tinkerer” Rich Benoit built a following of over one million YouTube subscribers by teaching himself, taking risks, and challenging traditional paths.

In preparation for his address, Rich visited the FC Tech automotive garage to speak with students, share how he turned his passion into a business, and experience the hands-on curriculum in our Automotive Technology program. We are honored to have him share his powerful story with soon-to-be graduates.

Telling our Story: Building Impact in Technical Education

As we stand on the cusp of our next chapter in Nubian Square, we also celebrate a 2024 filled with major milestones. The Franklin Cummings Tech Annual Impact Report outlines a year of stellar performance across various domains. We invite you to read the report in its entirety here.

Read our Annual Impact Report and consider how else you want to become more involved.

Join us in welcoming Shane Dunn, FC Tech’s new Deputy Director of Development

Shane Dunn brings nearly 20 years of fundraising and alumni engagement experience to Franklin Cummings Tech, and will work closely with President Francis, the Board of Trustees, and the college’s Performance and Accountability Council (PAC) to close out the 2-year technical college’s historic $60 million Future Forward Campaign and chart the course of the development strategies to come.

“It has been my life’s work to maximize the potential of nonprofit and educational institutions by bringing in stakeholders that align with and support the values of the community that they serve." - Shane Dunn

A first-generation college graduate of Cornell University and Roxbury resident, Shane joins the talented PAC team expanding the impact of Franklin Cummings Tech by providing affordable, accessible tech and trade education.

Read our full announcement here.

FC Tech Boston Marathon Team Raises $70,000

On April 21st, Franklin Cummings Tech had the honor of participating in another historic Boston institution: the Boston Marathon. Through the generosity of Schneider Electric, five runners raised over $70,000 to fund FC Tech’s students’ emergency resources, scholarships, and holistic wellness support.

The team visited with students, faculty and staff on campus to see firsthand the impact of their fundraising. Special thanks to Jerome Soltani, Nicolette Fondl, Justin Lucente, Chriss Fortier-Rolfe from the Schneider team for joining us to celebrate our partnership in reducing barriers and increasing access and opportunities for a high-quality technical trade education. Learn more about our partnership here.

It’s a Match! Celebrating our Co-op Students

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our inaugural Co-Op Match Day where 70 students declared their commitment to a host company. We made college history, and it meant so much to celebrate this moment with our co-op students and their employers.

Franklin Cummings Tech offers a year-long, 1200+ hour paid co-op at top employers, where students are engrossed in work-based learning as they earn their associate degrees. The benefit of this approach is that students graduate from college on-time with a year of professional experience under their belts. Interested in participating or learning more? Visit the Talent Solutions Page on our website.

FC Tech Students Advocate for Early College at the State House

A key institutional learning outcome at Franklin Cummings Tech is acting responsibly through civic engagement. On March 12, 2025, FC Tech students practiced their advocacy chops by joining the Massachusetts Alliance For Early College and partners from around the state on Beacon Hill to demonstrate the power of Early College. We’re deeply grateful for our students for advocating for a cause they believe in, and to the legislative partners who hosted the briefing and State House tours.

Jim Dellot: Celebrating 50 Years of Dedication in the Automotive Field

It’s not every day we get to honor a 50-year graduate who remains a pillar of our community. Jim Dellot, who earned his Certificate of Proficiency in Automotive Technology from our school in 1975, has gone on to become a cornerstone of the Automotive Technology (AT) program, serving as professor and department chair, and playing a key leadership role on the College Senate.

We are incredibly proud to have Jim as part of our institution. He has dedicated his life to educating students—from high school through college—sharing his deep passion for engineering and mechanics.

Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Education and a Master of Education in Occupational Education Administration from Fitchburg State University, as well as a Master of Education in Instructional Design from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

If you—or someone you know—shares a passion for the automotive field, we invite you to explore and share our current faculty openings.

Workforce Development Conversation with Sustaining Supporters President's Council

Photo credits: Craig Bailey/Perspective Photo

The President’s Council, a group of our most generous supporters, joined us for a conversation on workforce development at NBC Boston Media Center on March 27.

We are grateful that Sec. Lauren Jones (Office of Labor and Workforce Development), Justin Lucente (Schneider Electric), and Edward White Jr. (Consigli Construction Co., Inc.) shared their insight into the challenges and opportunities our local economy faces. Investment in career pathways at FC Tech has the power to connect the region's untapped talent to high-demand well-paying technical and trade jobs. Thank you to NBC Boston for hosting us and to State Street for sponsoring this event!

If you'd like to learn more about membership in the President's Council, email Shane Dunn, sdunn@franklincummings.edu.

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