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Dear Franklin Cummings Tech Supporters:
Franklin Cummings Tech held our 117th Commencement on May 17. It was an inspiring and moving ceremony. This year was even more so because it was the last commencement to be held in our century-old building at 41 Berkeley Street. Next year, commencement will be in a new location, since our new campus will be open in Nubian Square.
Our student commencement speaker, Tanner Roe (CM, ’25), shared his story of moving to the Boston area from Colorado to embark on a new phase of life to pursue an associate's degree in construction management. He reflected on the support he received from his wife, mother, program chair, and success coach, demonstrating that success is not a solo endeavor. Tanner’s story reflects the self-determination of his fellow classmates who also faced challenges and opportunities while earning their degrees and certificates.
This year’s commencement speaker, Rich Benoit, is known to his millions of social media followers and subscribers as "Rich Rebuilds." Rich is a hero to many for ignoring the naysayers and rebuilding his life as a social media entrepreneur who builds custom electric vehicles and chronicles amazing projects focused on electric car customization at his two garages. Rich’s inspired speech transfixed the audience. As a native of Mattapan, he connected directly with graduates through his story of being the child of immigrants, growing up as a “latch-key kid,” who reveled in taking things apart to see how they worked. He told graduates that he achieved the life he wanted through hustle and perseverance, and that they, too, can accomplish anything they set their minds to.
The true stars of the day were the graduates who are headed off to jobs and rewarding careers after years of hard work, determination, and the support of their families.
We look forward to seeing our new graduates succeed. And if you are an alum, keep in touch and share your story with us.
Sincerely,
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Aisha Francis, PhD
President & CEO
P.S. Did you know that The Spark can now be found on LinkedIn? Get our latest news and updates delivered directly to your newsfeed by subscribing on LinkedIn. Help us spread the word by sharing this good news with someone you think would appreciate it!
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"HVAC, construction management, practical electricity, opticians, engineering, IT, biotech—you name it. You’re all here. You are young entrepreneurs, young hustlers. What you do now might not be what you do in the future, but you’re laying the groundwork now to start a beautiful game for the rest of your lives."
Rich Benoit
Commencement Speaker & Founder of Rich Rebuilds
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"We should all be proud of our accomplishments, because not only did we get our degrees, but we did it as working-class adults, as parents, as mentors, as friends, and as allies. And that is not something to say lightly. I know how scary it was for all of us to choose to go to school, knowing how much it was going to cost and how many sacrifices were going to be made for our dream. But sometimes, it was our families who sacrificed the most to give us the opportunity to be successful and achieve our goals."
Tanner Roe, Class 2025
Construction Management, AS
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“You all are a historic group for many reasons. You are carrying out a tradition that is hundreds of years old, but one that is very current in cutting-edge career fields... You will not only build the infrastructure that drives our innovation economy, but you will re-engineer it in ways that our imaginations can't quite fathom.
Dr. Aisha Francis
Franklin Cummings Tech President & CEO
| | We love watching students walk across the stage to receive their well-deserved recognition. But what truly warms our hearts are the proud moments that follow—the joy and pride shared by friends, family members, partners, and children as they celebrate their loved ones’ achievements. | | |
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Scott Jules received the Carnegie Award for his exceptional leadership, academic excellence, and selfless dedication to the college community. A highly motivated “go-getter,” Scott actively supported and inspired fellow students, secured a co-op at Delbrook Associates, and regularly represented the college at important events.
Franklin Award recipients LiHeng Zhu and Keyimu Abudula both graduated summa cum laude with a perfect GPA. LiHeng was recognized for his dedication, ambition, excellent communication, and insightful engagement in Computer Information Technology. Keyimu stood out for his academic commitment, willingness to help others, leadership, and achievements in Engineering Technology, along with his positive impact in the admissions office and co-op experiences.
| | | Take a look back at some of our favorite moments from this year’s commencement! As student speaker Tanner Roe said, “We made it to the finish line!” We celebrated our graduates’ hard work, perseverance, and bright futures in our historic building. As we move forward, the pride and gratitude felt by all on this day will stay with us. Congratulations, Class of 2025 — we can’t wait to see what you do next! | |
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Built for the Job: Co-ops and Apprenticeships in Action
Join us on June 12 to talk with students and employers engaged in our co-op and apprenticeship programs. Josh Cutler, Undersecretary of Labor, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, will provide welcoming remarks for a brief program discussing the importance of on-the-job training in higher education and the advantages of co-ops and apprenticeships at Franklin Cummings Tech. Admission is free to all. RSVP to attend by June 6.
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Senator Markey Visits Campus
Senator Ed Markey led a field hearing at Franklin Cummings Tech to highlight the role of small businesses in the clean energy economy. With a 40% workforce increase needed to meet state goals, we shared how the college—through the Center for Energy Efficiency and the Trades (CEET)—is helping grow the talent pipeline and prepare students for career success.
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College Uncovered: Apprentices of the World
President Aisha Francis was recently featured on College Uncovered, a podcast by The Hechinger Report and GBH News, highlighting our college's innovative apprenticeship-degree model. With growing interest in alternatives to the traditional four-year degree, Dr. Francis emphasizes the importance of offering students both college and career pathways—not either/or. Tune in to the episode and learn how our approach is helping shape the future of education and workforce development.
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Industry Partner Spotlight: BlueHub Capital
BlueHub Capital played a crucial role in making Franklin Cummings Tech’s new campus a reality in Roxbury’s Nubian Square. By providing $19.5 million alongside Chase Bank, BlueHub helped secure a significant portion of the New Market Tax Credits, which attracted additional funding from other partners. This financing was especially important given today’s challenging lending environment.
This partnership is especially meaningful: Jackie Barry Hamilton, BlueHub’s new CFO, recently shared that her father began his journey at Franklin Institute, earning an associate degree in engineering with support from the GI Bill. He later went on to attend Wentworth, Northeastern, and MIT, becoming a professional engineer. As she said, “It all started here.”
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