From My Desk: President & CEO, Dr. Aisha Francis | | | | Hello friends,
Graduation season is always a time of celebration at Franklin Cummings Tech. This year, approximately 300 students marked a major milestone in their educational journeys by earning degrees and certificates in technical and trade fields and taking an important step toward employment, economic mobility, and long-term success.
Every Commencement is a celebration not only of student advancement, but also of family, community, and workforce. | | |
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Nearly half of our graduates are first-generation college students, and more than 80% will move directly into employment in their field or continue their education — thanks in large part to our growing co-op and apprenticeship programs that connect students with job opportunities before they even cross the stage. These graduates represent the future of New England’s technical and trade workforce, and they will help build the clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure our region depends on.
The celebration continued beyond Commencement with three signature gatherings that reflect the spirit of the FC Tech community. The Eye Ball brought together students, alumni, and industry partners from our Opticianry program, while the Wrecking Ball honored the alumni and broader community connected to our Construction Management program. Additionally, we honored high school students in our early-college ASAP program who earned a full year of college credit while still in high school.
Each event held is evidence of the community of support and relationships that power the success of Franklin Cummings Tech graduates. Please join me in congratulating our graduates as they embark on their next steps which include a range of positive outcomes including: starting new careers, transferring to four years colleges, and transitioning into another program here at Franklin Cummings Tech.
The sky's the limit!
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Aisha Francis, PhD
President & CEO
| | | | Celebrating Our Graduating Class | | |
The 118th Commencement at Franklin Cummings Tech on May 16, 2026 was a joyous celebration of our nearly 300 graduates, who were cheered on by an exuberant crowd of family, friends, and supporters who filled the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, located near our new Roxbury flagship campus.
“Each of you are making your family, your friends, and those of us watching here at the Reggie Lewis Center extremely proud of your accomplishments and all that you are poised to do,” said Dr. Aisha Francis, college President and CEO.
For Franklin Cummings Tech students, graduation is more than a ceremonial milestone — it is an acknowledgement of their hard work, perseverance, and a launch point into the next chapter of their lives.
| | Their achievement reflects not only their resilience, but also the growing strength of Massachusetts’ workforce pipeline and the expanding clean tech economy that depends on skilled, adaptable, and career-ready talent. As these graduates move into jobs, apprenticeships, and further study, they will help power the industries that are building a more innovative, resilient, and sustainable future for the Commonwealth. | | “I am so proud to be here to share this momentous occasion with you,” said keynote speaker United States Senator Edward Markey, who was awarded an honorary doctorate of Business Administration. “My father was a technological genius. I’m convinced that if Franklin Cummings Tech were available to my father, he would have taken that passion for technology and elevated it into a lifetime labor of love that could have also served as his full-time job.” | | | “Here you are, investing in yourselves earning certificates, bachelors degrees and associate degrees in ways that are going to pour prosperity into your families and your communities. You’re ready for what awaits you.”
Dr. Aisha Francis, President & CEO | | Recipients of the inaugural Amplify Award were Boston Children’s Hospital and The Boston Foundation, given to an individual or organization who serves as a powerful advocate for the Franklin Cummings Tech mission and impact. Recognizing champions who actively elevate and expand awareness of the college’s work, the Amplify Award is designed for those who share our story, celebrate our students, and help understand the transformative power of technical and trade education. | | Kevin Hepner Awarded CFO Of The Year by
Boston Business Journal | | |
We are pleased to share that our very own Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Hepner, was recognized by the Boston Business Journal as a 2026 CFO of the Year award recipient.
Hepner has dedicated his career in finance to serving underprivileged institutions and young people. He joined Franklin Cummings Tech in 2021, following a role as CFO at Roxbury Community College. As a member of the president's cabinet, Kevin played a vital role in the realignment of processes among academic, enrollment, and development departments.
Kevin’s accomplishments as CFO at Franklin Cummings Tech over the last four years exemplify his talents as a turnaround agent and characterize his commitment to improving the lives of others through education.
We are so thrilled to see his legacy of service recognized by Boston’s business community.
Read more from the Boston Business Journal here.
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Student Spotlight
Protecting the Commonwealth’s Communities
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Franklin Cummings Tech student David Paul (’26) recently completed a hands-on cybersecurity internship with the Town of Danvers, where he supported the municipality's IT security operations under the mentorship of Danvers Chief Information Officer Colby Cousens.
Through the internship—funded by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and arranged in partnership with CyberTrust MA—David monitored security alerts, worked on group policy projects, and gained real-world exposure to tools and concepts like API security and MCP that extended well beyond the classroom.
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David credited his coursework with giving him the foundation to take on new challenges in a professional environment.
Opportunities like this one reflect a commitment from FC Tech to supplying local cities and towns with local talent.
| | "Getting knowledge in school is great, but it's good to put it in practice."
David Paul ('26) | | | As Colby put it, "I didn't get the traction that I've gotten in my career on my own. It was from people opening doors and helping me. I feel I owe a bit of that back to the system."
With this critical work experience under his belt, David is now preparing to launch his IT career and continue his education, well on his way to making a lasting impact in his field of choice. | | The Wrecking Ball is a smashing success | | |
Guests had a great time at the second annual Wrecking Ball produced by student leaders in the Construction Management (CM) associate degree program to celebrate their achievements and recognize their industry supporters. The special program served as a networking and social event connecting current students and incoming students with program alums and construction industry partners.
This year’s Tuplin Award - named for CM Program Chair and FC Tech alum Leslie Tuplin ('80, Architectural Engineering Technology) - was presented to Gavin Hanbury (‘26), whose work ethic and classroom presence embodies the qualities of scholarship, leadership, comradery, and selflessness.
Among other achievements, Hanbury served as president of the FC Tech Association of General Contractors (AGC) student chapter and represented the college at the AGC national convention two years in a row. New officers of the AGC chapter were also introduced during the Wrecking Ball.
| | “Earning my degree and leading the AGC chapter really did a lot of great things for me. We were able to represent the college at conferences, serve as mentors for Boston area K-12 students, and have many other opportunities I never thought we would have.”
Gavin Hanbury ('26, Construction Management) | | The Eye Ball brings opticianry into focus | | |
The Franklin Cummings Tech Opticianry Department and the Opticianry Association of Massachusetts (OAM) hosted the annual Eye Ball celebration, a fun-filled networking event that brings together the Franklin Cummings Tech community, OAM members, corporate partners, industry leaders, and of course the many students and alumni of the Opticianry associate degree program.
The Eye Ball’s graduate speaker Rhiannon Raymond (‘26), who received the George Bourque Memorial Award, thanked her parents, her classmates, Opticianry program Chair Blair Wong, and the Opticianry faculty for helping her persevere and thrive in the challenging program. “I am so excited to be a part of this beautiful profession,” she said.
| | In a new tradition announced by George Bourque, the 2026 grads all received a specially designed pin that features the Opticianry program’s motto “Helping People See”.
These pins will be given out each year to all Opticianry graduates.
| | | Apprenticeships in America
Washington D.C. Summit | |
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The third annual Apprenticeships for America summit in DC last week was an amazing place for learning and sharing.
The Apprenticeship Degree was a theme throughout the conference and Franklin Cummings Tech was honored to be included in two packed sessions: “Building a Movement of Apprenticeship Degrees in Massachusetts,” featuring President and CEO Aisha Francis, Ph.D., and “The Power of Apprenticeship Degrees,” featuring Chief Innovation Officer Michael Goldstein.
| | | | Many thanks to our panel collaborators, Marjorie Ringrose of The Smith Family Foundation and Joe E. Ross of Reach University.
And a special shout out to MA Labor Secretary Lauren Jones and her team for supporting a movement of apprenticeship here in Massachusetts! | | Celebrating Early College students | | The Early College program held its year-end celebration for our unique Advanced Standing Associates Program (ASAP) students, all of whom earned a full year of college credit while still in high school.
ASAP students are taking all classes at Franklin Cummings Tech during their high school senior year and have an opportunity to enroll at Franklin Cummings Tech as sophomores after high school graduation. This game-changing and money-saving program allows them to save a full year of college tuition and get early access to career readiness and tech fields.
The year-end celebration included students, families and supporters, college faculty and staff, and representatives from our key ASAP partner high schools: Cambridge Public Schools and Dearborn STEM Academy. | | “This is one of my favorite events of the year and probably my favorite partnership, with pretty remarkable outcomes."
Michael O’Shea, Early College Program Manager for Cambridge Public Schools. | Congratulations to the outstanding ASAP students on achieving this major milestone, and to their families for supporting them in their Early College journey. | | Plug into The Spark on LinkedIn | 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. | | Follow Franklin Cummings Tech on social | | | | |
