F&M Stories

Home / Commencement / Commencement Archive / Commencement 2015 / Franklin & Marshall – Senior Spotlight: Mary Grace Meland

Senior Spotlight: Mary Grace Meland

As they prepare for their May 9 Commencement Ceremony, Franklin & Marshall seniors look back at their four years on campus — and what's next.

Major: Music

Hometown: Pittsburgh

Activities: John Newman Association, Chamber Singers, Brooks College House Hall Adviser, Jazz Ensemble, voice lessons

What was your most memorable moment or time at F&M?

My most memorable moments were when my fellow music majors and I performed modern and postmodern pieces in our MUS 480 capstone class with John Carbon, our fearless leader. Whether it was a piece by fellow seniors Zach Fried or Brendan McShane or professional composer Terry Riley, it was always a unique musical experience.

What did you enjoy most about the College?

I am so grateful for the community that Music Department faculty members foster among their students. The camaraderie in the department between both majors and non-majors was special -- especially the interactions that occurred in the music lab. That space holds a place in my heart because of the memorable moments that happened there with my many musical friends. My professors' passion for their work and interest in their students helped create this community, and I am thankful for their hard work and dedication.

What are your plans for after graduation?

The only definitive plan I have is to keep singing, hopefully in a church setting and at lots of weddings.

Related Articles

May 18, 2026

Green Room Shakespeare Play Links Past and Present

Thespians of all stripes will delight in an upcoming Shakespeare performance taking place at Franklin & Marshall College’s historic Green Room Theatre. The production is directed by F&M’s very own Justin Hopkins ’07, writing center director and senior teaching professor of English.

May 14, 2026

Reflections on Leadership: Board Chair Eric Noll ’83, P’09

Eric Noll’s relationship with F&M began on a gorgeous spring day in 1978. Almost 50 years later, the alumnus will complete his role as Chair of the Board of Trustees on June 30. “F&M continues to evolve, but its core values have remained the same,” Noll says. “I’d say, without apologies, that serving as Board Chair for this college is one of the great honors of my life.”

May 14, 2026

Student-Run Magazine Showcases Cultural Criticism

At Franklin & Marshall, your ideas may start in the classroom, but they won’t be contained there. For students in Associate Professor of English Erik Anderson’s Pop Culture Writing course, this meant putting what they learned into practice by creating an online magazine, Touch Grass.