F&M Stories
Senior Spotlight: Inspired by Seeing the Obstacles Others Have Overcome
As they prepare for their May 7 Commencement Ceremony, Franklin & Marshall seniors look back at their four years on campus—and what's next.
Name: Cameron Rutledge '16
Major: Chemistry
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Activities at F&M: Member of Miami STEM Posse 1, IMPACT, Black Student Union, Benjamin Rush Medical Honor Society, Rho Alpha Sigma, Hall Adviser and Orientation Planning Director in Brooks College House, Class Representative on the Brooks College House Congress, Chemistry preceptor, F&M College Prep facilitator, Next Generation Initiative peer mentor, Squash ACES mentor
What was your most memorable moment or time at F&M? Annually, the brothers of IMPACT go on a retreat to Black Rock. It's a great bonding experience as we get to participate in a ropes course while learning one another's stories. It has been my honor to learn the obstacles many of my closest friends have overcome to be here at F&M today. Being at Black Rock with these individuals who have overcome so much pushes me to overcome my own fears, work as a team and be a better person. It has truly been inspiring and life changing.
What did you enjoy most about the College? I loved meeting new people from all over the nation and all around the world. College was a space where we could all come together and learn from one another. I enjoyed the personal growth that came out of meeting new people, sharing and creating new experiences.
What are your plans for after graduation? I will spend a year in South Africa (Cape Town and Khayelitsha) as an intern with the Christopher T. Campbell Foundation, implementing youth development programs that incorporate life lessons and soccer.
Related Articles
June 5, 2026
Colin Presby ’06 Brews Up Beverage Career
Being a brewmaster has taken Colin Presby ’06 around the globe – he even oversaw Carnival Cruise line’s first on-board brewery in 2016. He pivoted to an adjacent career in distilling at Mount Hope Winery & Estate, home to the Renaissance Faire.
June 3, 2026
Leveraging the Diplomat Network, On and Off the Court
For Asad “Sid” Syed ’27, F&M Men’s Basketball is more than a team. It’s a vital support system — one that introduced him to influential alumni mentors, gave him his own faculty fan cheering from the stands, and instilled the confidence to grow, improve and sustain excellence.
June 1, 2026
F&M Computer Science Grad Lands Job at Google
At F&M, Shahina Tojieva ’25 cultivated world-ready skills to seamlessly transition from Diplomat to Google software engineer. “My time at F&M equipped me with the essential toolkit to navigate unfamiliar environments and overcome post-collegiate hurdles through a liberal arts lens,” she said.