F&M Stories

Home / Commencement / Commencement Archive / Commencement 2016 / Franklin & Marshall – Senior Spotlight: Inspired by Seeing the Obstacles Others Have Overcome

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

September 2, 2026

‘I Find It Important and Necessary’: Uncovering Lancaster's Hidden History

For Frances Taylor ’27, the Lancaster Vice project checked all the right boxes: collaborating with a faculty mentor, exploring how their two majors converge in the real world, and unearthing stories the city had forgotten. “I enjoy learning about hidden history that popular culture often overlooks,” Taylor said.

August 31, 2026

Fulfilling a Dream: A Diplomat’s Forensic Internship

For Kayla McCrea ’27, the path to forensic science began with a high school tour of the New Jersey State Police. Emboldened by that early glimpse into the field, she came to F&M to build the expertise and skills necessary to return as a toxicology unit intern — a feat she accomplished this summer.

August 28, 2026

Building the Impossible: An F&M Alum’s Mission to Create the World’s Fastest Aircraft

As chief executive officer of high-speed aircraft company Hermeus, Zach Shore ’06 leads the effort to push the boundaries of what’s possible by building the world’s fastest autonomous aircraft.