F&M Stories

Home / Commencement / Commencement Archive / Commencement 2019 / Franklin & Marshall – Your Core is 'The Source of Your Passion,' Speaker Tells Graduates

Your Core is 'The Source of Your Passion,' Speaker Tells Graduates

Franklin & Marshall College alumna Dr. Rahel Nardos '97, director of global health for Oregon Health & Science University's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, offered graduates at F&M's May 12 Commencement a perspective on her experiences growing up poor in Ethiopia.

"They were responsible for making me who I am today, what I chose to care about, how I define success, and how hard I am willing to work for it," said Nardos, who supports a women's health program in sub-Saharan Africa."What experiences shape your internal compass? What speaks to you at your core? Take time to find the answers to these questions," she told the Class of 2019. "They will be the source of your passion, your fulfillment and your resilience in the face of obstacles."

Robed in black, 540 students — including 94 international students from 28 countries and 97 first-generation students, crossed Hartman Green on a bright, blue, breezy day to ascend the stage where F&M President Barbara Altmann presented the graduates with their hard-earned baccalaureates.

View the highlights of a day that celebrated achievement:

 
 

Related Articles

November 3, 2025

F&M Announces Commonwealth Commitment To Open Doors for More Pennsylvania Students

F&M’s newly launched Commonwealth Commitment ensures that Pennsylvania residents with household incomes below $75,000 attend tuition-free. Those earning between $75,000 and $150,000 pay no more than in-state tuition at Penn State. Need-based aid supports 65% of all F&M students, including international students.

October 29, 2025

F&M Junior Merges Music and Medicine

What you care for most is what you influence. Esther Burlington ’27 is making an impact as both a singer and pre-medical student at F&M. The junior is co-president of The Poor Richards, the College’s longest-standing a cappella group.

October 27, 2025

Wall Street Journal Recognizes Franklin & Marshall for Student Outcomes and Learning Opportunities

F&M was ranked among the best colleges in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal-College Pulse, which rates 584 eligible universities in the country on how well colleges set graduates up for financial success.