Franklin University Celebrates its 177th Commencement Ceremony on Sept. 15, 2024

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

Franklin University, a leader in providing education for working adults, will hold its 177th Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at 2 p.m. (ET). The ceremony will take place at The Greater Columbus Convention Center, Battelle Grand Ballroom, 400 N. High St. in downtown Columbus.

Commencement has always been a time of celebration. For Franklin, the event represents a significant achievement for students who have completed their degrees while managing work, family, and other responsibilities. The University is proud to honor the accomplishments of this latest class of graduates and invites the community to join in the celebration.

This year’s ceremony will also highlight a notable milestone in the University’s partnership with Stark State College through the Pathway Portal. The first graduate from Stark State using the Pathway Portal underscores Franklin's commitment to expanding educational opportunities and ensuring that degrees remain accessible and affordable.

Additionally, the Commencement will recognize the achievements of a new group of graduates from Muscat, Oman. These graduates have earned their MBAs through Franklin’s program offered in collaboration with the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS). The program, which features classes taught in English by Franklin faculty and local instructors from MCBS and other institutions, reflects Franklin University’s dedication to global education and international collaboration.

Graduating Student Speaker
Amanda R. Fetherolf has spent over 20 years with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, starting as a secretary and rising to become the Identification Bureau manager. In her current role, she oversees the bureau’s operations and staff, ensuring the accurate handling of criminal identification records for Franklin County. Her career reflects a strong commitment to criminal justice, having served as an Identification Bureau supervisor for five years and as an identification technician for seven years.

Amanda has made a significant impact on her community and profession. Her career showcases her dedication, leadership and passion for criminal justice. For nearly a decade, Amanda has developed and taught courses on fingerprint classification and collection, leading annual in-service training for the Identification Bureau. She also testifies as an expert witness in Franklin County courts, further establishing herself as a respected authority within the forensic community.

Active in her field, Amanda has been a member of the Ohio Identification Officer’s Association since 2012, serving as president in 2019, and continuing as secretary. She also belongs to the International Association for Identification and the Idemia User’s Group International.

Amanda graduates with a B.S. Criminal Justice Administration. She was inducted into Franklin University’s honor society and is graduating summa cum laude. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Amanda currently resides in Grove City with her husband and their two young sons, ages 3 and 1. Her husband also serves his community and nation as a deputy sheriff and military member.

Note: The Summer 2024 commencement ceremony will be streamed live for those families and friends who wish to watch the ceremony from home. A link to access the live stream will be made available on the Graduation Information page (franklin.edu/commencement) at 2 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).