$1M gift to help Franklin & Marshall College support students who have overcome adversity

A $1 million gift will enable Franklin & Marshall College to extend its commitment to high-achieving students regardless of their socioeconomic background.

F&M alumnus and trustee Ken Mehlman committed $1 million to the college to create an initiative geared to help students – many of whom are the first in their family to attend college – who have persevered through a particular challenge in life.

“Young men and women who have already overcome adversity bring different experiences and are well-positioned for 21^st century success, but they need practical tools to flourish,” Mehlman said in a statement. “This initiative will support these students and provide a framework for the rest of us to learn from them.”

Dubbed as The Mehlman Talent Initiative, the program is designed to identify teaching and mentoring techniques that can support students who have overcome adversity, be it poverty, disability, discrimination or illness.

Mehlman's gift will also go toward establishing a group of student, faculty and professional staff mentors who will help 10 low-income freshmen each fall, beginning this year, transition to college life and excel at F&M.

In addition, the college will bring prominent leaders to its campus through a new lecture and workshop series. Its theme: beating the odds for breakthrough success.

“With this tremendous gift, half of which is dedicated to financial aid,

F&M President Daniel Porterfield said, “(Mehlman) further enables the college to cultivate the greatness of high-achieving students so that they will be empowered to achieve big goals in their lives and make disproportionately positive contributions to society.”

The contribution from Mehlman, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, is the first step in launching a broader initiative called The Slingshot Project, aimed to teach and support those who have overcome obstacles.