Alumni News

Making a Difference

In the fall semester of 2007, Anne Deriaz delivered an inspiring speech as part of the Franklin Fall Lecture Series about her work in India with the Spiti Valley Buddhist monks. Adrian Mangiuca ’09 was immediately captivated and wanted to be personally involved himself. He began an internship with Deriaz and Les Amis de la Sapan Foundation with which she worked and whose goal is to preserve Tibetan culture through education and community-based projects. With the help of Dean of Arts and Humanities Sara Steinert-Borella, he started to conceptualize a trip to the Spiti Valley region for the summer of 2008 that would include teaching English to Buddhist monks.

Franklin Celebrates 38th Annual Commencement

On Sunday, May 11, 2008, Franklin College Switzerland held its thirty-eighth annual Commencement, proudly conferring university diplomas upon 66 students representing over 20 countries, including Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Russia, Estonia, Honduras, Nigeria, Switzerland and the United States, to name only a few. The ceremony was held for the first time in the history of the College at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano and welcomed more than 600 guests, including graduates’ families, alumni, friends and members of the local community.

The Ursula Gentile Lowerre Oustanding Service Award 2008

The 2008 Ursula Gentile Lowerre Outstanding Alumni Service Award was presented to Mr. John Steinbreder at the May graduation ceremony in Lugano. Steinbreder attended Franklin College from 1974 to 1976, earning his Associate of Arts degree. He then studied at the University of Nairobi in Kenya before moving to the University of Oregon, from which he graduated in 1979 with a B.A. degree in journalism. He has served on the Franklin College Alumni Council since its inception and spent three years on the Board of Trustees as an Alumni Trustee.