Feature Stories
ONTO A BIGGER STAGE: Madison Leslie ’22 Has Eyes on Miss America Title
September 27, 2022
In just under two months, Madison Leslie’s life changed drastically. She went from snatching groundballs in lacrosse games, to walking across the stage at graduation, to being crowned Miss Maine 2022. This 2022 Franklin Pierce alumna won her first beauty pageant at the age of 16, when she was simply looking for a place to sing. Now, she will be singing for the whole country at the Miss America 2023 pageant, to be held in December of 2022 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
Ravens Women’s Teams Find Success in 50th Anniversary Year of Title IX
June 23, 2022
RINDGE, N.H. (June 23, 2022) -- “No person in the United States shall, based on sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Signed into law 50 years ago Thursday, Title IX has had far-reaching impacts across the education landscape, but it is perhaps most famous for its role in the advancement of women’s sports.
INSIDE LOOK: How Day of Giving Fundraising Impacts Athletics
November 11, 2021
The success of a person is largely impacted by the opportunities provided to them, and the freedom they have to explore those opportunities. As a University, Franklin Pierce aims to provide its students with the tools needed to find success both in and out of the classroom. Be it through academic achievement or the ability to compete at the NCAA level, the student experience comes first in Rindge.
PUSHING FORWARD: Football Focusing on Growth in Second Season
September 29, 2021
After not being able to play for nearly two years, Franklin Pierce University coaches and student-athletes are happy to be back in action this fall.
GROWING TOGETHER: Pair of Athletics Admins Participate in NCAA Mentoring Program
April 01, 2021
It is widely known that the ratio of men to women employed in the sports industry is not balanced, there are many more males than females. The NCAA Division II Athletic Directors Association Women and Minorities Mentoring Program is working to improve this. The program pairs young women and minorities seeking careers in collegiate athletic administration with those who have experience, in hopes of providing them with guidance, and enhancing their ability to be successful in their careers.
A SEASON UNLIKE ANY OTHER: Reflections on Winter Sports’ Return to Competition
March 30, 2021
With the end of a unique winter sports season upon us, many Ravens are reflecting on their seasons and the challenges that came with them. While this was a most difficult year for college athletes across the country, Franklin Pierce University has done all it can to keep everyone safe and on campus. Though that has meant limited playing time for athletes, they have combated the challenges and stood tall in the face of adversity.
FUN TIMES AT FPU: Ravens Find Unique Competition Opportunities in Fall Semester
November 23, 2020
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic preventing intercollegiate competition this fall, the Department of Athletics had to get creative in creating a competitive experience for student-athletes. The result was a weekly competition called the Ravens Cup, which ran throughout the semester.
BETTER TOGETHER: Franklin Pierce’s Coed Teams Push Each Other to New Heights
November 09, 2020
Being on a sports team is something athletes cherish throughout their lives. Teams are often more like families, with your brothers by your side as you run to the end zone, and your sisters cheering you on as you put a perfect shot into the net for the winning goal. However, in Raven Nation, this family dynamic extends beyond the male and female sports teams. Several Athletics programs on campus are coed in many of their operations, where the men’s and women’s teams frequently practice and interact together, making the family bigger. While it may be intimidating working with the other gender, many Ravens we talked to enjoy the challenges and the rewards of doing so.
FAMILY TIES: Ravens Siblings Tackle Challenges of College Together
October 12, 2020
Coming on to a college campus can be nerve-wracking. Not knowing anyone, being by yourself, and starting a new life all on your own. These siblings decided to skip the stress and to enjoy the college experience together at Franklin Pierce. From living together to playing a sport together, these siblings are making the best out of their college experience with each other.
MASKS AND DISTANCE: Ravens Adjust to a Semester of Unique Practices
September 30, 2020
2020 is clearly a year unlike any other. The Coronavirus pandemic has changed the way the world operates, and that translates directly into the world of college sports. With no competition this semester, and physical restrictions to keep people safe, sports practices and conditioning at Franklin Pierce have looked drastically different.
BACK IN THE SADDLE: Swasey Finds Success in First Year Back in Rindge
March 25, 2020
For new head coach Mark Swasey of the women’s basketball team, this season is not a welcome to Franklin Pierce; it is a welcome back. After an opening for the head coaching position became available, Swasey knew this was an opportunity he could not pass up. The ability to coach again, at a school he enjoys, made it easy to take the job.
BALLIN’ FOR HER COUNTRY: Caban Recounts Experiences with USA Ball Hockey
February 21, 2020
Being a member of any national sports team is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any athlete, and it’s an experience Franklin Pierce University freshman Stefanie Caban has already had. The current women’s ice hockey defensemen for the Ravens was invited to be a member of the United States Women’s Ball Hockey team three years ago, and compete alongside other players from across the United States, including those in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL).
FAR FROM HOME: International Athletes Adapt to Life in Rindge
November 14, 2019
Traveling to college is a stressful and exciting time for young adults, especially as a collegiate athlete. However, the situation is even more stressful when you are leaving your home country to do so. Franklin Pierce University has many international student-athletes who come from all over the world to attend school. Why? For the love of the sport.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Brittany Fleck Coaches Two Teams at Once
November 08, 2019
Coaching at the NCAA level is a tough job. Hours of film, practice prep, game prep, travel, and so much more to ensure your team is not only performing well, but also happy. While some coaches find one team to be enough, Brittany Fleck took on a nearly impossible job: coach two teams at one time. The Franklin Pierce University field hockey assistant coach volunteered to help out with the volleyball team as well, when a position opened up on the coaching staff this fall.
LINDSTROM STRONG: Volleyball Helps a Teammate’s Family Fight Cancer
October 22, 2019
Streamers and balloons hung down from the entrance of the Fieldhouse. Posters lined the walls with quotes such as “Feel the Teal,” and “Cancer you picked the wrong girl.” The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team walked onto the court wearing teal and white shirts reading “Lindstrom Strong,” and donning teal ribbons in their hair. All of this in honor of Dawn Lindstrom, whose daughter, freshman Ingrid Lindstrom, plays for the Ravens.
MOVIN’ ON UP: Inside Women’s Ice Hockey’s Transition to Division I
October 18, 2019
The 2019-20 season for the Franklin Pierce University women’s ice hockey team is about making history, as the Ravens begin their inaugural season at the Division I level, competing in the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance (NEWHA). The team makes the jump from the Division II/III level that they competed at for their first seven seasons.