RINDGE, NH (10/8/2023) – The Franklin Pierce University Department of Athletics celebrated its rich history over the weekend after the 2023 Hall of Fame class was officially inducted during a ceremony on Friday night.

The lineup of attendees and virtual appearances included some of the most impactful Ravens to ever spend time in Rindge. That included Athletic Hall of Famers like Cindy Arman who MC'd the ceremony along with Bruce Kirsh, David Chadbourne and Jayson King who all appeared via video celebrating this year's class.

Other headliners included University President Doctor Kim Mooney '83 who shared her memories of athletics, the achievements made in the last year, and what the future holds for Ravens Athletics. XC/Track and Field GA Connor Everidge represented the current student-athlete body, sharing a heartwarming story about his family's connection to Pierce which includes his mother, father and sister who all attended before him making the school and easy pick during his final year of high school.

To put it simply, the ceremony on Friday night was an event full of storytelling that sparked laughs, tears, nostalgia, and plenty of applause. Memories of each inductee spanning from the mid-1970s to the 2010's underlined and bolded the true meaning of Franklin Pierce University.

The first inductee of the night was Fred Berger from the class of 1976. During his time at Pierce, Berger worked as a student manager for baseball and men's basketball which set the foundation of a greater impact that came years after his time in school. In 1990, he established the Fred Berger Scholarship which assists FPU students who work as team managers in their respected sports. Since the scholarship's inception, thousands of dollars have helped more than 30 students make their way to a degree. Berger explained in his speech, that in the years after he left Pierce, he knew he had to make a difference for those who followed in his footsteps adding he was proud of his humble beginnings and looked forward to helping more students in the years to come.

The second inductee of the night was DJ Johnson class of 2001, a standout member of the men's basketball program. Johnson finished his career as two-time MVP, was a two-time all-conference player and his name remains solidified in the record books as arguably one of the best point guards to ever go through Pierce. After graduating, Johnson went on to travel the world playing with the Harlem Globetrotters and still serves a high-level role in his local youth basketball scene. During his speech, Johnson explained how overcoming adversity to first get to Pierce and remaining resilient through college and even to current day helped mold him into the person he is today. His joyful storytelling drew applause and laughter from the crowd and tears from his family members. 

Batting third in Friday night's ceremony was baseball's Garret Olson class of 2011. For players of the program, Olson is a household name who was East Region and Northeast-10 Player of the Year in 2006, two time All-American, holds the single season record in hits record, and is currently the programs highest draft pick after he was selected in the fourth round by the Minnesota Twins. In an emotional speech, Olson explained that baseball was the bedrock of his life today, celebrating his coaches, teammates and told the story of how he first met his now wife at Pierce. As Olson's eyes swelled with tears of appreciation, the same happened for his family and friends in the crowd.

The final inductee of the night was Alyssa Lambert, class of 2016. As part of the program's inaugural XC/Track&Field team, Lambert finished her career as a two-time All-American, 2016 FPU Woman Athlete of the year holds school records in ten different events and has one of the fastest 1000-meter times in DII history. In her message to the crowd, Lambert emphasized appreciation not only for friends and family, but for the university's decision to invest in the XC/Track and field program. As one of the founding members of the team, Lambert celebrated both the memories she made while in a Ravens uniform and ones still to come for future student athletes at Franklin Pierce.

Closing out the ceremony, Director of Athletics Rachel Burleson tied together the meaning of Raven Nation, highlighting the importance of Raven Athletics and how each student athlete's experience starts in Rindge but stretches far beyond the boundaries of 40 University Drive.