Congratulations to the Class of 2023 Valedictorian & Salutatorian
Apr 5, 2023
Franklin Pierce University is proud to announce that Kelly Hayes has earned the distinction of being named Valedictorian for the Class of 2023, and Hannah Johnson has been named the class's Salutatorian. These two outstanding undergraduate students will be formally recognized at the University's Baccalaureate Ceremony and Commencement Exercises on May 13 on the Rindge Campus.
Kelly Hayes, from Belmont, New Hampshire, majored in English and Secondary Education in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), with a certificate in Women, Gender, and Leadership. She is member of the Franklin Pierce University Honors Program, Phi Lambda Theta Education Honor Society, and the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society, for which she acted as the Iota Omega FPU Chapter President and Eastern Region Student Representative in 2022. She has also been employed part time in the Wensberg Writing Center (WWC) and Student Success Center(SSC), tutoring students in the areas of critical reading skills, writing, and revisions.
Kelly plans to work in education and library sciences, where she hopes to teach middle or high school students and possibly work in a school library to teach children about the importance of literature in their everyday lives. She shares the following quote, which she lives by, that is from her grandfather, Donald Hayes Sr., "The truly educated man never graduates."
Hannah Johnson, from Temple, New Hampshire, majored in Health Science with a minor in Chemistry in the College of Health and Natural Sciences (CHNS). Hannah has worked as a lab assistant for General Chemistry in addition to being a CHNS summer research assistant. A member of the Franklin Pierce University Honors Program and the Alpha Chi National Honor Society, she tutors students in General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry through the Student Success Center (SSC) as well as being a writing tutor through the Wensberg Writing Center. Hannah has held various roles within the Student Government Association (SGA), including Class of 2023 President and most recently as Executive Vice President.
Following graduation, Hannah will be working as a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) before enrolling in a Physician Assistant graduate program next year. She would like to thank “the amazing professors in the Health Science and Chemistry Departments for their continued support that have allowed me access to many extraordinary experiences as well as her family and friends for their love and support.”
For more information about Franklin Pierce University’s 2023 Commencement Exercises, please click here.
