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�鶹�� – Global Alumni Reunion, May 23, 2025

There are days when a place doesn’t just welcome you back — they remind you that you have always beloged.

On Friday, May 23rd, �鶹�� embraced alumni from different generations for the first day of the 55th Anniversary Global Reunion. It was more than a return. It was a rediscovery of what makes this community timeless.

The morning began with��“A Franklin Welcome”—a light breakfast under the trees at the Grotto on sunny Kaletsch Campus. Laughter echoed between familiar stone walls as alumni reconnected with faculty and students over cappuccino and cornetto. For many, it had been years—or decades—since they last stood on this hill. And yet, as one guest put it, “It feels like we never left.”

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At 11:15, the celebration turned reflective with the��Presidential Assembly: Honoring Our Heritage, Embracing Tomorrow, held at the McNeely Center for Ideas & Imagination. President Samuel Martín-Barbero spoke with clarity and heart, celebrating Franklin’s 55-year journey—from its visionary founding in 1969 to the vibrant institution it is today. He also cast a bright light on what’s ahead: the University’s bold 2030 Strategic Plan, designed to deepen global engagement, interdisciplinary learning, and student empowerment. The past and the future met in that room—and they embraced.

In true Franklin spirit, the next stop was a casual one: a�� Lunch at legendary Ristorante Giardino. Tables were filled with alumni recounting stories over slices, laughter spilling onto the streets of Sorengo. It was joyful, simple, grounding—exactly what reunions are made of.��

By late afternoon, it was time to��see the future firsthand. Our student guides led the��Franklin Forward Campus Tours, showing guests how the campus has grown, adapted, and blossomed. As alumni passed through familiar halls and discovered new spaces, the energy was contagious. “These students are remarkable,” one alumna said. “I feel so proud to be part of this legacy.”

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And then, as the sun began to dip behind the hills, Franklin did what it does best: it brought it together, to breathe, and be.��“A Taste of Ticino”, held on the Grotto lawn, was a culinary love letter to the region. Merlot del Ticino flowed. Plates of polenta and Luganiga warmed hands and hearts. Old friends reunited. New friendships sparked. It was heartwarming, authentic, and filled with the spirit of Franklin.

Day 1 wasn’t just about events. It was about the people who have shaped—and continue to shape—this community. From heartfelt reunions to forward-looking visions, Friday was a reminder that Franklin is not a place you leave behind. It’s a place you carry with you, always.

And this was only the beginning.