Franklin Road Academy Alumni

Making history in country music. Congratulations to Jessie Jo Dillon ’05 on being named the ACM Songwriter of the Year for the third consecutive year, becoming the first songwriter ever to earn the honor three years in a row.

A three-time GRAMMY nominee and one of Nashville’s most celebrated songwriters, Jessie Jo continues to shape the sound of country music with hits for artists including Megan Moroney, Kelsea Ballerini, Jon Pardi, and more.

Her incredible year also includes multiple award nominations, three No. 1 songs, and co-writing the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

We are proud to celebrate Jessie Jo and all she continues to accomplish.

🔗 https://bit.ly/ACMJessieJoDillon05
📷 Photo by Lily Nelson

Congratulations to Carter Simons ’24 and his team on being named VEX U World Champions!

In a recent LinkedIn post, Carter reflected on the resilience, leadership, and teamwork that defined the season, sharing how adversity early on helped shape a championship run fueled by late nights, constant iteration, and a commitment to getting better every day.

Carter also credited Franklin Road Academy for helping spark and grow his passion for robotics, along with the mentors, teammates, advisors, and family members who supported him along the way.

We are proud to see alumni like Carter continuing to lead, innovate, and make an impact at the highest level. Congratulations, Carter, on an incredible accomplishment!

Read more: https://bit.ly/CarterSimons24

Congratulations to Hadley Maxwell ’22 on being named the 2026 Patriot League Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year at Bucknell University.

Hadley earned All-Patriot League First Team honors after leading the league with 10 saves, ranking eighth in NCAA Division I, while also excelling in the classroom and community through his work with Team Impact.

We’re proud to see Hadley continue to lead with excellence on the mound, in the classroom, and beyond.

Learn more about this achievement at https://bit.ly/HadleyMaxwell22 ⚾

Join us in celebrating alumna Diane Les Becquets ’82 as she hosts a book signing for her latest novel, Where the Water Meets the Sky, at Parnassus Books this Thursday, May 14. 📚

We’re always proud to see members of our alumni community continuing to share their gifts and talents in meaningful ways.

This event requests RSVP at https://parnassusbooks.net/form/becquets 🔗

We had a blast at our Alumni Easter Egg Hunt yesterday! So many familiar faces back on campus, plenty of full baskets, and a fun afternoon on The Hill for our FRA families. 🐰🥚

Panthers in the Big Apple! 🗽💙 FRA alumni gathered in New York City yesterday for a happy hour, reconnecting and catching up with fellow Panthers living and working there. A great evening with members of the FRA alumni community!

Alumni, you’re invited! Join us back on the Hill for our FRA Alumni Easter Egg Hunt on March 29 at 2 PM at the lower school playground. Bring your family and enjoy an afternoon of Easter fun, sweet treats, crafts, and time together with the FRA community.

We can’t wait to celebrate spring with you and your little ones. Check the details in the graphic and start planning your visit back to campus! 🌷🥚💙

Nothing beats bringing real-world experience back to The Hill! Our MVP Pitch Competition was made even more meaningful thanks to alumni entrepreneurs and business leaders who served as judges, offering insight, encouragement, and industry perspective to our student founders.

Huge thanks to Beth Somers ’85, Tom Woodard ’79, Whit Hagan ’18, CJ Fayne ’17, Eric Diggs ’18, and Katie Aelvoet ’11 for investing in the next generation of innovators and leaders

Did you meet your spouse at FRA? We want to hear your story! This Valentine’s Day, we’re spotlighting alumni couples who met at FRA and are now married. Share your love story with us and help us celebrate the relationships that began right here on campus.

Tap the link below to submit your story and be featured! ✨
www.franklinroadacademy.com/rsvp/fra-married-couples

Today, we hosted the first “Almost Alumni” event of the semester for the Class of 2026, featuring recent graduates. Evan Mitchell ’25, Allie Bradshaw ’25, Caroline Dinker ’22, and Bronagh Barrett ’24 shared insights from their college journeys and offered valuable advice to our seniors.