The Franklin Pierce University Department of Athletics officially inducted its 2023 Hall of Fame class of Fred Berger, DJ Johnson, Garret Olson and Alyssa Lambert during a ceremony Friday night.

Berger, a member of the Class of 1976, worked as a student manager for baseball and men's basketball. In 1990, he established the Fred Berger Scholarship, which assists FPU students who work as team managers in their respective sports. Since the scholarship's inception, thousands of dollars have helped more than 30 students earn 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.

Johnson, a 2001 graduate and men’s basketball standout, was a two-time MVP and two-time all-conference player. 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. 

Olson was a baseball standout and a member of the Class of 2011. He was East Region and Northeast-10 Player of the Year in 2006 and a two-time All-American. He holds the single-season hits record, and is currently the program’s highest draft pick after he was selected in the fourth round by the Minnesota Twins.

In his speech, Olson explained that baseball was the bedrock of his life today, celebrating his coaches and teammates and telling the story of how he first met his wife at Franklin Pierce.

Lambert, a member of the Class of 2016, was part of the program's inaugural cross-country and track and field team, She finished her career as a two-time All-American and 2016 FPU Woman Athlete of the Year. She holds school records in 10 different events and has one of the fastest 1,000-meter times in Division II 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 cross-country and 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.

Hall of Famer Cindy Arman was the emcee, and Hall of Famers Bruce Kirsh, David Chadbourne and Jayson King all appeared via video celebrating this year's class.

Other speakers included university President Kim Mooney, who shared her memories of athletics, the achievements made in the last year and what the future holds for Ravens athletics.

Connor Everidge represented the current student-athlete body, sharing a story about his family's connection to Pierce, which includes his mother, father and sister, who all attended before him, making the school an easy pick during his final year of high school.