Franklin Pierce University announced that Madeline Ward has been named valedictorian for the Class of 2024, and Ryan Walker has been named the class's salutatorian.

Ward, from Wolfeboro, majored in biology while also earning minors in spanish and chemistry. A member of the university's Honors Program, she served as a tutor in chemistry at the Student Success Center and assisted students as a writing tutor at the Wensburg Writing Center.

Ward also worked as a research assistant in Shallee Page’s research lab studying bacteriophages, and was a four-year member of the Franklin Pierce women’s volleyball team.

She completed her degree in December 2023 and has recently begun employment at Harvard University Medical School as a research assistant in the Oyler-Yaniv Lab, with future plans of attending medical school.

Ward expresses gratitude to “all my professors at FPU as well as my teammates, friends, and family for their continued and unwavering encouragement, love, and support.” 

Walker is from Seabrook, and majored in health sciences while also earning an exercise physiology certificate. He was a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society.

Captain of the cross-country and track and field teams, he has been a two-time Elite 24 recipient, a two-time USTFCCA Cross-Country All-Academic Honors recipient and a seven-time NE10 Academic All-Conference recipient.

Walker would like to “thank my friends, teammates, coaches, professors and parents for the unconditional support throughout these past four years in my growth as [a] student, athlete, and person.”

Ward and Walker will be formally recognized at the university's Baccalaureate Ceremony and Commencement Exercises Saturday, May 11, at 10:15 a.m.