Albertus Magnus College Marks Centennial with Frankie the Falcon’s “Sweet 16” Celebration
April 22 celebration highlights school spirit, athletics pride, and a landmark year for the College
New Haven, Conn., April 22, 2026 – As Albertus Magnus College marks a historic Centennial milestone, the College’s Athletic Department is inviting the campus community to celebrate another major moment: the “Sweet 16” birthday of its beloved mascot, Frankie the Falcon. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and fans are invited to gather on April 22, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. in the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center for a festive celebration honoring the Fearless Falcon who has become a spirited symbol of Albertus pride.
A Historic Legacy with a Modern Face
Although Frankie officially “hatched” on April 6, 2010, appropriately on National Student-Athlete Day, the Falcon’s connection to Albertus Magnus College stretches back far beyond sixteen years. While Frankie may be the youngest collegiate mascot in New Haven, the Falcon carries one of the city’s oldest symbolic ties.
The Falcon was chosen in honor of the College’s namesake, St. Albert the Great (Albertus Magnus), whose family were renowned expert falconers. The mascot also pays tribute to Albertus’ roots as a women’s institution. In traditional falconry, the term falcon refers specifically to the female of the species, prized for her size, strength, and courage,a fitting emblem for the Albertus community.
Centennial Spirit Meets Falcon Pride
Frankie’s Sweet 16 arrives during a landmark chapter in College history, as Albertus celebrates its Centennial year (1925–2025) and boldly launches into its second century.
“Celebrating Frankie’s Sweet 16 during our Centennial year makes this moment especially meaningful,” said Michael Kobylanski, Director of Athletics at Albertus Magnus College. “Frankie embodies the Fearless Falcons spirit and has become an unmistakable part of our campus identity. This shared milestone reflects both our proud traditions and the momentum carrying us forward.”
The Albertus community and local fans are invited to join the festivities and celebrate Frankie’s lasting impact on campus life.
What:
Frankie the Falcon’s Sweet 16 Birthday Party
When:
April 22, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
Where:
Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center
Albertus Magnus College
303 Huntington St.,
New Haven, CT 06511
Highlights:
Photo opportunities with Frankie and refreshments for Falcon faithful
About Albertus Magnus College
Founded in 1925, Albertus is a coeducational Catholic College in the Dominican tradition. Albertus' values- and liberal arts-based education is recognized by external rankings such as US News & World Report, Money, and The New York Times, and has been named a Top 10 Military Friendly School. For ten consecutive years, at least 95% of Albertus graduates have attained employment or gone on to graduate studies within six months of completing their degrees. The College has an enrollment of approximately 1,300 students across its traditional undergraduate, accelerated adult undergraduate, and graduate program levels. Proud to enroll a student body where nearly half of its undergraduate students receive Federal Pell Grants and are first-generation college goers, Albertus is known for its innovative curricular offerings, recently launching new Bachelor's degree programs in Nursing, including BSN and Connecticut's first LPN-to-BSN; General Health Sciences; Interdisciplinary Studies; and Public Health.
Among its graduate offerings is the State of Connecticut's only Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program, and it is just one of three schools to offer a Master of Science in Human Services. In 2025-26, Albertus is celebrating its historic 100th Anniversary and completing implementation of the Albertus 2025: Lighting the Way to a Second Century strategic plan, with a bold vision to "be a destination liberal arts-based college, distinguished in its interdisciplinary and experiential approach to education, rooted in Dominican values, that prepares students for lifelong civic engagement and success." To learn more, please visit albertus.edu.