Hobart and William Smith Colleges

The Classes of 2019 join their families for the President’s Welcome held on Stern Lawn. With addresses from HWS leadership and the Orientation Coordinators, the traditional event marks a special occasion at the start of the Classes’ academic journey at the Colleges.

“The next four years will give you the confidence and experience necessary to investigate new ideas, cultures and points of view,” says President Mark D. Gearan addressing the Classes of 2019.

An aerial view of the President’s Welcome ceremony surrounded by the picturesque landscape of the Hobart and William Smith campus in Geneva.

Orientation Coordinators Peter Budmen '15, MAT '16 and Hannah Connolly '16 offer their congratulations to the Classes of 2019.

HWS Chaplain, The Rev. D. Maurice Charles, shares a smile with William Smith Dean Catherine Gallouet during the President’s Welcome. Charles, who heads the Office of Spiritual Engagement, joined the HWS leadership team this summer.

Members of the Classes of 2019 and their families listen to remarks offered during the President’s Welcome on Friday.

Chase Tanguay '19, of East Hampton, Mass., says goodbye to his mother Diane King P'19 and brother Jaden Tanguay.

Jemma Roche ’19, of Sherman, Conn., gives her brother Thomas Roche a big hug following the President’s Welcome on Stern Lawn.

Janet Aulet P’19, of Schenectady, N.Y., kisses her daughter Kayla Aulet ’19 after the President’s Welcome on Stern Lawn on Friday afternoon.

Kara Martinez P’19 snaps a photo of her children Dylan Bennett ’19 and Katie Bennett before returning to their home in Annapolis, Md.

Following the President’s Welcome, Chanel Andrews ’19 says farewell to his parents, Deisy and Lyron Andrews P’19, of Long Island City, N.Y.

Lindsey Kloc ’19, of Barrington, R.I., hugs her little sister Ellory.

Orientation Mentor James Mandart ’17 gives a cheer as members of the Classes of 2019 gather with their Orientation groups following the President’s Welcome.

Members of the Classes of 2019 mingle on the Quad during dinner on Friday.

From food to games, the Quad was packed with activities for the Classes of 2019 on the first evening of Orientation weekend.

Eco-Reps Isa Akerfeldt-Howard '18 (left) and Jane Dowling '18 assist First-Year students on the Quad.

Orientation Mentors Jason Kwong '18 (front) and Carlos Robles '18 (back) help First-Year students paint Frisbees.

DJs Virginia DeWees ’16 and Lucia Cardone ’16 play music during dinner on Friday.

Associate Professor of Russian Studies Kristen Welsh leads students through the first meeting of the First-Year Seminar “Coming to America” on Friday afternoon. The meetings were held during Orientation to provide new students with an overview of the course work and an opportunity to meet their professors.

Assistant Professor of English and Comparative Literature Stephen Cope gets acquainted with students in his Madness in History, Culture and Science, Am I Crazy? First-Year Seminar in the Blackwell Room on Friday.

Assistant Professor of Art and Architecture Jeffrey Blankenship talks with students in his First-Year Seminar “Design in American Culture.”

On Friday, students meet with their Orientation Mentors and fellow students of their First-Year Seminar class for the first time.

Members of the Classes of 2019 get acquainted with fellow students in their First-Year Seminar classes on Smith Lawn on Friday.

Students play in giant bubble balls and enjoy snacks provided by several food trucks on the Mini-Quad on Friday night.

Student Photographer Danny Hastings ’16 takes pictures at a photobooth set up in Rees Lounge on Friday night.

Students gather for a group photo with their classmates.

As students gather on the tennis courts for the annual class-year illumination photo, Micaela Carney ’18 uses a selfie-stick to capture a photo.

The Classes of 2019 begin to form their class year on the tennis courts for the illumination photo during Orientation Weekend.

Lighting up the darkness, first-year students form a glowing ’19 for the annual illumination photo.

Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning Katie Flowers offers remarks during the kick-off breakfast for the Orientation Day of Service on Saturday morning.

On the second day of Orientation, all first-year students join together to give back to Geneva during the annual Day of Service that takes place during their first weekend on campus.

From Historic North and City Central to Founders Square and South Lake, the Day of Service for Orientation brought the Classes of 2019 to more than 30 volunteer locations across Geneva and in the surrounding area. In this photo, students spruce up the Historic North neighborhood welcome sign.

During the Orientation Day of Service, several students help the Geneva Theatre Guild straighten up their storage area.

Castle Heights Neighborhood residents Leslie Schaus and Barbara Crumlish clean Lafayette Circle with Alex Dolente ’19, of Devon, Pa., Zach Cooley ’19, of Webster, N.Y., Spencer Maslin ’19, of West Hartford, Conn., Hedi Droste ’18, of Newfields, N.H., and Rachael Barry ‘19 of Walpole, Mass.

At the Mount Olive Missionary Church, several students help congregation members build raised garden beds.

As part of the Orientation Day of Service efforts taking place in the City Central Neighborhood, student volunteers cleanup up an entrance to Geneva’s Lakefront Park area at the intersection of Castle Street and Routes 5 and 20.

President Mark D. Gearan joins several Hobart and William Smith students who worked with members of the local chapter of the NAACP to distribute school supplies to the Geneva City School District through the NAACP's Backpack Program.

Students of the Geneva City School District fill their backpacks with supplies provided by the local chapter of the NAACP.

Frankie Marquet '19, of York, Pa. and Denery Noone '19, of North Attleboro, Mass., trim trees with residents of the Hildreth Hill Neighborhood near Brook Street Park.

Hameed Mourani ’19, of Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., Oluwaseun Adetola ’19, of Bethany, Conn., and Caroline Gerrard ’19, of Rochester, N.Y., rake leaves with members of the Historic South Neighborhood in Pulteney Park.

Students gather with Lynn Doyle (left), a resident of the Historic South Neighborhood, after cleaning up Pulteney Park, the area that was once the center of Geneva.

Junsong Zhang ’19, of Nanjing, China, Max Barsh ’19, of Summit, N.J., and Jack Haskell ’19 of Wellsburg, N.Y. join City Council At-Large member Tony DiCostenzo to clean the Washington Street Cemetery on Saturday. The cemetery is part of the Founder’s Square Neighborhood.

In the Field House, more than 250 students take part in packaging meals for Stop Hunger Now, an international non-profit organization that distributes food and lifesaving aid to children and families in need across the globe. This is the second year of the Colleges partnership with the organization.

President Mark D. Gearan talks with first-year students who are working at the Stop Hunger Now event. The Classes of 2019 packaged nearly 60,000 meals for the organization on Saturday.

Kenisha Ross ’19, of Orange, N.J., Eliza Santin ’19, of West Newton, Mass., Ana Mazariegos ’19, of Mamaroneck, N.Y., and Sarah Banta ’19, of Hudson, Mass., package meals for Stop Hunger Now in the Field House on Saturday morning.

Erik Wolf ’19, of Grand Lake, Colo., assists decorating a bicycle during the kick-off celebration of a new play area and community garden that will be situated next to Geneva Garden Apartments along Pulteney Street.

Nick Pugh ’19, of Boston, and Stephen Cosola, of Garden City, N.Y., assist with cleanup efforts at Washington St. Park during the Orientation Day of Service.

Grace Marshall ’19, of Petoskey, Mich., works on a flower berm at the roundabout in Washington St. Park.

During Orientation Day of Service, Griffin Thrush ’19, of Westport, Conn.; Spencer Planit ’19, of Scarsdale, N.Y.; Orientation Mentor Sophia Melvin ’18, of Ithaca, N.Y.; and Jiaxun Liu ’19, of Wuhan, China, enhance a landscaping berm at Arbors Green in Geneva.

Orientation Mentor Sophia Melvin ’18, of Ithaca, N.Y., enjoys a laugh with fellow volunteers during a park cleanup project at Arbors Green.

In Geneva’s Arbors Neighborhood, Day of Service volunteers remove wood fragments from a resident’s backyard. More than a dozen students joined with community members to lend a hand at the property.