service

HWS News

13 August 2025 • Service Committed to Community By Mary Stone

The Princeton Review ranks HWS #3 in the Nation for most engaged community service.

Hobart and William Smith continues to shine on the national stage, ranking an impressive #3 in the nation for Most Engaged in Community Service in the Princeton Review’s newly released “Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition.” Community Service is one of nine categories for which HWS earned recognition in the rankings, which draws from more than 170,000 student surveys across the country.

The ranking for community service is based on how strongly students agree their peers are actively involved in giving back. The distinction reflects HWS’ deep commitment to civic responsibility and real-world impact.   

Whether it’s working at the Special Olympics, providing trail maintenance on the Ontario Pathways, spreading wood chips on a playground in Seneca Lake State Park or visiting with residents at the Clifton Springs nursing home, students bring a sense of purpose and compassion to their work in the Finger Lakes.

“Each student contributes their time and energy to support the well-being of those around us,” one student noted. “It’s just part of the culture here.”

Community Service at HWS

         

 

“I would describe my peers as motivated, engaged... as well as generally kind and inclusive,” another HWS student shared.

At HWS, 100 percent of students participate in community service. Day of Service, a triannual event, is now in its 31st year, enabling students to connect their skills to the needs of the community. The community appreciates the outreach. Last April, nearly 300 students volunteered at 28 sites across the Finger Lakes – seven more sites than in previous years. The interest from the community was so high that several sites had to be placed on a waitlist.

The Princeton Review’s rankings consider everything from community service opportunities, student government and sustainability efforts to overall student engagement on campus. In their 50 ranking lists, the top 25 colleges are listed in categories covering academics, campus services, extracurriculars, career preparation and others. HWS ranks in nine categories.

HWS earned #1 in community service from Washington Monthly’s College Guide and Rankings, whose ratings consider U.S. colleges and universities contribution to the public good in three, equally weighted categories: social mobility, research, community and national service.