HWS News
3 June 2025 Geneva Students Explore Learning and Community at HWS
Second and sixth-graders from Geneva visit campus for storytelling, collaboration and a celebration of educational journeys.
Hobart and William Smith welcomed Geneva's second-graders to campus on May 27 and its sixth-graders on June 2. This annual tradition coordinated by Geneva 2030 brings every second, sixth and ninth-grader to HWS for a day of exploration, community-building and envisioning their educational futures. Geneva 2030 and Hobart and William Smith welcomed the ninth-graders in October 2024 for a day around "Your Voice Matters – Elections and Community Impact."
“Community-school partnerships like the one between Geneva schools, Geneva 2030 and Hobart and William Smith strengthen the student experience,” says Associate Director of Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning Peter Budmen’15, who helps coordinate the visits. “When we come together to support every student, we’re sending a clear message: you deserve the very best, and we’re committed to making that a reality. Our Hobart and William Smith students gain so much from engaging with Geneva students, and I hope the experience is equally meaningful for them.”
Second-Graders: Storytelling and Puppetry with Dusty and Dott
This year, the second-grade visit centered around the theme “The Art of Storytelling.” Students explored creative expression through puppetry, guided by Emmy-nominated Creatives Dusty and Dott. The duo previously performed for the Geneva community at the Geneva Public Library and during Geneva 2030’s Read Across America celebration in March. Dusty and Dott are known for their PBS program “Reading Buddies,” which produced 60 episodes focused on teaching reading skills to children.
Sixth-Graders: Growing Community
The sixth-grade visit highlighted the theme “Nurturing Your Community – Grow and Connect!” This year, their campus experience extended a collaboration that began in February, when Hobart and William Smith students partnered with Geneva Middle School for a book club focused on Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. The novel tells the story of community-building through the perspectives of diverse individuals connected by a shared garden.
After completing the book, middle school students wrote personal chapters about meaningful community spaces in Geneva. Their reflections were complemented by a field trip to local landmarks, including City Hall, the Finger Lakes Welcome Center, the Boys and Girls Club and the State Street Community Garden. To further document their experiences, students used disposable digital cameras to capture images of spaces that foster community in Geneva.
During the sixth-graders’ visit to HWS, their writing and photography were showcased in the Provenzano Student Art Gallery in Scandling Campus Center. A gallery opening took place the same evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m., where families and community partners were invited to celebrate student work.
About Geneva 2030
Geneva 2030 is a collective impact initiative dedicated to supporting the education of Geneva’s children from birth through high school and beyond. Launched in 2011 with Hobart and William Smith as its anchor institution, the initiative collaborates with nonprofits, businesses and community members to create pathways for student success.
The program is funded by Hobart and William Smith, the Breitfeld Group, the Wyckoff Family Foundation, the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, the ESL Charitable Foundation, the Rochester Area Community Foundation, the City of Geneva and the Town of Geneva.
For more information about Geneva 2030, contact geneva2030@hws.edu or visit Geneva 2030's website.
Top: Brenna Earle '15, an English as a New Language teacher for the Geneva City School District, looks at a map of Hobart and William Smith with second-grade students.
